Chiefs vs. Titans Preview: A Matchup Defined by Uncertainty, Opportunity, and a Whole Lot of Questions
Let’s be honest-if someone had told you back in September that the Kansas City Chiefs would be entering Week 16 as underdogs to the Tennessee Titans, you'd have laughed them off the timeline. But here we are, with a 20-17 Titans win being predicted by some of the more prominent voices in NFL media, and it’s not even that far-fetched.
This isn’t the same Chiefs team we’ve grown accustomed to seeing dominate December. For the first time in years, Kansas City is essentially “playing out the string”-a phrase that hasn’t been associated with this team since before Patrick Mahomes became the face of the franchise. And now, with Mahomes sidelined due to an ACL and LCL tear suffered late in a 16-13 loss to the Chargers, the Chiefs are turning to Gardner Minshew to steer the ship.
Minshew Mania? Not Quite.
Minshew’s relief appearance last week was, to put it kindly, a mess. He struggled to get the offense aligned, looked overwhelmed by the moment, and capped it off with a back-breaking interception that sealed the Chiefs’ fate. It wasn’t just a rough outing-it was the kind of performance that makes you wonder if Kansas City might look elsewhere for backup help in the offseason.
But here’s the thing about Minshew: he’s been around this league long enough to know how quickly things can change. One decent performance, even in a game that might not matter much in the standings, can be enough to keep a job or catch the eye of a QB-needy team heading into 2026. So while the stakes aren’t high for the Chiefs as a team, they’re enormous for Minshew as a player.
What Are the Titans Playing For?
On the other side, Tennessee enters this game with a very different set of motivations. They’re technically still competing, but the bigger picture is all about the future. That means draft position, player development, and evaluating whether rookie quarterback Cam Ward can be a long-term answer under center.
Ward’s situation is complicated by the midseason firing of head coach Brian Callahan, which has left the Titans in a sort of organizational limbo. Still, Ward has shown flashes, and with the season winding down, this is prime time for the Titans to let him play through mistakes and grow on the job.
That said, Tennessee hasn’t exactly been tanking with precision. Their 31-29 win over the Browns two weeks ago may have been a feel-good moment, but it also hurt their draft position and opened the door for teams like the Raiders to leapfrog them in the 2026 draft order. It’s the kind of win that feels good in the moment but can leave a front office shaking its head in April.
A Game of Mixed Motivations
So what are we getting on Sunday? Honestly, it’s tough to say.
This is one of those late-season matchups where both teams are in transition, but for very different reasons. The Chiefs are trying to stay afloat without their MVP quarterback, while the Titans are trying to figure out who they are heading into a pivotal offseason.
Kansas City still has plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, and even a limited effort from their defense might be enough to keep this game close. But with Minshew under center and the offense still adjusting to life without Mahomes, nothing is guaranteed.
Meanwhile, Tennessee has every reason to see what they’ve got in Cam Ward, but also every reason to protect their draft capital. It’s a strange balancing act, and it makes this one of the more unpredictable games on the Week 16 slate.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t the kind of marquee matchup we’re used to seeing from Kansas City in December, but it’s still compelling in its own way. For the Chiefs, it’s about pride, evaluation, and maybe a little redemption for Gardner Minshew. For the Titans, it’s about the future-and whether Cam Ward can offer a glimpse of what’s to come.
Don’t expect fireworks. Expect a grind. And maybe, just maybe, a few answers to some big questions heading into the offseason.