As the Kansas City Chiefs gear up for their Week 16 clash with the Tennessee Titans, the message coming out of Arrowhead is loud and clear: don’t let the records fool you - this Titans team is no pushover. With Kansas City already out of playoff contention and just three games left on the slate, the focus now shifts to pride, progress, and finishing the season with purpose. And that starts with a physical test on the road in Tennessee.
Head coach Andy Reid isn’t taking the Titans lightly, especially with the way they’ve responded under interim head coach Mike McCoy. Reid was quick to highlight Tennessee’s defensive front as a major challenge.
“They’re playing good football,” Reid said. “Particularly on the defensive side with that defensive front.
They’ve got a heck of a defensive front. Mike’s done a nice job of taking over as the interim.
He’s had a lot of experience as a head coach, so he knows how to handle a role like that. He’s done a nice job of keeping the guys going and playing hard.”
That defensive line is no joke - physical, relentless, and setting the tone for a Titans defense that’s been trending upward. Kansas City’s offensive line will have its hands full trying to keep Patrick Mahomes upright and the offense in rhythm.
On the other side of the ball, Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis sees a Titans offense that’s starting to find its groove - even if the win-loss column doesn’t show it.
“Their record doesn’t indicate it, but it’s a tough team,” Karlaftis said. “They play really hard. If you watch the tape over the past three games, they’re playing really good football.”
A big part of that recent surge? Rookie quarterback Cam Ward.
The No. 1 overall pick from April is starting to show why Tennessee invested so heavily in him. Karlaftis, who’s been studying Ward closely, sees a complete quarterback with the tools to be a problem on Sunday.
“He can make all the throws,” Karlaftis said. “He’s athletic.
He’s strong. The offensive line keeps getting better.
Their running back - Pollard - is a great player. And they’ve got weapons.
We’ve got a lot of respect for them.”
Ward’s dual-threat ability adds another layer to the challenge. He’s got the arm talent to stretch the field and the mobility to extend plays when things break down. That’s something Chiefs rookie pass rusher Ashton Gillotte knows firsthand - he faced Ward in college and says not much has changed.
“It’s still the same thing,” Gillotte said. “He’s got amazing arm talent.
He’s got good vision. He’s a strong quarterback - especially in the pocket.
He can shrug off blocks.”
Gillotte emphasized the importance of limiting Ward’s opportunities to create explosive plays - something the Chiefs defense has been working on all week.
“If you let quarterbacks like that work, they’ll make plays,” he said. “So it’s about minimizing those opportunities and capitalizing when we get ours.”
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo echoed that sentiment, praising Ward’s arm strength and athleticism.
“I’ll tell you what: he can zip that thing,” Spagnuolo said. “He can spin it. He’s got a really strong arm, and he’s another athletic quarterback.”
But Spagnuolo didn’t stop there. He sees more than just a promising young QB - he sees an offense that’s beginning to click.
“He’s got a good young receiver,” he added, “and I think both those backs are really good.”
That backfield, led by veteran Tony Pollard, gives Tennessee another dimension. Pollard’s burst and versatility make him a dangerous weapon, especially when paired with Ward’s mobility.
Veteran defensive tackle Chris Jones has been watching the Titans’ offensive evolution closely, and he’s impressed with what he’s seen since the coaching change.
“They’ve been scoring 20 to 30 points in each of their last three games,” Jones said. “That tells you the improvement they’re making on offense. They’re making strides.”
Jones also pointed out Ward’s toughness in the pocket - a trait that makes him especially difficult to bring down.
“He’s got a heck of an arm,” Jones said. “He’s very mobile in the pocket - [and] he’s strong, too. He doesn’t want to go down; it’s going to be tough trying to bring him down.”
So while the Chiefs may not be playing for January anymore, they’re still playing for something - and they know Tennessee isn’t a team to overlook. The Titans are young, physical, and trending in the right direction.
For Kansas City, this is about setting a tone, evaluating talent, and finishing strong. And if they want to do that, they’ll need to bring their A-game to Nashville.