Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL Playoffs: Full Wild Card round preview

By Logan Stanley

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 24: Running Back Todd Gurley II #30 of the Los Angeles Rams carries the ball against the Tennessee Titians at Nissan Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 24: Running Back Todd Gurley II #30 of the Los Angeles Rams carries the ball against the Tennessee Titians at Nissan Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 31: Running back Kareem Hunt #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs breaks away for a first quarter touchdown run against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 31, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 31: Running back Kareem Hunt #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs breaks away for a first quarter touchdown run against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 31, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Titans vs. Chiefs

Game information: January 6 at 1:20 p.m., ESPN

TEN ranking — DVOA

Offense: 18th

Defense: 21st

Total: 18th

KC ranking — DVOA

Offense: 4th

Defense: 30th

Total: 10th

The Tennessee Titans, despite losing three consecutive games at the end of the season, managed to slip into the playoffs as the No. 5 seed. The Titans finished 9-7, second in the AFC South.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota struggled with volume and inaccuracy his third year, throwing for 3,232 yards with 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Mariota rushed 312 yards and five touchdowns on 60 carries, receiving an 85.5 run grade from PFF.

It started well out for the Kansas City Chiefs, beginning with a 5-0 record. But they hit a snag, losing five out of their next six games. A winning streak to finish it out landed them with a 10-6 record and the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs.

Kansas City has been led by quarterback Alex Smith, who became the first player in NFL history to have five straight seasons of 3,000+ yards and 10 or fewer interceptions, and rookie running back Kareem Hunt.

Hunt, a third-round draft pick out of Toledo, took the league by storm with his dismantling of the New England Patriots defense in the season opener. His strong start continued before falling victim to a stretch of sluggish play, but he capped off the season very strong, winning the NFL’s rushing title with 1,327 yards.

The first-year player scored a total of 11 touchdowns and is tied for PFF’s No. 3  graded running back at 89.3.

Prediction: Chiefs 31, Titans 17