Once upon a time, this matchup would have been enticing. The best quarterback in the game against the promising rookie? Sign me up. Now, the shine has come off. Patrick Mahomes is out with a torn ACL, and the Cam Ward-led Titans have been a rough watch. Still, we need to figure out who can pull out the win.
The Chiefs are three-point road favorites on the DraftKings Sportsbook. If you’re confident in a Titans upset, they’re priced at +136 on the moneyline. The total for this game is set at 37.5 points. Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Titans vs. Chiefs game.
Chiefs vs. Titans prediction, preview
As if being eliminated from the playoffs wasn’t bad enough, losing Mahomes to a torn ACL turns this into a nightmare season for the Chiefs. Now they’ll turn to backup Gardner Minshew to close out a lost season.
In relief of Mahomes last Sunday, Minshew went 3-for-5 for 22 yards and a crushing interception. But as far as backups go, the 29-year-old is one of the better ones out there. Minshew has experience as a starter with the Jaguars, Eagles, Colts, and Raiders, including a Pro Bowl appearance during his year in Indianapolis. A true gunslinger, he’s the kind of guy you want when a little variability is what you need.
He’ll face a team racing to the bottom of the NFL. Tennessee is in the bottom five in total offense and defense, a testimony to the lack of talent on this roster. Cam Ward has been running for his life all season long while trying to make incredible throws to subpar receivers. Nothing could sum up his season better than this play from last week’s loss to the 49ers:
The Titans have stunk all season long. Kansas City has not impressed, and now has to trudge on without its most important player. Who wins between the stoppable force and the movable object?
Chiefs vs. Titans pick, best bet
Kansas City’s defense will do a lot of the heavy lifting here. They’re still a top-five unit on the season, and should have little trouble dealing with this feeble Titans offense. But I’m not convinced Minshew can effectively move the ball in an offense that has watched its skill-position talent erode over the last few years. To make matters worse, star wideout Rashee Rice is slated to miss this game. Even at the low total, I see plenty of value in the under and a Chiefs victory.
