Takeaways from Titans 20-17 loss to Chiefs
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The Tennessee Titans lost 20-17 in a tough battle with the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.
After being down 9-0 early on, the Titans scored 17 unanswered points heading into the fourth quarter.
Patrick Mahomes had his Mahomes magic moment using his legs to pick up a 3rd and 17 late in the fourth quarter. This was then followed up by a Mahomes 14-yard touchdown run and him also running it in for the game-tying two-point conversion to make it 17-17 at the end of regulation.
The Chiefs received the ball first in overtime and drove down the field for a field goal to go up 20-17.
The Titans had a chance to respond but two back-to-back sacks on Malik Willis ultimately sealed the deal for the Chiefs comeback win.
In this game there was a lot to go over and here are some of my takeaways on this showing from the Titans in primetime.
Malik Willis showed flashes but still has a long way to go.
Malik Willis started for the second consecutive game for the Titans after Ryan Tannehill was listed out due to a nagging ankle injury.
He had some nice runs with some read options with Derrick Henry. He also had some nice throws specifically to Austin Hooper. But he is still a rookie and it showed in the final moments of the game when he took those two sacks in overtime.
Willis also only completed five of his sixteen passes for 80 yards. Most of those yards came on his first pass to tight end Chig Okonkwo was able to run for a big gain on a tight end screen.
But it showed how he still has a long way to go in developing his passing game to go along with his running ability.
The Titans should not have traded AJ Brown.
When the Titans traded AJ Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles at the draft, many were confused including myself why the team would not pay the young and star wide receiver.
Well, they certainly would have loved to have him in this game because this passing offense has proved once again why they are the worse in the league.
No Titans wide receivers caught a pass in this game. This wide receiver group could not get open for Willis and while Henry ran rampant in the first half, at some point there needs to be some passing to complement it.
AJ Brown also tweeted during the game stating clearly how there was no one getting open. Brown currently has more receiving yards and touchdowns than all of the Titans wide receivers combined. If anything this trade looks like one the Titans will regret for a long time.
Give credit to this Titans defense for hanging in there.
The Titans defense frustrated the high powered Chiefs offense for most of the game until the fourth quarter when they could not contain Mahomes and his running ability.
The defense came away with four sacks and one interception. This defensive line was able to pressure Mahomes mainly with just four rushers and the coverage in the back end proved to be a factor as well.
Overall, this defense can only do so much when they are left on the field most of this game and it doesn't help that this offense cannot produce right now.
