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A22 SPORTS
Friday 17 January 2020
Will Henry's runs or Mahomes' passes decide AFC champion?

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22),left, runs past Baltimore Ravens strong safety Chuck Clark (36) during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff
football game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Baltimore; and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, right, celebrates in the final moments of an NFL divisional
playoff football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo.
Associated Press

By BARRY WILNER RT Jack Conklin (78) will be as resilient as the Titans. goal since joining the team enough to bring in an ag-
AP Pro Football Writer a chore for KC. His symbiosis with TE Travis in December. gressive defensive coordi-
The Titans haven't been to QB Ryan Tannehill (17) is 2-0 Kelce (87) keys the attack, The Titans didn't have a nator after last year's deba-
the Super Bowl since 2000. in the postseason despite but he also has game- touchdown on any kick re- cle on that side of the ball
That's barely a blip on the barely throwing the ball. breaking WRs Tyreek Hill turns, nor did they yield any. cost the Chiefs a shot at the
football history screen: The When he has — he led the (10) and Sammy Watkins They did block the Chiefs' NFL title. It took a while be-
Chiefs haven't been there league in passer rating at (14) and lightning-fast rook- sixth field-goal attempt to fore Steve Spagnuolo's sys-
since 1970. One of them is 117.5 — Tannehill has been ie Mecole Hardman (19). clinch a November game tem took hold, and it didn't
headed for the big game effective enough, includ- Damien Williams (26) han- victory. Joshua Kalu said look too great in last week's
in Miami. Here's how they ing two TD throws vs. Balti- dles the bulk of the run that after seeing Kansas victory over Houston. But it's
match up for the AFC more. game, and Tennessee has City try so many field goals, far more formidable than in
championship: Also intriguing will be the been formidable against it gave him a chance to 2018.
WHEN TENNESSEE HAS THE Chiefs' vastly improved the rush. Not just stopping time up the snap thanks Mike Vrabel has created
BALL secondary against a group fourth-and-1 plays, either. to a head bob by the long a no-fear culture in Nash-
Run. Then run again. Derrick of somewhat obscure wide The Chiefs' best block- snapper. ville. That has been most
Henry (22) has been sen- receivers led by rookie A.J. ers, RT Mitchell Schwartz Kansas City, though, start- evident in the past three
sational in the postseason Brown (11). Tannehill plays (71) and LT Eric Fisher (72), ed its comeback against weeks, when the Titans
after leading the league in no favorites and also tar- need to control the trench- the Texans when Hardman would have been done
rushing. Powerful and fast, gets any of his three tight es against underrated DT broke free on a kickoff run- with a loss. Offensive coor-
elusive enough and versa- ends. He needs to watch Jurrell Casey (99) and his back. He had a 104-yarder dinator Arthur Smith is wise
tile, he's a defensive night- out for ball-hawking Ma- chums, who never backed in the regular season. Hill enough to stick to the run
mare. thieu, while the loss of rook- down against the Patriots fumbled a punt return that game, but funky enough to
The Titans will stick with ie safety Juan Thornhill (22) or Ravens. led to an easy score for the come up with things such
him until the Chiefs prove could damage KC's cover- Harold Landry (58) led the Texans last week. as Henry's jump pass for a
they can slow him down, age. Titans with nine sacks and Harrison Butker (7) is a reli- touchdown at Baltimore.
something they never did WHEN KANSAS CITY HAS Kamalei Correa (44), who able placekicker with good INTANGIBLES
in Week 10. That onus will THE BALL had five, has a quick burst range. He did miss three ex- The Chiefs haven't been to
fall on a D-line led by Chris Expect fireworks. Maybe to the quarterback, while tra points, one fewer than a Super Bowl since 1970.
Jones (92) and Frank Clark not the kind that led to 41 Tennessee might have the his misses on field goals. Yes, a half-century. That's
(55), LBs Anthony Hitchens consecutive points against league's top secondary Veteran punter Dustin incentive enough.
(53) and Damien Wilson Houston after the Chiefs fell with safeties Kevin Byard Colquitt (2) had a kick Also take into account how
(54) and, likely, safeties behind 24-0, but some ex- (41) and Kenny Vaccaro blocked by the Texans for a close they came last year,
Tyrann Mathieu (32) and plosiveness for sure. (24) and cornerbacks Lo- TD. He's generally reliable. with an overtime coin toss
Daniel Sorensen (49), who The catalyst, naturally, is QB gan Ryan (26) and Adoree' COACHING and penalty by ex-line-
had a huge game last Patrick Mahomes (17), who Jackson (25). It will definite- Andy Reid has something backer Dee Ford playing
week. was slowed by injuries early ly be tested Sunday. Ryan close to a Hall of Fame re- a huge role in their falling
The Chiefs like to go with and midway in the season. was a busy guy with 113 sume, and a second trip to short of the Super Bowl.
five defensive backs, but Now that he's healthy, Ma- tackles, four picks and four the Super Bowl — he lost Tennessee has never won
they might need more bulk homes is looking like the forced fumbles this season. with Philadelphia in 2005 — an NFL championship,
on the field against Henry. 2018 league MVP who tore SPECIAL TEAMS certainly would enhance whether living in Music City
Dealing with a blocking unit up the NFL. Titans All-Pro Brett Kern (6) that. or in Houston. The Titans
paced by LT Taylor Lewan Given time — and Tennes- is the league's best punt- Reid has been masterful in also are a sixth seed, which
(77), who is a stud when see has not displayed an er, kicking them high and his handling of Mahomes means they're the under-
he isn't collecting far too overwhelming pass rush — far. But don't ask about PK and the schemes that dog each week.
many penalties, veteran Mahomes can pick apart Greg Joseph (7) because make KC's offense as dan- Not that it's mattered so
LG Rodger Saffold (76) and any defense, even one he hasn't attempted a field gerous as any. He was wise far.q