NFL: Tennessee Titans-Training Camp
Jul 26, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; during training camp at Saint Thomas Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
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Titans have chance to author another shocker on Sunday

Matt Verderame NFL

If the Tennessee Titans win on Sunday afternoon, it will be considered another massive upset. To everyone outside the Nashville city limits, that is.

For those folks, another win from the Titans would just be another January weekend.

Sure, the Kansas City Chiefs are a very good team. The Chiefs have won seven straight, including a 51-31 smoking of the Houston Texans in last weekend’s Divisional round. Patrick Mahomes was sublime, leading Kansas City back from a 24-0 deficit by throwing for five touchdowns and rushing for 53 yards. Certainly, containing Mahomes won’t be easy. Then again, Mahomes threw for 446 yards and three scores when the teams met in Nashville in Week 10, and the Titans won (it remains the last loss for the Chiefs).

Few believe the Chiefs are going to be beaten for a second time by Tennessee. Stop that offense? Good luck. Then again, even fewer thought the Titans would be here even a few weeks ago.

Tennessee faced long odds from Vegas in the Wild Card round, and yet rallied to defeat the New England Patriots, 20-13. It was Derrick Henry leading the way as he did all season, accounting for more than 200 offensive yards.

The next weekend? The Titans were a nice story that beat a flawed, old Patriots team, but now the Baltimore Ravens. There’s no way Tennessee was going to take down the Ravens, they of soon-to-be MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and a 12-game winning streak. No, that would be impossible.

Within five minutes, the Titans had a 14-0 lead. Baltimore never recovered, and behind three Ravens’ turnovers (and a pair of turnover on downs), Tennessee rolled to a shockingly easy 28-12 decision. Henry was once again the focal point, rushing for 195 yards while throwing a touchdown to Corey Davis in the third quarter.

Incredibly, Ryan Tannehill hasn’t thrown for 90 yards in each of the Titans’ first two conquests. He hasn’t had too, with Mike Vrabel’s club running the ball at will along with a sound defense, coached up by coordinator Dean Pees.

Now, the Chiefs stand in the way. Kansas City is home and coming off a 51-point explosion. The Chiefs know they’re one win away from their first Super Bowl in 50 years. The crowd will be wild. Mahomes will be ready.

If the first two weeks of the postseason are any indication, so will the Titans.

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