Chiefs must beat Titans to avoid disaster

In the Wild Card weekend schedule, one game — and one team — sticks out. The Kansas City Chiefs are the team that has perhaps the most to lose by falling on Saturday. They play at home against the mediocre Tennessee Titans.

A loss would set back head coach Andy Reid and his program. The Chiefs have been to the postseason four of his five years, but the previous two have ended in the Divisional round against the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers. A loss to Tennessee would be crushing, representing a step backward when the team should be hurdling forward.

Kansas City is clearly the better team by any measure. Marcus Mariota has thrown more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (13) this season, and has generally looked lost for 15 starts. Alex Smith has eclipsed 4,000 passing yards for the first time in his career, and has 26 touchdowns against five interceptions. Tennessee doesn’t have a single player with either 1,000 rushing or receiving yards. The Chiefs have three in Kareem Hunt, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill.

Defensively, the Titans don’t have any recognizable stars. Perhaps Jurrell Casey and Kevin Byard should be in that conversation. Although the casual NFL fan couldn’t tell you what position they play. Meanwhile, Kansas City has Marcus Peters, Justin Houston and (and aging) Derrick Johnson leading their charge, let alone a revitalized Darrelle Revis.

The Chiefs enter Wednesday as an 8-point favorite against the Titans at Arrowhead Stadium, showcasing just how lopsided this game is expected to be. Kansas City has not allowed 20 or more points at home since Week 1 of the 2016 season, forcing Tennessee’s defense to play maybe the best game of its year.

Wild Card

All things equal, the Chiefs should handle business against a Titans team that struggled against good competition this year. Tennessee only beat one prolific quarterback, taking down Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks back in September. Otherwise, the wins have come against Andy Dalton, Tom Savage, Joe Flacco, DeShone Kizer, Jacoby Brissett twice and Blake Bortles twice. Not exactly a Hall of Fame finalist ballot.

For the Titans, getting to the playoffs for the first time in a decade represents a successful season. For the Chiefs, anything short of getting to the AFC Championship is a gigantic disappointment, but losing in the Wild Card round at home would put the fan base into apoplectic shock.

Kansas City has a long history of disappointment and anguish come January. It has another chance to change those fortunes with a top-flight offense and opportunistic defense. If the Chiefs fail once more, especially against an inferior opponent, the groans from the heartland will be deafening.