Here is who national experts are predicting will win Chiefs-Titans playoff game
On Sunday, the Chiefs will either advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years ... or fall one game short for the second straight year.
The Chiefs are playing host to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium. One team’s season will end. The other will play one more game: in Miami.
Fifty-eight experts from around the nation made predictions for Sunday’s game. Here are the picks and what they’re saying about the game, which starts at 2:05 p.m. and will be broadcast on CBS (Ch. 5):
Benjamin Hoffman of the New York Times believes the Chiefs will win. Here is a bit of what he wrote: “For Tennessee to pull off its third consecutive upset, it will need to get a few huge plays from Tannehill, grind up the clock with Henry and hope the defense can take advantage of a mistake or two from Mahomes. Each of those things is possible, but getting all three is not very likely. A narrow defeat is a better bet.”
The Chiefs will win 37-27 says Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. Here is a snippet of what he wrote: “Andy Reid is the most influential offensive mind of the last two decades with the greatest collection of talent he’s ever coached, including the quarterback with the most ridiculous skill set in NFL history. The Titans’ mid-level defense played more snaps last week than any defense played in an NFL game all year. It’s the Chiefs’ time.”
Seven of the eight CBS Sports experts believe the Chiefs will win: Ryan Wilson, Jason La Canfora, Dave Richard, Pete Prisco, Jared Dubin, Jamey Eisenberg and Will Brinson. The pick for the Titans: John Breech. Prisco predicted a 30-20 win. This is part of what wrote: “The Tennessee defense will be challenged in a big way by Mahomes and his fleet of speedy receivers, add in tight end Travis Kelce and it’s an even bigger challenge. I just can’t see the Titans slowing Mahomes, who is now healthy. If the game starts getting away from the Titans, it will hurt them in terms of getting Henry going. That’s exactly what I think will happen. The Titans won’t keep up. The Chiefs, behind another big day from Mahomes, will go to their first Super Bowl in 50 years.” Breech sees a 27-24 Titans victory. Here is part of what he wrote: “One thing about the Chiefs is that they were rarely able to put together two big offensive games in a row in 2019. During the regular season, they went over the 30-point mark a total of seven times, but they only had consecutive games with 30 or more points one time.”
Peter Schrager of “Good Morning Football” on the NFL Network picked the Chiefs:
A Chiefs’ 34-28 victory is the prediction from Tadd Haislop of the Sporting News. This is a portion of what he wrote: “Patrick Mahomes presents Tennessee a different kind of challenge with his MVP arm and, based on what he did against the Texans, an apparent willingness to pick up key yardage with his legs. He and the Chiefs have been on a roll since that November loss to the Titans, a seven-game winning streak in total. It will continue with vengeance against Tennessee and a trip to South Florida.”
The Chiefs were the pick for both Mike Florio and Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. Smith sees a 30-17 final score. This is part of what he wrote: “The Titans have a path to victory in this game, and it’s similar to their path to victory in the regular season: An efficient day for Ryan Tannehill, a lot of yards for Derrick Henry, and some special teams breaks going their way. But I don’t see that as the most likely path. More likely, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense proves it just has too much firepower for the Titans to stop.” Florio is predicting a 34-24 final. He wrote in part: “Will the Chiefs be able to stop Derrick Henry? If they can build enough of a lead, yes, because the Titans will have to abandon the run, at some point.”
All 10 experts at ESPN see the Chiefs winning: Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Mike Golic, Jason Reid, Trey Wingo, Mina Kimes, Seth Wickersham, Dan Graziano, Louis Riddick and Kevin Seifert.
Two of the three writers at the Tennessean in Nashville picked the Chiefs: Erik Bacharach (34-31) and Gentry Estes (38-21). Tommy Deas (29-27) thinks the Titans will win.
Shannon Sharpe said on “Undisputed” he believes the Chiefs will prevail 33-20:
Six of seven experts from USA Today picked the Chiefs: Nate Davis (31-23 final score), Jori Epstein (37-34), Mike Jones (35-30), Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz (30-17), Lorenzo Reyes (33-23) and Tom Schad (34-24). Going with the Titans: Jarrett Bell (27-24).
Five of the eight SB Nation writers are taking the Chiefs: Sarah Hardy, Morgan Moriarty, Geoff Schwartz, Adam Stites and Stephen White. The pick for the Titans: James Brady, Christian D’Andrea and Alexis Chassen.
Five of the six Sports Illustrated Monday Morning Quarterback writers picked the Chiefs: Mitch Goldich, Andrew Brandt, Bette Marston, Connor Orr and Jenny Vrentas. The pick for Tennessee came from Kayln Kahler.
Kyle Brandt on “Good Morning Football” sees a 35-32 Titans win:
Seven of the eight Pro Football Focus writers went with the Chiefs:
This story was originally published January 19, 2020 at 7:38 AM.
