Chiefs, Titans meet to end years of postseason futility
KANSAS CITY, MO. » Chiefs linebacker Reggie Ragland was in swaddling blankets the previous time Kansas City won a home playoff game. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill was nestled comfortably in the womb.
It was January 1994, Joe Montana was the quarterback and the Chiefs beat the Steelers on an overtime field goal by Nick Lowery.
And it’s hard to believe anybody packed inside Arrowhead Stadiumthat day imagined a quarter century would pass without another home playoff win.
“It would be nice to break that,” Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith said, “but you can’t add any extra motivation once you get to this stage. This is all the work we’ve been putting in as this team from day-one — this team. When we were putting in our goals and talking about that.
“It’s tough to add any more motivation with historic streaks or things like that.”
Besides, the Titans (9-7) are trying to end their own maddening stretch of playoff futility.
Tennessee rumbles into Kansas City for the wildcard round Saturday in its first postseason trip since 2008, whenthe Titanswere the AFC’s top seed.
If they canwaltz outwith awin, as they did in 2016, it would be their first playoff victory since January 2004.
“It’s playoff time,” Titans safety Kevin Byard said. “I dream about ... matchups, about going up against guys like (Travis) Kelce and going up against Andy Reid, a Hall of Fame-level coach. He’s a great coach. ...”
Smith is trying to validate the best season of his career in what could be his final gamefor the Chiefs (106). Hill is hoping to show off his world-class speed on a national stage.
And back KareemHunt, who won the NFL rushing title this season, will have a chance to etch his name alongside the likes of Todd Gurley and Le’Veon Bell as one of the league’s best.