KC Chiefs: Five things to watch vs Titans in AFC Championship Game

2019 DEFENSE VS 2018 DEFENSE

The biggest difference between last year’s Chiefs team and this year’s Chiefs team is simple: The defense is much better than it was a year ago.

Last year we saw the Patriots march right down the field in overtime and score a touchdown to win the game and send them to the Super Bowl. This year – while things didn’t get off to a great start – the defense has made a lot of improvements.

610 Sports mentioned earlier this week that there were only four returning players this year who were starters on the Chiefs defense in last year’s playoff run. Those guys were Kendall Fuller, Anthony Hitchens, Derrick Nnadi, and Daniel Sorensen (Chris Jones started in the title game, but not in the Divisional Round).

Since then, the Chiefs have added Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu, who have both been HUGE impact players on this defense. If last year’s team had this year’s defense, they’d have been Super Bowl bound and damn well could have won the whole thing. That’s why this year, fans should be even more confident in this team’s ability to go the distance.

CHIEFS HAVE THE EDGE IN THE KICKING BATTLE

Kicking field goals isn’t the sexy thing to do, especially in the playoffs, but if it comes down to being a kicker’s duel (I highly doubt that), then the Chiefs will certainly have the edge.

Harrison Butker has been on point this season and did well in the playoffs too. He wasn’t called upon much for field goals, kicking just one, but knocking it through the uprights. He made six of his seven extra point attempts.

On the other side of the field, there will be a Titans team who have not kicked a field goal since week 16 when they signed Greg Joseph as their kicker. Per Field Yates’ tweet below, Joseph has yet to try kicking a field goal since the Titans brought him in.

No one ever wants a game to come down to a field goal (it’s one of the most agonizing ways to lose), but if it’s looking like Tennessee might be forced to attempt one down the stretch, this will absolutely be something to keep an eye on.