How do the Chiefs beat the Titans Sunday night? Start by slowing down Derrick Henry
The Chiefs are set for a Week 9 matchup with a familiar foe when the Tennessee Titans arrive for a Sunday Night Football showdown at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
These two teams, off to identical 5-2 starts through seven games, know each other well. They’ve squared off seven times, including the postseason, since Andy Reid arrived in Kansas City as head coach in 2013.
The Chiefs hold a 30-25 edge in the all-time series, including an 18-11 record at home, but the Titans have had the Chiefs’ number since 2013, winning five of the last seven. Tennessee’s two losses in that span came in the playoffs.
The Titans thumped the Chiefs 27-3 last season at Nissan Field in Nashville. Will things play out differently this time around? Here are four keys for the Chiefs as they look to improve to 6-2.
KEEP THE KING IN CHECK
This shouldn’t come as a surprise because the Titans’ offense is all about running back Derrick Henry, the AFC’s Offensive Player of the Month for October.
Henry is rolling, as usual. In just the past month, he has rushed for 563 yards and five touchdowns in four games, averaging an eye-popping 140.8 yards per game. He’s added nine catches for 82 yards in that span.
In three career games against the Chiefs, the Titans’ star rusher has totaled 332 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 61 carries (5.4 yards per attempt). And the 6-foot-3, 247-pound back is as big a threat as ever Sunday night.
The Chiefs, though, are poised to offer more resistance this time around. Kansas City’s defense enters the weekend ranked third in the league (92 yards allowed per game).
“He’s the king of the run game and a big challenge for us because he’s a big back,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. “You can’t simulate that in practice. ... (We’ve g)ot to find a way to get him on the ground.”
Over the past four games, the Indianapolis Colts (twice), Washington Commanders and Houston Texans all tried, but Henry’s 563 yards rushing combined in those games are the most in the NFL in that span.
Chiefs defensive end Carlos Dunlap offered his thoughts on the best way to slow down the Titans’ running back.
“You tackle his legs,” Dunlap said. “You guys have seen all his viral videos, so everybody tackles his legs. It’s as simple as that to me.”
DON’T FALL ASLEEP ON PASSING GAME
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill is dealing with an ankle injury, which caused him to miss Week 8’s game against the Houston Texans. The Titans turned to rookie Malik Willis, who didn’t spend too much time dropping back to throw.
Willis completed six of 10 passes, including just one attempt in the second half, for 55 yards with an interception. His arm wasn’t needed, though, because Henry went off with 219 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the Titans’ 17-10 win.
Tannehill was limited in Wednesday’s practice and didn’t practice at all Thursday. His status for Sunday night’s game is unclear, but the Chiefs are preparing as if he will play.
“We’re anticipating that Ryan Tannehill will get back,” Spagnuolo said. “He’s really good at getting them in and out of plays.”
If it’s Tannehill and not Willis under center Sunday, the Chiefs will be wise to remember how Tannehill burned them with two touchdowns in last year’s regular-season game. He’s 2-1 in the regular season in his career against the Chiefs, with the lone loss coming in 2014, when he played for the Miami Dolphins.
Robert Woods and tight end Austin Hooper are capable targets. Woods leads the Titans in receiving with 22 catches for 256 yards. Running back Dontrell Hilliard has scored three receiving touchdowns.
There are weapons in the Titans’ passing attack, too, so the Chiefs cannot focus solely on Henry.
BOMBS AWAY
The Chiefs’ offense enters the weekend ranked first in points per game (31.9), second in total yards (403.3 yards per game) and second in passing (296 yards per game).
On the other side, the Titans are 15th in total defense (343.9 yards allowed per game) and 24th in passing defense (254.7 yards allowed per game). The Titans are also stingy in points allowed: 19.7 per game, or ninth-fewest in the league.
The Titans showed in a 41-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 that they can have problems against an elite offense. In that game, Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, whose 20 touchdown passes lead the NFL, must go after the Titans’ suspect pass defense.
WIN ON SPECIAL TEAMS
Should Sunday night’s game become a battle of field position, special teams will play a big role. The Chiefs can’t make mistakes in this area.
Special teams coordinator Dave Toub on Thursday was noncommittal about rookie Skyy Moore continuing to return punts. Moore has muffed two attempts this season and cornerback Trent McDuffie, receiver Mecole Hardman and newcomer receiver Kadarius Toney are all candidates to supplant him in this role.
A punt-return gaffe Sunday would give Tennessee a short field and almost certainly put the ball in Henry’s hands. As discussed at length above, that’s a situation the Chiefs must seek to avoid.
This story was originally published November 4, 2022 at 5:30 AM.
