Oct 25, 2021

Titans build big lead early, dominate Chiefs Sunday

Posted Oct 25, 2021 12:57 AM

By TOMMY REZAC

St. Joseph Post

(AP) - Ryan Tannehill threw for 270 yards and a touchdown, and he also ran for a score, as the Tennessee Titans routed the Kansas City Chiefs 27-3 Sunday for their fifth win in six games.

This also was the second victory in six days for the Titans over teams that played for the AFC championship in January. They edged Buffalo 34-31 on Monday night.

The Titans (5-2) followed that by simply dominating the two-time defending AFC champions. Tennessee jumped out to a 27-0 halftime lead, and never looked back.

"They made more plays than we did," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after. "Particularly, the first few series there. I've seen our guys do it and make the plays. We're just not doing it now. But, I trust those things will get taken care of on both sides of the ball, and special teams."

The Chiefs (3-4) now have lost two of three and dropped to 1-4 in the AFC this season.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes takes the blame for his two turnovers Sunday, saying he's trying too hard to make something happen.

"Today, it was probably me just pressing a little bit too early in the game," Mahomes said. "Then, we got down and then we're in that kind of mode where we're kind of no huddle. Which, you don't want to be in in the NFL. You can execute a little bit, but it's hard to sustain drives. So, I have to be better early in games so we don't get behind like we did."

Either way, Kansas City is left with a big turnover problem.

The Chiefs turned the ball over three times Sunday. The Titans turned a Mahomes interception and Mahomes fumble into 10 points late in the first half.

Kansas City has one more turnover already this season than the 16 giveaways in all of 2020. Mahomes has also been intercepted in six straight games - the longest stretch in his career.

"I trust the players, the locker room and the coaches," Reid said. "We have to make sure we hang together and fix the problems. The easy way out is not doing that. We need to hang together."

The Chiefs are back home to host the New York Giants (2-5) on Monday night football next week. Kick off is set for 7:15 central. The game will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680 AM,, 95.3 FM) and Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.

The Giants topped Carolina, 25-3, on Sunday.