Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tennessee Titans: Chiefs Week 1 Game Preview
By the time Sunday arrives, it will be 246 days since the Chiefs last played a meaningful football game. They move forward with a new season starting Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
Arrowhead Stadium will be filled with Chiefs fans who want to see the team duplicate its 2013 success. Although there are some concerns with the team, Chiefs fans will put them aside when they wake up and realize that the Chiefs will soon kick off their season.
The first Chiefs game is upon us, and fans are excited. Here is Sunday’s preview to get you ready.
Preseason Recap
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It wasn’t a pretty August for the first-team offense. Alex Smith briefly led the first-team offense in the first three preseason games, but he never led the Chiefs to a touchdown drive. Although he was without Jamaal Charles for two games and Dwayne Bowe for one match, that is not a valid excuse to produce zero touchdown drives with the offense.
On top of that, Smith was sacked six times through three exhibition games. With the offensive line struggling and Donald Stephenson suspended for the first four games, coach Andy Reid was forced to make adjustments along the offensive line.
Overall, it was a discouraging preseason the offense wants to put behind it.
News and Notes
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A pair of players returning on defense
Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star reported earlier this week that defensive end Mike DeVito and safety Eric Berry both expect to play Sunday against the Titans. Both defensive starters missed the entire preseason due to injury, with the coaching staff wanting to keep them sidelines for precautionary reasons.
A pair of players suspended on offense
The Chiefs will be without two of their starters on offense as wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was handed a one-game suspension while right tackle Donald Stephenson is out for four games. Due to league rules, a suspended player cannot practice, be at the team’s facility nor games and can’t have contact with anyone from the team until his suspension is over. Starting the season with two offensive starters suspended is never ideal, especially to kick off a season.
Injury Report
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| Name | Position | Injury | Practice Status | Game Status |
| Eric Berry | S | Heel | Full Participation in Practice | -- |
| Marcus Cooper | CB | -- | Did Not Participate In Practice | -- |
| Mike Devito | DE | Hand | Full Participation in Practice | -- |
| Tamba Hali | LB | -- | Full Participation in Practice | -- |
| Junior Hemingway | WR | Hip | Full Participation in Practice | -- |
| A.J. Jenkins | WR | -- | Full Participation in Practice | -- |
| Eric Kush | C | -- | Limited Participation in Practice | -- |
| Josh Martin | LB | -- | Full Participation in Practice | -- |
| Anthony Sherman | RB | -- | Full Participation in Practice | -- |
| De'Anthony Thomas | RB | Hamstring | Did Not Participate In Practice | -- |
| Vance Walker | DT | -- | Full Participation in Practice | -- |
| Albert Wilson | WR | -- | Full Participation in Practice | -- |
| Frank Zombo | LB | -- | Full Participation in Practice | -- |
The Chiefs have a long injury list, but a majority of the injured players fully participated in practice.
Because Bowe and Stephenson will be absent, it is vital that the Chiefs have a thin list of injuries and have their starters available going into the season opener.
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X-Factors and Key Matchups
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OLBs Tamba Hali and Justin Houston vs. OTs Michael Roos and Michael Oher
Newly acquired right tackle Michael Oher and All-Pro left tackle Michael Roos are set for an intense matchup this week against the league's most dominant pass-rushing duo. Roos allowed only three sacks last year while Oher gave up 10 as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
Tamba Hali and Justin Houston will have to pick on Oher to increase their chances of getting to quarterback Jake Locker. Nonetheless, both players will give Locker a hard time. For Locker, a young quarterback in his fourth year with 18 starts under his belt, this may be a game he will want to forget by the time it's over.
TE Travis Kelce vs. Titans Pass Defense
Running back Jamaal Charles appears to be the only viable weapon on offense, even with Dwayne Bowe. Travis Kelce had an impressive preseason, leading all tight ends in receiving yards with 193 and finishing fifth among all NFL receivers in the preseason.
Expect quarterback Alex Smith to target Kelce a few times. If Kelce catches a pass in the open field, he will give the Chiefs offense a lot of yards and bring them close to the end zone, or take it in himself with his speed.
Chiefs' X-Factor: S Eric Berry
Eric Berry is projected to play on Sunday, and the Chiefs need him. With Brandon Flowers now a Charger, he is the only major impact player the Chiefs have in their secondary. The Chiefs can't afford Locker to throw long passes to his targets. Berry will have a strong pass-rush helping him out. The rest is up to him and the rest of the defensive backs to limit the Titans.
Prediction
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The Chiefs should do well defensively against the Titans. They have a strong front seven that will give Locker a hard time getting the ball to his receivers.
The key is Kansas City's offensive line. If the line can keep Smith's jersey clean, then he will have the time he needs to get the ball to his receivers. Smith will be sacked at least a couple of times in this game, but as long as the Chiefs don't allow the Titans to be excessive, Smith will be fine.
Charles and Kelce may be the only key targets for Smith, but that could be enough to get the job done against the Titans.
Final score: Chiefs 24, Titans 14
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