Kansas City Chiefs vs Tennessee Titans: Predictions and Odds (NFL Week 10)

What: Kansas City Chiefs at Tennessee Titans
When: Sunday, November 10 at 1:00 pm ET
Where: Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee
How (TV): CBS

Latest point spread: Chiefs TBD, Titans TBD

This should be a fun Week 10 AFC matchup, with the Kansas City Chiefs traveling to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans in what could be a pivotal win for either of these two franchises.

The Chiefs are feeling good about their Week 9 win over the Minnesota Vikings, especially now that their franchise quarterback looks to be healthy enough to return, whereas the Titans are still recovering from their ten-point loss to the Carolina Panthers and could use a confidence boost.

These playoff-bound Chiefs need to take care of these still plenty alive Titans, so let’s take a quick look at how these two NFC West teams stack up against each other for their Week 10 Sunday afternoon confrontation.

For more on Week 10 check out our video on “NFL Week 10 Picks and Best Bets“.

Kansas City Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid never had a doubt that his offensive system could succeed without Patrick Mahomes, the miracle-working franchise quarterback, under center, and backup Matt Moore proved him right for believing, going 2-1 as the Chiefs’ starter while Mahomes’ dislocated kneecap healed up.

Now it looks like Mahomes could play in Week 10 (sooner than expected, though Reid is still “unsure” of it), which could be bad news for the Tennessee Titans who don’t exactly have the best defensive answer for the Chiefs, though few teams actually do right now.

That could be Reid’s attempt at gamesmanship, or Mahomes could actually be ready to return this soon, but no matter who lines up under center for Kansas City, they will have targets like receivers Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins and tight end Travis Kelce to throw the football to so it might not really matter who it turns out to be after all.

The 4-5-0 Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans are hit or miss these days, and they are coming off a miss against the Carolina Panthers that was not helped at all by Ryan Tannehill’s two interceptions or four sacks, though he did throw for 331 total yards and a touchdown in the 20-30 loss.

The Titans’ offense is fueled by the run game, and Derrick Henry, the league’s ninth most productive runner right now, typically gets the job done, and that should be especially true on Sunday against a Chiefs’ rushing defense that currently ranks at the very bottom of the league (29^th).

In this matchup, the Titans have the better defense, so they will have to do their best to keep Mahomes or Moore out of the end zone and off the field as much as possible, easier said than done against one of the league’s top-ten most productive offenses.

What’s at Stake for Chiefs vs Titans?

These two conference rivals have met 55 total times (including 3 postseason games), with Kansas City winning 29 of those times and Tennessee winning the other 23 games.

The last time these two teams met up was during the playoffs of the 2017-18 season when the Titans beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead by a score of 22-21 in the Wild Card game.

If the Chiefs win this matchup, they’ll move to 7-3-0 and stay at least two games in front of the Oakland Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West, both of those teams with 4 wins going into Week 10.

But if the Titans come out winners in this one, they’ll be 5-5-0 and they could sure use it in that tight AFC South race where all four teams seem to have a chance at winning, though the Houston Texans are currently reigning supreme.

Questions to Answer

Who’s favored to win this Week 10 Chiefs-Titans matchup?

Which team has a better offense? Defense? Special teams?

Which team’s quarterback is more likely to lead his team to victory?

We’re going to briefly compare the Chiefs and the Titans next and attempt to answer those questions and more.

Offensive Stats Comparison

Kansas City Chiefs Overall Offense

• Ranked 1^st overall in 2018
• Ranked 6^th overall in 2019

Passing attack: The Kansas City Chiefs have the 2^nd ranked passing offense in the league right now, averaging 300.7 yards per game through the air after nine weeks.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is once again listed as questionable (see below) but ready, and he is currently ranked the 14^th most productive passer in the league having completed 157-of-241 passes for 2,180 yards and 15 touchdowns with 1 interception and a completion percentage of 65.1.

The Chiefs’ leading receiver after nine weeks is tight end Travis Kelce, who is currently ranked 11^th in the league with 49 catches for 666 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Rushing attack: The Chiefs’ rushing attack is ranked 24^th in the NFL after averaging 90.1 yards on the ground per game.

LeSean “Shady” McCoy is the Chiefs’ best runner and he is currently the 27^th in the NFL with 72 carries for 371 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.

Kansas City has scored 252 total points this season, or 28 per game, which is the 6^th best total in the NFL.

Kansas City Offensive Injuries

Listed as questionable for Week 10: offensive guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (ankle), quarterback Patrick Mahomes (kneecap) and offensive guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (ankle).

Injury notes: offensive tackle Eric Fisher (sports hernia) is listed as OUT, while wide receivers Felton Davis (shoulder) and Marcus Kemp (knee), offensive tackle Greg Senat (undisclosed) and tight end David Wells (undisclosed) have been placed on injured reserve.

Tennessee Titans Overall Offense

• Ranked 25^th overall in 2018
• Ranked 26^th overall in 2019

Passing attack: Tennessee has the 24^th best passing attack in the league right now after averaging 212.9 yards through the air each game.

Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is the 33^rd most productive NFL passer after completing 84-of-117 passes for 980 yards and 6 touchdowns with 4 interceptions and a completion percentage of 71.8.

The Titans’ best receiver is currently A.J. Brown, who has caught 26 passes for 429 yards with 3 touchdowns in nine weeks, ranked 41^st among NFL receivers right now.

Rushing attack: Tennessee has the 18^th ranked rushing attack, so far averaging 100.8 yards on the ground per game.

Derrick Henry is the Titans’ best runner and now he is the 10^th most productive in the NFL with 164 carries for 644 yards and 6 touchdowns, averaging 3.9 yards-per-carry.

Tennessee has scored 168 points in 2019, averaging 18.7 per game, which is currently the 26^th highest scoring average in the NFL.

Tennessee Offensive Injuries

Listed as questionable for Week 10: tight end Delanie Walker (ankle) and center Ben Jones (concussion).

Injury notes: running back David Fluellen (knee) and wide receiver Cameron Batson (undisclosed) have been placed on the injured reserve list.

Offensive Advantage

The Kansas City Chiefs have a more productive offense than the Titans even without Mahomes, but with him, the Chiefs have the definite offensive advantage on Sunday.

Kansas City Chiefs Overall Defense

• Ranked 31^st overall in 2018
• Ranked 22^nd overall in 2019

Pass coverage: The Chiefs have the T-11^th best pass defense in 2019 so far, allowing opponents to throw for 229.8 yards through the air per game.

Kansas City’s defense has 6 team interceptions and they have 26 sacks total.

Run coverage: The Chiefs are the 29^th best NFL team against the run right now after allowing opponents to run for 139.6 yards per game.

Kansas City has allowed their opponents to score 204 total points, or 22.7 per game, which is the 15^th least in the NFL.

Chiefs Defensive Players to Watch

The tackling beast on the Chiefs right now is outside linebacker Damien Wilson, who has 58 total tackles (2 for a loss), 1.5 sacks, 4 quarterback hits, a pass defended and a forced fumble.

Watch for Chiefs’ defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah go after Tannehill, already with 4.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits, a forced fumble, 3 passes defended and 29 total tackles (5 for a loss).

Kansas City cornerback Charvarius Ward is definitely worth checking out, already with 2 interceptions and 8 passes defended, a forced fumble and 49 total tackles.

Chiefs Defensive Injuries

Listed as questionable for Week 10: defensive ends Frank Clark (neck) and Alex Okafor (ankle) and cornerback Kendall Fuller (thumb).

Injury notes: defensive end Tim Ward (knee – ACL) and linebacker Darius Harris (undisclosed) are listed as NFI, while defensive end Breeland Speaks (knee – MCL), cornerbacks Michael Hunter (groin), defensive tackle Xavier Williams (ankle) and Keith Reaser (Achilles) have been placed on injured reserve.

Tennessee Titans Overall Defense

• Ranked 8^th overall in 2018
• Ranked 13^th overall in 2019

Pass coverage: The Titans’ defense is 17^th best against the pass, allowing their opponents to throw for an average of 236.3 yards per matchup.

Tennessee’s defense has 9 interceptions on opposing quarterbacks and they have 25 total sacks after nine weeks.

Run coverage: The Titans are 15^th best against a rushing attack, allowing opponents to run for an average of 103.1 yards per game.

Tennessee has allowed their opponents to score 165 total points this season, or 18.3 per matchup, which is 26^th fewest in the NFL.

Titans Defensive Players to Watch

One of the league’s best tacklers plays for Tennessee, and that’s inside linebacker Rashaan Evans, who has 75 total tackles (ninth-most in the NFL), with 4 of those for a loss, plus half a sack and 4 quarterback hits.

Make sure to check out Titans’ linebacker Harold Landry – the guy’s a beast, already with 6.5 sacks, 7 quarterback hits, an interception and 2 passes defended, a forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries and 44 total tackles (9 for a loss).

Tied for the 4^th most interceptions in the league right now is Tennessee free safety Kevin Byard, who has 3 picks, 9 passes defended and 47 total tackles after nine weeks of football.

Titans Defensive Injuries

Listed as questionable for Week 10: Defensive end Jurrell Casey (shoulder) and cornerback Chris Milton (calf).

Injury notes: Cornerback Malcolm Butler (wrist) is listed as OUT, while linebackers D’Andre Walker (groin) and Jordan Williams (undisclosed) have been placed on injured reserve.

Defensive Advantage

Neither of these two teams is all that fierce defensively, but since the Titans are at home and are a lot better against the run they will have the defensive advantage on Sunday.

Special Teams Stats Comparison

Punters

Kansas City’s veteran punter, Dustin Colquitt, is in his fifteenth NFL season, all with the Chiefs, and this season he has punted 30 times for a net average of 42.4 yards per punt, which was the 13^th best in the league.

Tennessee’s punter, Brett Kern, is in his thirteenth NFL season (with the Titans since 2009) and so far, he has punted 50 times this season for a net average of 42.8 yards per punt, which was T-8^th best in the league.

Placekickers

Kansas City’s placekicker, Harrison Butker, is in his third NFL season, all with the Chiefs.

Butker has made 19-of-22 field goals this season, his longest a 54 yarder, and so far, he has missed one extra point attempt (27/28).

Tennessee’s placekicker, Ryan Succop, is in his eleventh NFL season, his sixth with the Titans.

Succop has just returned from injury (knee) and has made 0-of-3 field goals so far this season, his longest a 0-yarder, and so far, he has missed no extra point attempts (2/2).

Punt Returners

Kansas City’s punt returner, wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas, is ranked 43^rd in punt return average this year.

Thomas has returned 13 punts for 55 yards, averaging 4.2 yards per return.

Tennessee’s punt returner, wide receiver Adam Humphries, is ranked 33^rd in average punt return yardage this season.

Humphries has returned 8 punts for 48 yards, averaging 6.0 yards per return.

Special Teams Advantage

After the Titans’ placekicker, Succop returned ‘healthy’ and then missed all three of his field-goal attempts last week, it would be safe to say that for now, the Chiefs have the special teams advantage, at least on Sunday.

Why Will the Chiefs Win this Game?

Even if Patrick Mahomes does not play, the Chiefs will win this one because Andy Reid’s system is designed to work regardless of who is under center, and so far, backup Matt Moore has proven he can get the job done just fine.

For the Chiefs to win, expect a big game from Shady McCoy and Damien Williams – if they can be enough of a distraction during the first half of the game the field should start opening up for all their talented passing targets.

Plus, if this game comes down to a big last-minute field goal, the Chiefs have a placekicker who they can count on, and right now the Titans do not, so Kanas City should easily take care of business here.

Why Will the Titans Win this Game?

Tennessee can win this game if they run successfully – Derrick Henry has to have a huge game, complimented by Dion Lewis, for the offensively outmatched Titans to even come close in this one.

The Titans can win if Tannehill can eliminate the interceptions – he threw two last week but zero the week before, so make those adjustments and eliminate the turnovers.

Tennessee can win this game because they have the better defense, but that means stepping up and smothering Mahomes or Moore before they can get the ball to their playmakers, something that most other teams have struggled to do consistently.

The Chiefs vs Titans Game Goes To

The Kansas City Chiefs by three – Patrick Mahomes will be too difficult to stop, even at half speed while his kneecap fully mends.

John Breech of CBS Sports predicts the score as Chiefs 30, Titans 20.

My prediction for the final score is Chiefs 27, Titans 24.

Kansas City Chiefs vs Tennessee Titans – Game Odds

The odds for this match between the Chiefs and the Titans are provided by  bet365 NJ, DraftKings Sportsbook, and Caesars NJ.

Good luck!

Money Line