Tennessee Titans: Final thoughts heading into AFC Championship

The Tennessee Titans are heading into Kansas City for the game of the decade with a chance to go to the Super Bowl.

Heading into the first AFC Championship of the decade, the Tennessee Titans have an opportunity to go to its second Super Bowl in franchise history.

Ahead of the game, I wanted to share my final thoughts heading into Championship Sunday, and I have a pretty good feeling about today’s game.

Derrick Henry has an opportunity to have another drop-dead performance, which would be his third in as many playoff games during this Titans run.

Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark is following the footsteps of the Ravens’ Earl Thomas. Based on how that turned out for Thomas, things might not go well for Clark.

"“He’s not hard to hit,” he said. “He’s just a big guy. 240, 245, 250, honestly he should be running harder at his weight and at his size. I don’t see no difficulty in tackling him… He’s just easy to me up front because I don’t look at any running back like they can’t be tackled. He’s not one of the best guys at breaking tackles to me honestly.”"

Yeah, ok, we’ll see about that, buddy. He’s one of the best players in the playoffs right now, if not the best, and your underestimation of him will only come back to bite you.

I think Henry could very well have another breakout game, but I think this is the game where Ryan Tannehill shows out.

Tannehill has done just enough to get the job done through the first two playoff games, so I think some people may have forgotten about Tannehill, but he’s still a force to be reckoned with.

If Tannehill and Henry are both in sync and they both have big games, then there is no way the Chiefs will beat the Titans.

I expect Patrick Mahomes to show up, but I think Tannehill will outplay Mahomes, as I have previously stated.

The defense will be a big factor in this game. The Titans’ defense has successfully executed two different gameplans for its two playoff games, and I think that is a big reason why the defense has been successful.

Mike Vrabel would be dumb not to do the same thing and have a completely different gameplan for the Chiefs. I think it will be a mix of what we’ve seen over the past few weeks, along with what was successful in the Titans win over the Chiefs earlier in the season.

The betting line for this game still sits at seven or 7.5, depending on your bookie. The Action Network has the Titans currently sitting at 7.5 point underdogs, which I think is still way too big of a spread.

I think the Titans easily cover that spread and win the game. The

Titans haven’t made a field goal

in lightyears, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this game is where the Titans have to depend on a field goal or two.

The offense has been pretty efficient, and if they can continue that this Sunday, then I have a really good feeling about how this is going to turn out.

According to Vivid Seats, 25% of the fans that will be in Arrowhead will be Titans fans. That’s the most of any visiting team this playoffs, so the amazing home-field advantage that Kansas City offers will be drowned out a bit.

Regardless of what the stats say, everything goes out the window on Championship Sunday, especially with the path the Titans are currently on. Are you excited? I’m excited.