2020 NFL Playoffs: Picks, score predictions for Conference Championships
Tennessee Titans (6) at Kansas City Chiefs (2)
Sunday, January 19, 3:05PM ET
It’s becoming more and more difficult to pick against the Tennessee Titans. They’ve pulled off two impressive upsets in a row, including the toppling of the presumed MVP and Super Bowl favorites. Can they make it three in a row against the red-hot Kansas City Chiefs?
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I’ll probably regret it, but I’m going to say no.
Yes, the Titans have looked like a different club during the playoffs. Ryan Tannehill is playing well despite the limited yardage, and Derrick Henry is running like a man possessed. The Tennessee defense is also doing its job, as we saw when they put the clamps on Lamar Jackson this past weekend. Through the first two postseason games, they’ve been locked in.
With that said, I don’t think they’re ready to flip the scrip against the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes is one of the best quarterbacks in the business, and he’s got more weapons to work with than Jackson did. On top of that, the Kansas City defense has been among the league’s stingiest units over the last couple of months. There’s a reason I picked them to win Super Bowl 54.
It won’t be as lopsided as you’d probably expect when considering the regular-season results for these two teams. The Titans barely even made the playoffs, while the Chiefs were a lock for most of the season. Still, we can’t ignore the fact that Tennessee has been a revelation since January rolled around.
Mike Vrabel‘s club keeps things interesting, but Mahomes and Andy Reid have the last laugh as they earn a trip to Miami.
Prediction: Chiefs win 21-17