Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET (12:00 PM CT)
Venue: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Broadcast: CBS: Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Melanie Collins (field reporter), NFL+ (streaming)
Local radio on WDAE (Chiefs affiliate) and WGFX (Titans)
Capacity: ~69,000 (expected low turnout given Titans’ struggles; Chiefs fans travel decently, but cold weather may limit overall attendance)
The Kansas City Chiefs (6-8) visit the woeful Tennessee Titans (2-12) in a lopsided AFC matchup with playoff implications solely for the visitors. Kansas City, despite a disappointing season marred by injuries and inconsistencies, remains mathematically alive for a wildcard spot and looks to keep faint hopes alive with a dominant performance. Tennessee, one of the NFL’s worst teams and long eliminated, plays for pride, draft positioning, and player evaluation in a lost year. This is the second meeting of 2025—Chiefs won 34-17 in Week 6 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, with Patrick Mahomes throwing for 300+ yards and the defense forcing four turnovers.
Team Records
Kansas City Chiefs: 6-8 overall (3-3 AFC West, 3rd in division)
Tennessee Titans: 2-12 overall (1-5 AFC South, last in division)
Chiefs have underachieved with talent but shown resilience; Titans in full rebuild mode after another dismal campaign.
Recent Team Forms
Kansas City Chiefs (4-6 in last 10; 2 straight wins): Andy Reid’s squad has stabilized late, most recently edging Denver 27-24 on December 15 behind Mahomes’ clutch drive and a resurgent run game. Offense mid-pack in scoring when healthy; defense opportunistic (top-10 turnovers forced) but vulnerable to big plays. Road form mixed (3-4 away).
Tennessee Titans (1-9 in last 10; 7 straight losses): Will Levis’ (or backup’s) group is collapsing, capped by a 38-10 blowout at Jacksonville on December 15 where the offense stalled repeatedly and the defense allowed 200+ rushing yards. QB play erratic; line depleted; defense bottom-5 in points/yards allowed. Home form poor (1-6).
Weather Updates
Nashville, TN (December 21, 2025 afternoon kickoff): Partly cloudy turning overcast, temperatures 42-48°F at kickoff dropping to mid-30s with wind chill near 25-30°F. Winds NW 10-20 mph (gusts to 25+), 20-30% chance of light flurries late. Typical late-December Tennessee weather—cold but dry; wind impacts deep passing/kicking slightly, favors ground games and short throws.
Injury Report (as of December 18-19 practice reports)
Kansas City Chiefs:
Out: WR Rashee Rice (knee, IR), LB Nick Bolton (wrist).
Questionable: OT Jawaan Taylor (groin, limited; trending play), RB Isiah Pacheco (shoulder).
Probable: QB Patrick Mahomes (full-go after ankle soreness), TE Travis Kelce.
Impact: Offense misses Rice’s explosiveness; line protection key if Taylor limited.
Tennessee Titans:
Out: QB Will Levis (shoulder, IR), WR Treylon Burks (knee, IR), OT Nicholas Petit-Frere (shoulder).
Questionable: DE Jeffery Simmons (groin, limited), LB Harold Landry (hamstring).
Probable: RB Tony Pollard.
Impact: Offense severely limited with backup QB; pass rush thinned without Simmons/Landry.
Chiefs healthier at skill positions; Titans’ absences exacerbate poor play.
Key Player Matchups
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes vs. Titans Secondary: Mahomes (elite even in down year, 25+ total TDs) exploits depleted Titans DBs; wind shortens field but Kelce/Xavier Worthy threats for chunk plays.
Chiefs Run Game (Pacheco if plays/Kareem Hunt) vs. Titans Front Seven: Chiefs’ ground attack grinds clock vs. weak Titans run D (150+ YPG allowed); physicality key in cold.
Titans Backup QB vs. Chiefs Pass Rush: Inexperienced signal-caller faces aggressive Chiefs pressure (Chris Jones impact); mistakes likely.
Titans RB Tony Pollard vs. Chiefs Linebackers: Pollard seeks volume; Chiefs solid run stop but tested without Bolton.
Special Teams Edge: Chiefs’ Harrison Butker reliable; Titans inconsistent in wind potential.
Series History
All-time: Chiefs lead 30-24 (including playoffs).
Recent: Chiefs won 8 of last 10, including 34-17 in Week 6 (Mahomes 4 TDs, Chiefs +4 turnovers).
This season: Chiefs dominated first meeting; Titans seek rare home win.
Trend: Chiefs own series lately; moderate-scoring in Nashville.
Betting Trends
Trends: Chiefs 7-5 ATS last 12 as favorite; Titans 4-8 ATS last 12 overall. Series Unders in December (5 of last 7).
Historical: Road favorites like Chiefs cover large spreads vs. poor home teams; weather tempers totals.
CHIEFS NOTES:
• QB GARDNER MINSHEW can make 1st start of season. Has passed for 11,972 yards & 68 TDs since 2019. Completed 26 of 42 atts. (61.9 pct.) for 312 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 100.5 rating in his last start vs. Ten. (12/3/23 w/ Ind.). • RB ISIAH PACHECO rushed for 21 yards in Week 15. Has 45+ scrimmage yards in 2 of his past 3 on road. • RB KAREEM HUNT has rush TD in 4 of his past 5 on road. Aims for his 5th in row on road with 50+ scrimmage yards. Had 35 scrimmage yards (22 rec., 13 rush) in his last game vs. Ten. (9/24/23 w/ Cle.). • WR RASHEE RICE had 7 catches for 51 yards in Week 15. Has 6+ catches in 4 of his past 5. • TE TRAVIS KELCE had 7 catches for 70 yards last week. Has TD catch in 3 of his past 4 on road. Had 10 catches for 106 yards in last meeting. • DT CHRIS JONES aims for his 3rd in row on road with TFL. Had half sack in last meeting. • DE GEORGE KARLAFTIS had 3 tackles & TFL in Week 15. Aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. • DE CHARLES OMENIHU had 1.5 sacks last week. • DE ASHTON GILLOTTE (rookie) had half sack & 1st-career INT in Week 15. Aims for his 3rd in row with half sack. • LB DRUE TRANQUILL led team with 14 tackles & had TFL last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 10+ tackles and TFL. Had 10 tackles, sack & FF in his last game vs. Ten. (12/18/22 w/ LAC). • LB NICK BOLTON had 11 tackles & TFL in Week 15. Aims for his 4th in row with 10+ tackles. • S BRYAN COOK had 7 tackles & PD last week. Has 5+ tackles in 5 of his past 6. • CB JAYLEN WATSON had 4 tackles & sack in Week 15. Has 5+ tackles in 2 of his past 3 on road.
TITANS NOTES:
• QB CAM WARD completed 18 of 29 atts. (62.1 pct.) for 170 pass yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 101.2 rating in Week 15. Leads all rookies in pass yards (2,638) & ranks 2nd in TD passes (11). Aims for his 4th in row at home with 60+ comp. pct. & 140+ pass yards. • RB TONY POLLARD led team with 112 scrimmage yards (104 rush, 8 rec.) & had rush TD last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 100+ scrimmage yards & rush TD. Had 70 scrimmage yards (50 rush, 20 rec.) in only career game vs. KC (11/21/21 w/ Dal.). • RB TYJAE SPEARS rushed for 34 yards in Week 15. Has 5+ catches in 2 of his past 3 at home. • WR VAN JEFFERSON had 43 rec. yards last week. • WR CHIMERE DIKE (rookie) has 4+ receptions in 3 of his past 4. • TE GUNNAR HELM (rookie) had 4 catches for 49 yards & TD in Week 15. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with 6+ catches. • LB CEDRIC GRAY led team with 16 tackles last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 10+ tackles. • LB CODY BARTON had 5 tackles in Week 15. Aims for his 3rd in row with 5+ tackles. Has 8+ tackles in 2 of his 3 career games vs. KC. • LB JAMES WILLIAMS had 4 tackles & 1st-career TFL last week. • LB JAYLEN HARRELL had sack in Week 15. Aims for his 3rd in row with half sack. • DT JEFFERY SIMMONS had 7 tackles, 2 TFL, sack & FF last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 7+ tackles, 2+ TFL & sack. Had 4 tackles & PD in last meeting. • S KENDELL BROOKS had career-high 8 tackles in Week 15. • S AMANI HOOKER had 7 tackles & PD last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 6+ tackles. • CB MARCUS HARRIS (rookie) had 7 tackles, TFL & PD in Week 15. Has PD in 3 of his past 4 at home.
Game Odds
Kansas City Chiefs – 3
Tennessee Titans 37.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, December 20, 2025
