Chiefs Need to Avoid Slow Start vs Titans Because Matchup Poses Bigger Threat Than Texans
By Scott Rogust
The Kansas City Chiefs know what this Sunday is all about. KC lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game last year, and the main cause was a slow first half.
Last weekend, the team looked sluggish and ill-prepared in the first quarter against the Houston Texans. Luckily for them, they bounced back in the second quarter, and won 51-31.
While the Chiefs redeemed themselves, they can't afford another slow start, especially against the bulldozing Tennessee Titans.
Maybe this is the game Chiefs needed to wake them up for a Super Bowl run. They are better than this, just need to avoid a slow start against Titans next week. /SB
— Gehlke Bros Football (@NawFuL) January 12, 2020
The one thing that saved the Chiefs and helped in their comeback is Houston's lack of a running game. The Titans don't have that issue, because they have a juggernaut in the form of Derrick Henry, who can bleed clock like no other unique talent in the league.
In two playoff games, Henry has accounted for 377 rushing yards and a touchdown on 66 carries (5.7 yards/carry). Such repeated production is unprecedented, but we're already well past the point of reasonable doubt. Who's to say this can't continue?
Talked to some Chiefs players Sunday about what it's like to tackle Derrick Henry and Tyrann Mathieu said he thought he broke his jaw hitting him on one play in the first meeting. Said it was like it hitting solid rock.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) January 13, 2020
To make matters worse, Kansas City's defense is far from a brick wall. The Chiefs allowed an average of 128.2 yards on the ground per game, which ranks 26th in the league. They're also missing key rookie safety Juan Thornhill.
The Chiefs know all too well about the skillset of Henry. Back in Week 10, Henry rushed for 188 yards and two scores on 23 carries in Tennessee's 35-32 win.
I will give the Kansas City Chiefs some serious props for the comeback, though.
— Fire Bill O'Brien (@UrinatingTree) January 12, 2020
The Texans offered out the olive branch for them to come back in this game and, by god, they took it and ran with it. They did what they had to do.
Take this win and learn from the slow start.
When Henry moves on all cylinders, the Titans can strike with their passing game. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is having a career resurgence, and has the likes of AJ Brown and Jonnu Smith to lean on.
Yes, the Chiefs have explosive players like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill. But you can't forget about last year. A slow start with those very same players cost them the chance of competing in Super Bowl LIII.
They can't do the same on Sunday afternoon, because they'll see similar results.