NASHVILLE – The Titans beat the Chiefs 26-9 on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Here's a look at six things that stood out from the contest:
Cam's Best Game?
Cam Ward keeps getting better. On Sunday, the rookie quarterback arguably played his best game to date. Ward completed 21-of-28 passes for 228 yards in the contest, with a passer rating of 122.3. It was Ward's third consecutive game with two touchdown passes, and his passer rating was easily his best of the season. "He played well," Titans interim coach Mike McCoy said of Ward. "He's getting better. I've been saying it from Day One: Cam loves to play the game of football. He loves to be coached hard, and he understands he's going to make some mistakes, but it doesn't bother him. He just keeps going. Very happy with the way he played." Ward now owns the Tennessee rookie record for passing yards in a season (2,866), and his 13th touchdown pass of the year on Sunday allowed him to move past Vince Young (12 in 2006) for the second-most in franchise history by a rookie, behind only Mariota (19 in 2015). "I think I've been better each and every week, whether it's one thing or whether it's a major thing," Ward said. "I think just going forward, I just (have to) continue to control what I can control, lead my teammates, be a great team player and try to win games."
Safety Dance
Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons keeps finding ways to make an impact. On Sunday, Simmons busted through the line of scrimmage to tackle Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt in the end zone for a safety. It gave the Titans an early 2-0 lead, and momentum. "I think that's the first safety I've caused in my career, honestly, from high school to college," Simmons said. "When they got backed up, in my mind I was like: Go make a play. That's kind of my mindset every snap honestly. … I switched up my technique a little bit to where I know I'm about to get a double team, which it was supposed to be a double team. And I swimmed him pretty good, and ... my eyes got big. I was just praying not to miss the tackle. So, it was a hell of a play on my behalf. And so that is my first one in my career, that one felt good." Simmons finished the game with three tackles, including two tackles for a loss, and he also batted two balls down at the line of scrimmage.
One Two Punch at RB
The Titans got big performances from both of their running backs on Sunday. Tony Pollard ran for 102 yards on 21 carries, while Tyjae Spears accounted for 105 all-purpose yards (52 rush, 53 receiving) and a touchdown in the contest. Spears caught a 34-yard pass, and he scored on a four-yard touchdown run. For Pollard, it was his third straight 100-yard game. "When those guys move people off the ball like that, they make my job easy," Pollard said of the offensive line. "It's easy for me to get the spotlight and recognition. But without them up front doing the dirty work, none of this would be happening. … That's just us finding our identity in this offense. Figuring out what we do best, and what gets us going, what allows us to put points on the board, and that's what we're doing right now." Pollard now has 949 rushing yards on the season, so he's 51 away from 1,000. How about that for some quick math?
Dike's Day, and Season
Titans receiver/return man Chimere Dike continued his memorable season on Sunday. Dike scored on a one-yard touchdown pass against the Chiefs, which gave Tennessee a 16-6 lead. Dike had two other catches in the game, including a 30-yarder from Ward. In Sunday's contest, Dike set the franchise record for the most kickoff return yards in a season in franchise history (1,535), surpassing Marc Mariani's 1,530 kickoff return yards in 2010. Dike also became just the fourth rookie in franchise history to tally six touchdowns. "Every single day I walk in this building, it is a blessing," Dike said. "Whether I am getting the results that I want or not, I am going to continue to work and have a process and I think the rest of the young guys have that mindset as well."
Defensive Performance
OK, let's face it – the Titans faced a banged-up and depleted Chiefs team on Sunday. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn't play in the contest after suffering a torn ACL last week, and back-up QB Gardner Minshew left the game in the first half with a knee injury, and he didn't return. That left little known Chris Oladokun to play most of the game for Kansas City, and the Titans held him and the Chiefs offense in check. The Titans held the Chiefs to nine first downs and just 133 yards of offense on a day when Kansas City managed just three field goals. Truman Jones tallied 1.5 sacks for the Titans, and Jaylen Harrell (1), James Williams (1) and Jihad Ward (0.5) all ended up in the sack column. It was the first time since 2023 season the Titans held a team without a touchdown. "Yeah, it's a good feeling," Jihad Ward said. "We did, we came together, and I'm proud of this team. We did what we had to do. All personnel, on offense, defense, special teams. I am glad we got the victory."
Breaking the Home Losing Streak
Sunday's 26-9 victory over the Chiefs snapped an 11-game losing streak for the Titans at Nissan Stadium. Prior to Sunday, the team's last home win came on November 3, 2024, over the Patriots. Yeah, it had been a while. Cam Ward wasn't on last year's team, of course, and McCoy wasn't with the team either. Heck, a bunch of players and coaches weren't around for the entirety of that dreadful streak. But everyone was happy to see it come to an end, for themselves, and the team's fans. "It feels awesome," Titans safety Amani Hooker said. "We haven't had music playing after a game here in a long time, so it was awesome to have that. Miss Amy (Adams Strunk) was here as well, so that's a good gift for everyone in the organization."
The Tennessee Titans take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16 at Nissan Stadium.
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Beau Brune/Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs compete at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
