Chiefs fans may have reason to blare Merle Haggard at 142.2 decibels, as Kansas City failed to score a touchdown and lost another quarterback to a knee injury in a 26-9 loss Sunday, Dec. 21 to the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
A Chiefs squad hobbled with injuries were dealt another blow early in the second quarter when Gardner Minshew left the game after an injury to his left knee, completing just three of his eight pass attempts for 15 yards. That resulted in third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun coming in to run the offense, which struggled to gain traction against a Titans defense that came into Sunday that allowed an average of 28 points per game.
The Chiefs also failed to get out of their own way, as Kareem Hunt was tackled for a safety after a pair of penalties pushed KC back to their own two-yard line. The Chiefs would get their only lead of the game on the next drive, when Harrison Butker connected on a 54-yard field goal. The Titans retook the lead on their next drive, going 11 plays and 89 yards, culminating in the first of two touchdown throws from Cam Ward. The Chiefs were only able to respond with a Butker field goal from 41 yards before the end of the half.
Ward would throw his other touchdown pass in the opening drive of the third quarter, extending Tennessee’s lead. The Chiefs’ first drive of the half stalled, resulting in a missed Butker field goal attempt from 51 yards. The defense forced a turnover on downs at midfield on Tennessee’s drive, but even with a defensive pass interference, a fumble by Oladokun in the red zone resulted in the Chiefs settling for a 27-yarder from Butker. Tennessee wrapped up the afternoon with a rushing touchdown and a field goal of their own, while forcing the Chiefs to go three-and-out on their remaining drives. Oladokun suffered three of his four sacks on those drives.
Tennessee won for the first time at home this season, as Cam Ward went 21-for-28 for 228 yards. Tony Pollard carried the ball 21 yards for 102 yards, while Tyjae Spears scored the Titans’ rushing touchdown among his 13 carries for 52 yards. By comparison, the Chiefs totaled just 51 yards on the ground and 126 yards in the air. The Chiefs recorded just nine first downs in the game compared to Tennessee’s 22, with Tennessee going nine-for-17 on third down while the Chiefs were only able to convert on third down once. The Chiefs had 10 penalties for 59 yards, while Tennessee saw 12 penalties accepted for 82 yards.
The Chiefs will have their first losing season in 13 years, the first under Andy Reid, as they fall to 6-9. The final game of the Arrowhead Stadium is set for Christmas evening, when the Chiefs host a Denver Broncos team whose 11-game winning streak was snapped Sunday by Jacksonville. Kickoff is at 7:15 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning Thursday evening at 6 p.m. on KMMO-FM 102.9.