The Kansas City Chiefs will be playing for pride in their matchup against the Tennessee Titans today after finding themselves eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15.
Tennessee hasn’t fared any better than the Chiefs this season, boasting a disappointing 2-12 record heading into its Week 16 meeting with Kansas City.
This week, Chiefs Wire sat down with Serena Burks of Titans Wire to get a better idea of what Tennessee might bring to the table in today’s game.
Take a look at Burks’ responses to our top questions below:
What has been the defining moment of the Titans’ 2025 season through 15 weeks?
“It’s funny to think about it like this, but I truly feel like firing Brian Callahan was the biggest defining moment of the season. The realization that he simply wasn’t the guy not only confirmed the season was over, but it underscored why the development of the Titans’ rookies was so slow. It took some time with Mike McCoy as interim head coach, but the Titans seem to be coming together as a team. They retain 37 players in 2026, so having the unity start now bodes well for 2026, but none of this happens without Brian Callahan getting fired.“
Who will be Tennessee’s most notable free agent in 2026?
“This is tough, it’s between Jihad Ward and Arden Key. I think Key is more notable though, he’s a bigger loss if the Titans don’t re-sign him. He’s in his third season with the team while Ward is in his first, so he knows the organization and what the expectations are. Key has less experience than Ward, but he’s still a veteran. In 10 games this season, Key has 19 tackles (7 solo) and four sacks/. Ward has registered 26 tackles (13 solo) and 4.5 sacks in 14 games. Plus, Ward is prone to drawing penalties. Key is a familiar face in the Titans’ locker room, and a trusted voice. The Titans need to find a way to keep him.“
How can the Titans lift themselves back to relevance next season?
“First and foremost, they MUST find a head coach with experience. They cannot afford to hire another OC/DC-turned coach to develop the incredibly talented rookie class they have now, let alone the rookies who are drafted in 2026. They’ve got to find someone with proven experience to take over this team. If they can do that, then I truly believe most things fall into place next season. They need to strengthen the offensive line and solidify the edge on defense, plus rebuild the secondary, which can all be done in free agency and the draft. But the most important thing they have to do is hire the right head coach.“
Final score prediction: Who wins and why?
“Honestly, even without Patrick Mahomes, the Titans will struggle. I’m not saying they won’t put up a fight, they absolutely will, and it will only take a couple of mistakes from Gardner Minshew for the Titans to sneak up on them. I almost never predict the Titans to win because, well, they’re the Titans. But they have a huge opportunity this week against the Chiefs, who will look fundamentally different without Mahomes on the field. I stand by my pick on TitansWire, the Titans win 24-21.“
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Behind Enemy Lines: Top intel on Tennessee before Chiefs vs. Titans
