The 5th seeded Tennessee Titans, led by quarterback Marcus Mariota, meet the 4th seeded Kansas City Chiefs, led by quarterback Alex Smith and running back Kareem Hunt, in an NFL AFC Wild Card playoff game on Saturday, January 6, 2018 (1/6/18) at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City Missouri.
Here are NJ Advance Media's picks and predictions for the game.
Here's what you need to know:
What: AFC Wild Card game 2018
When: Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018
Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Time: 4:35 p.m. Eastern
TV: ESPN and ABC
Livestream: WatchESPN
Line: Chiefs -9
Injury report:
Titans notes: QB MARCUS MARIOTA is making 1st career postseason start. Is 1 of 5 QBs in NFL history with 9,000+ pass yards (9,476) & 900+ rush yards (913) in 1st 3 seasons. Since entering league in 2015, has 39 TD passes vs. 0 INTs in red zone, highest TD/INT ratio in NFL over span. * RB DE MARCO MURRAY has 225 scrimmage yards (112.5 per game) & 2 rush TDs in 2 career postseason games. Leads NFL with 43 rush TDs & ranks 2nd in league with 5,614 rush yards since 2013. Had 141 scrimmage yards (89 rush, 52 rec.) in last game vs. KC. RB DERRICK HENRY led team with career-high 744 rush yards. Had 3 65+ yard TDs from scrimmage in 2017, most in NFL. * TE DELANIE WALKER led team with 74 catches & 807 rec. yards. Is 1 of 2 NFL TEs (TRAVIS KELCE) with 800+ rec. yards in each of past 4 seasons. WR ERIC DECKER has 30 catches for 415 rec. yards (83 per game) with 7 TD catches in his past 5 vs. KC. WR RISHARD MATTHEWS had 105 rec. yards in last meeting. * LB WESLEY WOODYARD led team with career-high 121 tackles. Was 1 of 2 players in NFL (DEMARIO DAVIS) with 100+ tackles & 5+ sacks (5). LB AVERY WILLIAMSON is 1 of 4 in team history with 2+ seasons with 90+ tackles (92) & 3+ sacks (3). S KEVIN BYARD tied for NFL lead with 8 INTs, 3rd most by safety in team history. Had league-leading 3 multi-INT games in 2017. Rookie CB ADOREE' JACKSON was only NFL CB with 70+ tackles (70) & 15+ PD (17). DT JURRELL CASEY had 6 sacks, his 5th consecutive season with 5+ sacks.
Chiefs notes: QB ALEX SMITH led NFL with career-high 104.7 rating & was 1 of 3 QBs (TOM BRADY & DREW BREES) with 4,000+ pass yards (4,042) & fewer than 10 INTs (5). Has 3,000+ pass yards & fewer than 10 INTs in 5 consecutive seasons, longest streak in NFL history. Ranked 3rd in NFL with 67.5 comp. pct. (341 of 505). In 6 career postseason games, has 12 TD passes vs. 2 INTs for 94.5 rating. * RB KAREEM HUNT led NFL with franchise rookie record 1,327 rush yards & is 2nd rookie not selected in 1st round (PAUL ROBINSON in 1968) to lead his league in rush yards since 1967. Led all rookies & ranked 3rd in NFL with 1,782 scrimmage yards. Aims for 5th in row with rush TD. * TE TRAVIS KELCE led all NFL TEs with 83 catches & ranked 2nd with 1,038 rec. yards. Is 1 of 2 players in franchise history (TONY GONZALEZ) with consecutive seasons with 80+ catches & 1,000+ rec. yards. Has 75+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3 in postseason. WR-PR TYREEK HILL ranked 4th in AFC with career-high 1,183 rec. yards. Had 6 50+ yard TDs (5 rec., 1 PR), most in NFL. WR ALBERT WILSON aims for 3rd postseason game in row with TD catch. * LB JUSTIN HOUSTON led team with 9.5 sacks. Since entering league in 2011, has 69.5 sacks, 5th most in NFL. Has 3 sacks in past 3 vs. Ten. CB MARCUS PETERS has 4 PD & INT in 3 career playoff games. Is only NFL player with 5+ INTs in each of past 3 seasons. Since entering league in 2015, leads league with 19 INTs & 55 PD. S DANIEL SORENSEN was 1 of 5 NFL safeties with 80+ tackles (88), sack (1.5) & INT (1). -- NFL Communications