It’s long been said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. If that’s the case, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel just gave Chiefs head coach Andy Reid quite the compliment. Tennessee was already up 3-0 on the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game when running back Derrick Henry took the direct snap for a four-yard touchdown run.
KingCat đź‘‘@KingHenry_2 | #TENvsKC pic.twitter.com/M8J4L9kigU
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 19, 2020
As Jim Nantz and Tony Romo pointed out on the CBS commentary, this touchdown was quite similar to a four-yard touchdown run by tight end Travis Kelce in Week 14, when the Chiefs beat the Patriots with it. Fake the pitch to the man in motion, and run it up the gut.
That, and the corresponding extra point, put the Titans up, 10-0. The Chiefs have one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses, but that’s a lot to answer in such a big game. That said, Kansas City did cede a 14-0 lead to New England in last year’s AFC Championship game before coming back and forcing the game to overtime, though they ultimately lost, 37-31.