With Mahomes out, Chiefs turn to Minshew trying to snap a 3-game skid visiting struggling Titans

Kansas City (6-8) at Tennessee (2-12)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS.

BetMGM NFL odds: Chiefs by 3 1/2.

Against the spread: Chiefs 5-9, Titans 6-8.

Series record: Chiefs lead 31-25.

Last meeting: Chiefs beat the Titans 20-17 in OT at Kansas City, Missouri, on Nov. 6, 2022.

Last week: Chiefs lost to the Chargers 16-13; Titans lost to the 49ers 37-24.

Chiefs offense: overall (7), rush (20), pass (5), scoring (15t).

Chiefs defense: overall (8), rush (7), pass (14), scoring (5).

Titans offense: overall (31), rush (30), pass (31), scoring (29t).

Titans defense: overall (27), rush (20), pass (25), scoring (28).

Turnover differential: Chiefs minus-2; Titans minus-4.

Chiefs player to watch

QB Gardner Minshew. The veteran backup will be under center with Patrick Mahomes recovering from surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left knee. Minshew has started 46 games in his NFL career, so taking the opening snap won’t be new for him. He completed his first three passes after taking over in the final minutes against the Chargers last week, but his interception two plays later sealed the 16-13 loss.

Titans player to watch

QB Cam Ward. The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft has started a rookie franchise-record 14 games for Tennessee. He also is coming off his first game without being sacked, but remains tied for the most sacked quarterback in the NFL. He also threw two TD passes last week.

Key matchup

The Chiefs run defense vs. Titans RB Tony Pollard. The veteran running back is coming off his two best rushing games this season and another 100-yard rushing performance would be the first in his NFL career. The Chiefs rank seventh in the NFL allowing 99.1 yards rushing per game.

Key injuries

Chiefs: WRs Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton were in the concussion protocol. … LT Jaylon Moore (knee), RT Jawaan Taylor (triceps and elbow), CB Trent McDuffie (knee) and LB Leo Chenal (shoulder) also missed practice time.

Titans: LB Cedric Gray is in the concussion protocol. … RG Kevin Zeitler (groin) and WR Van Jefferson (back) missed practice time. … S Amani Hooker went home Wednesday sick. … TE Gunnar Helm (toe) is limited by an injured toe. … OLB Oluwafemi Oladejo (fibula), OLB Ali Gaye (knee) and WR Bryce Oliver (knee) started practicing Wednesday, trying to return from injured reserve.

Series notes

These are original AFL franchises who first met in 1960 when the Chiefs were the Dallas Texans. The Chiefs have won two of the past three against the Titans after a four-game losing streak, including a 35-24 win in the AFC championship game in January 2020. The Titans beat the Chiefs in the wild-card round in January 2018, the year before Mahomes became the starting quarterback in Kansas City.

Stats and stuff

The Chiefs already have been eliminated from the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Their streak of nine straight AFC West titles, seven consecutive AFC championship game appearances and three straight Super Bowl trips also have ended. … The Chiefs have lost three straight and five of their last six. The only win came in overtime against Indianapolis. … Kansas City has not lost four consecutive games since midway through the 2017 season. … The Chiefs are 1-5 on the road this season. … Chiefs TE Travis Kelce needs 52 yards receiving to reach 13,000 for his career. He has caught a pass in 188 consecutive games, the longest streak in franchise history and longest active streak in the NFL. … DT Chris Jones needs 1 1/2 sacks to pass Neil Smith (85 1/2) for third-most in Chiefs history. … The Titans are looking for their first home win this season. The Titans are mired in an 11-game skid, tied for this franchise’s longest since moving to Tennessee in 1997. The then-Houston Oilers lost 13 straight over the 1972 and 1973 seasons with each of those teams going 1-13. … Ward posted a season-high 101.2 passer rating last week. He leads all rookies with 2,638 yards passing and is second with 11 TD passes. … DT Jeffery Simmons had seven tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble last week. … Pollard led the Titans with 112 yards from scrimmage last week. … RB Tyjae Spears ran for 34 yards last week. … TE Gunnar Helm had four catches for 49 yards and a TD last week, and the rookie has had at least six catches in his past two home games. … LB Cedric Gray led the Titans with 16 tackles last week. … LB Jaylen Harrell had a sack last week.

Fantasy tip

Kelce, the Chiefs’ leading receiver, will be a top target for Minshew against a Tennessee defense whose top tackler is trying to clear the concussion protocol and a secondary that just put three safeties on injured reserve Tuesday.

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