Goin' Sixty Again With Me-Chiefs VS Titans-Music City Miracle II
A tremendous sense of anticipation is in the air as Chiefs fans by the thousands down in Nashville, and in front of their televisions here in Kansas City are geeked as the Chiefs and the Titans get set to go at it in Tennessee. Totally unrelated to the game is this little personal note. I have a soft spot for all things Nashville, since my kids lived their when they were little girls from 2000-05. I spent hours and hours at the Nashville Zoo and the Grand Old Opry Mall, and while I don’t really root for the Titans, I do follow the NHL Predators closely.
Back to today, where Patrick Mahomes comes back, and the excitement around the Chiefs isn’t just due to the return of the prodigal Pat, it is also rooted in the fact Kansas City thrived, more than just survived, in the 2 ¾ games that Mahomes was out. Matt Moore was good, and the defense gained confidence in keeping the Chiefs in the game against the Packers, and then playing their best game against Minnesota.
Let’s rock and roll. It appeared that the game would begin with a reality check thud as Mahomes rolled right, threw against his body and had Kenny Vaccaro pick him off. But Tyreek Hill did enough to keep Vaccaro from hanging on, and early tension is averted. The drive goes on, third and nine after another near pick, no problem. First and 24, no worries. The Titans get a first-hand lesson that you can’t let chances go by. A seven-point lesson after two near interceptions, and a missed tackle on third down, as Travis Kelce takes a shovel pass in from the three. Chiefs 7-0.
Bad to worse for the Titans. Tannehill first holds the ball too long and Chris Jones beats a double team to force the ball out. Then with an easy chance to recover the ball, he is too casual again and the Chiefs get the ball. They score a touchdown, for a second, but a barrage of penalties ends up forcing a thirty-yard field goal by Butker, although the Chiefs come within two yards of overcoming second and 26. 10-0.
The Titans get a little something going on their next drive, but on third-and-five in Chiefs territory, Tannehill holds the ball too long…again…and Emmanuel Ogbah ends the drive with a sack. The Chiefs are in position to completely take all the air out of this one as the second quarter begins. They are rolling up the field when Mahomes misses Hill deep for a touchdown, and then on third down throws a bit high under pressure for Watkins, who should haul it down, but doesn’t. Eureka….a punt, and a bad one for Colquitt.
The missed chance for an early knockout hurts for the time being. Tannehill throws a beautiful deep ball that burns Charvarious Ward. Originally it’s ruled a touchdown after Kalif Raymond scrambles to his feet after a 53 yard gain, but review shows Ward touched him. It’s only a temporary reprieve. Two plays later a post pattern to Anthony Firkser (yes, a man who went to Harvard and is named Firkser can play football) makes it a game for now. Chiefs 10-7.
A game that ten minutes ago seemed on the verge of being a blowout is back in the hat after a scoop and score on a Damien Williams fumble at midfield. Rashaan Evans rumbles all the way in. Ryan Succop tosses a nice little consolation prize to his former mates by yanking the extra point. Amazingly, it’s 13-10 Titans in a game that at the two- minute warning has seen the Chiefs run thirty-eight plays, and the Titans thirteen.
The Chiefs are also losing offensive lineman left and right, and right now have no available subs. Mitchell Schwarz has seen his streak on almost eight thousand snaps end. Despite all this the Chiefs have maneuvered their way into field goal range, and they tie the game on a 41-yard Butker field goal.
Neither team can work their final drive and, it’s 13-13 at the half despite the Chiefs gaining 254 yards and the Titans 118. Even though it’s tied and the Chiefs did indeed miss a chance for a knockout, it still doesn’t have the feel of an upset as the second half begins.
Tyler Lewan single-handedly torpedoes the Titans first drive with multiple penalties, and the Chiefs get the ball back trying to gain control of this game again. A defensive hold keeps the Chiefs on the field after a third down stop, and the Titans already know extra chances are death to you. True that….a lovely lob to Hill covers the last eleven yards, but Harrison Butker gives back the extra point advantage back with a miss. 19-13 Chiefs.
It soon has cost the Chiefs the lead. on the second play of the drive. Derrick Henry tears through a big hole and houses a 68 yard run, and now this has become an all day sucker with some real heat on the Chiefs. The Titans are keeping the Chiefs mainly to medium gains, they don’t have a thirty yard play thus far, and that becomes good enough for a go-ahead field goal late in the third. In reality the Titans are probably quite happy with the game flow even though it’s Chiefs 22-20.
Tannehill has quite a knack for holding the ball, and he takes another sack as the fourth quarter begins that kills their possession, and The Chiefs have another chance to take control. Mahomes efficient, but not spectacular day, changes dramatically when under severe duress on third-and-nine he leaps up to throw a pass to Mecole Hardman, who blurs away from two defenders, and makes it a two score game 29-20. Mahomes makes so many of those type of magic plays that you grow used to it, and you shouldn’t. Big time stuff.
Stuff is what happens next to create drama to the finish. Like stuff it down your throat. Which is just what Travis Henry and the Titans do, bullying down the field to cut the lead to 29-27 with just over five minutes left. Back to you Chiefs offense to salt this away. Giving the ball back to the Titans up two sounds like a death sentence. The job got half done, A big hit to Hill gets the Chiefs deep, but the Titans stiffen, and Butker’s fourth field goal means a field goal won’t beat the Chiefs, but a TD will.
3:14 is enough time to still run it, and Henry rips of a big gainer on the first play. But the second series sees the Chiefs cause problems and then get another hold-the-ball sack of Tannehill. On the play after the two minute warning it’s fourth and seventeen. The Chiefs blitz and Tannehill and he just misses a deep ball.
Not quite over, and then it gets bizarre.
The Chiefs can’t move it, but the Chiefs are in field goal range. But Dustin Colquitt isn’t looking for the snap and the field operation is a disaster. And then the game becomes a disaster, as Tennesee hits three big plays, the last a 23-yard TD to Adam Humphries with a two point conversion tacked on. But the dream for the Titans isn’t quite real with twenty three seconds left.
The Titans kick short on one play, and then don’t rush on the next and, presto, somehow, the Chiefs still have a shot at their own miracle, a game tying 52 yard field goal. Another special teams disaster makes this game one to remember for the Titans, and one to burn in effigy for the Chiefs. The kick is blocked and a game that seems to have been almost impossible to lose…is.
Four hundred yards passing for Mahomes, way over a hundred receiving for Hill, jump passes, great catches, sacks. A Chiefs highlight reel that somehow ended as a horror movie.
35-32 Titans. Inexplicable.