The Tennessee Titans are making their first appearance in the AFC Championship game since Jan. 19, 2003 at Oakland, going up against a stout Kansas City Chiefs team in Arrowhead Stadium.
Taking down Kansas City will be no easy task for the Titans, but the team has proven they can already in 2019, defeating the Chiefs, 35-32 back in November.
Tennessee hasn’t come up short of finding a way to win, and has the power on both sides of the ball to get the job done on Sunday.
Here’s a look at just five Titans to turn your attention to on Sunday.
1. S Kevin Byard.
Byard isn’t the highest-paid safety in the game without reason.
He’s earned every bit of his five year, $70.5 million extension, currently second in the NFL with five interceptions.
He was key in last week’s game against the Ravens, intercepting a seemingly unstoppable Lamar Jackson and totaling 11 tackles.
He’s racked up 101 tackles, six interceptions and 10 passes defensed on the 2019 season.
2. TE Jonnu Smith.
The Titans couldn’t ask for much more from the versatile Smith in veteran pass-catcher Delanie Walker’s place.
One of his most impressive plays of the season came on a one-handed catch landing on his backside in the end-zone during last week’s win over Baltimore.
On the season, Smith totals 38 receptions for 460 yards and four touchdowns.
3. WR Kalif Raymond.
While the Titans didn’t exactly throw the ball a lot on the Ravens, Raymond did finish the game as the leading receiver with a 45-yard touchdown reception.
This season, he’s recorded 10 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns.
It will be interesting to see what the Titans’ offensive game plan looks like heading into the title game, and how much Raymond is able to factor into that.
4. LB Jayon Brown/LB David Long.
Brown was out last week with a shoulder injury, but returned to practice this week and is now considered to be back at limited capacity.
David Long was one player who stepped up in his place as the Titans put the Ravens away last week, ending the game with six tackles and a strong 4th & 1 stop.
The rookie totals 25 tackles, one forced fumble and a pass defensed this season.
Despite Long’s impressive performance, it would serve the Titans well to have one of the most dominant pieces of their defense back in action if he’s at full health by game day.
Brown has racked up 108 tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery, an interception and eight passes defensed this year.
5. LB Derick Roberson.
Roberson came up with just one tackle last week, but has been an impact player as of late.
He started out on the practice squad, but the Sam Houston State product has made a name for himself.
Two of his biggest plays of the year were a tackle on Pats running back James White for a 4-yard loss on a third-and-15 screen pass in the first game of the postseason, and a sack on New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees for a seven-yard loss at the bottom of the regular season.
He totals 15 tackles and five sacks in his rookie year.
Roberson is certainly capable of coming up with big defensive plays, but the question is as to just how much of a difference-maker he’ll be on Sunday.
