Titans pounce early on Chiefs
Tennessee builds 27-0 lead, coasts to win
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans wanted to start games faster and score more points early.
They did just that against the Kansas City Chiefs.
GAME OF THE DAY
The Titans scored on their first five possessions and led 27-0 at halftime on their way to routing the Chiefs 27-3 on Sunday.
Ryan Tannehill threw for 270 yards and a touchdown, and he also ran for a score as the Titans won for the fifth time in six games.
“We wanted to get going early and score points early,” Tannehill said of a team with only 20 points scored in the first quarter this season. “So we were able to do that, and hopefully we can keep it going.”
The Titans (5-2) also won their second game in six days over teams that played for the AFC championship in January.
They edged Buffalo 34-31 on Monday night and followed that by simply dominating the two-time defending AFC champs as Tennessee kept scoring.
“It was a great win for everybody,”
Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. “Great job. The guys stepped up.”
The Chiefs (3-4) have lost two of three and dropped to 1-4 in the AFC this season. They also were held to their fewest points since a 38-3 loss to Denver on Dec. 30, 2012.
“They made more plays than what we did, particularly on the first few series there,” Chiefs coach Andy
Reid said. “I’ve seen our guys do it and make the plays. We’re just not doing it right now.”
The Titans forced three turnovers — two by quarterback Patrick Mahomes — that they turned into 10 points. Defensive end Denico Autry had two of the Titans’ four sacks.
Mahomes was slow to get up after taking a knee to his head on the fourth sack by Autry. He went to the medical tent and didn’t return, with Chad Henne replacing him late. Mahomes finished with 206 yards passing and 35 yards rushing.
Reid said Mahomes cleared the concussion protocols and will play next Monday against the Giants.
“You get hit pretty hard, sometimes you just want to lay there,” Mahomes said. “Plus it was fourth down. … It was a disappointing day and disappointing way it ended.”
The Titans went up-tempo early with Tannehill spreading the ball around to Pro Bowl wide receivers A.J. Brown and Julio Jones. Derrick Henry, the NFL’S rushing leader, finished the drive out of the wildcat, throwing a 5-yard pass to tight end Mycole Pruitt for the 7-0 lead.
After a sack by linebacker Bud Dupree ended the Chiefs’ first possession, Tannehill drove the Titans 97 yards on the ensuing drive, highlighted by a 46-yard throw to Brown initially ruled an incompletion. Vrabel won his challenge, and Tannehill finished the drive with a 24-yard TD pass to Brown.
After linebacker Rashaan Evans’ interception, Tannehill ran for a 2-yard TD and a 24-0 lead. Randy Bullock added his second field goal off Mahomes’ fumble for the 27-0 lead.