Titans vs. Chiefs: TV Schedule, Odds, Ticket Info, Game Time and More

The Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs will start Wild Card Weekend and 2018 postseason action on Saturday. We'll see Alex Smith attempt to prove he's more than a quality regular-season quarterback, while third-year signal-caller Marcus Mariota makes his playoff debut.

The Chiefs traded up to acquire Patrick Mahomes in the No. 10 spot of the 2017 draft. Smith knows the sun will soon set on his tenure in Kansas City. Before the transition, he comes into the playoffs on a division-leading team with the fifth-ranked offense.

How far will Smith carry this club? The Chiefs must put up points to offset their flaws on defense.

Tennessee found enough success to reach the playoffs for the first time in nine years since former head coach Jeff Fisher's tenure. On the downside, Mariota has experienced his worst statistical season with more interceptions (15) than touchdown passes (13).

Will the Titans pull off an upset at Arrowhead Stadium, or do the Chiefs advance to the divisional round in consecutive seasons?

Game Details

When: Saturday, January 6, at 4:35 p.m. ET

Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Television: ABC/ESPN

Tickets: StubHub

Odds: Kansas City Chiefs (-7) via OddsShark

Tennessee Titans' Key Factor: Marcus Mariota's Legs

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It's all hands on deck—or in this case all legs on the ground for the Titans. According to ESPN.com reporter Cameron Wolfe, head coach Mike Mularkey won't rule running back DeMarco Murray out for the game. There's hope he can play through a knee injury that caused him to miss the previous outing. Nevertheless, it's unrealistic to think Murray would have a significant impact on the upcoming contest with an ailment.

Tennessee can still move the ball behind a top-tier offensive line. Mariota is third on the team in rushing yards with 312.

Mularkey isn't opposed to a few quarterback keepers if necessary, per TitanInsider.com writer Terry McCormick.

The Chiefs allowed 100 rushing yards once, in Week 17, through the final quarter of the season. Mariota hasn't thrown the ball with much success this season, so he must use his legs to pick up the victory.

Kansas City Chiefs' Key Factor: Matt Nagy's Offensive Play Calling

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The Chiefs averaged 28.6 points over the past five contests with assistant Matt Nagy calling the plays.

Nagy started pushing the right buttons in Week 13 against the New York Jets. Down the stretch, running back Kareem Hunt took on a bigger workload, logging 24-plus carries and 100-plus yards from scrimmage in each contest between Weeks 14 and 16.

As long as the Chiefs don't resort to too many gadget or trick plays, this offense, ranked sixth in the NFL, should coast to victory over a team struggling to put up points.

Prediction

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Murray's injury hurts the Titans, but this offense struggled with him on the field. The 29-year-old's availability isn't the deciding factor in this matchup. He's finished with a single-season low in rushing yards (659), and Derrick Henry will carry the torch in the backfield going forward.

Tennessee's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars delayed Mularkey's potential exit. This club doesn't have the coaching staff in place to optimize Mariota's skill set or the weapons around him.

We'll see the juxtapose between the Titans offense and the Chiefs unit in a crucial playoff game with the edge going to Kansas City.

Prediction: Chiefs 31, Titans 20