Key takeaways from first half of Chiefs vs. Titans Week 7

The Kansas City Chiefs are getting blown by the Tennessee Titans on the road. Nothing seems to be going right for the team in the first half on either side of the ball, resulting in a 27-0 lead for Tennessee. It’s the first time that this team has trailed by 27 points since all the way back in 2016 when Alex Smith was the quarterback of the team.

Here are our biggest takeaways from the first half of the Chiefs’ game vs. the Titans:

Chiefs' defense remains ghastly

Andrew Nelles-USA TODAY Sports

The Chiefs’ defense just can’t seem to get out of their own way in this one. They knew it was going to be an exceptionally difficult task to slow down Derrick Henry and that remains true. He’s passed for a touchdown, which had the defense completely fooled on the opening drive. But they’ve limited him in the ground game, with just 17 carries for 52 yards in the first half.

That’s probably the only area the defense can feel good about because they’ve been getting beaten in every other facet of the game, including often in the passing game. On one of the few opportunities they had to get off the field early, much-maligned defensive end Frank Clark showed up to say, ‘Not today!’ They’ve had another couple of opportunities where they’ve made some good things happen, but they seem to always follow it with a mistake or a big play.

They just can’t keep playing this way and expect to win games. Something has to give on the defensive side of the ball, and it starts with better preparation and coaching. Something isn’t clicking no matter whether they have young players or veterans in the game.

Offensive play-calling was exceptionally poor

AP Photo/Mark Zaleski

Typically, the Chiefs are one of the best teams in the NFL at scripting their opening plays on the offensive side of the ball. This week, they’ve managed to come out looking disorganized and flat on offense. The play-calling has been particularly vanilla, with very little pre-snap motion and window-dressing.

One big thing that the Chiefs have to stop doing is running the ball on second-and-long. They have the best quarterback in the game and they’re effectively benching him on a down-and-distance where he can be his most effective. Consider the injuries the Titans are dealing with in the secondary and there is no excuse for this team not throwing the ball all over the yard in the first half.

It really feels like Kansas City felt they could just come into Tennessee, line up and play. They’re going to have to get a bit more creative on offense in the second half if they want to have any sort of a chance to come back or at least make some positive plays that they can build on for next week.

Nick Bolton has been one of the best things about this game

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If there is one thing that Chiefs fans should be excited about, rookie linebacker Nick Bolton has absolutely come alive in this game. He’s making his first career start at the middle linebacker spot in place of Anthony Hitchens and he looks like a natural at the position.

Bolton has done a good job with his responsibilities as the defensive play-caller, getting the guys lined up with few blown assignments. He has also been flying to the football in the run game, making seven combined tackles and two tackles for loss in the first half, the most by a K.C. defender in the first half.

The one area where he still needs improvement is in the passing game. He was inches away from what would have been a game-changing interception, but he seemed to hesitate ever so slightly. That will improve with more snaps in time, but so far, he’s been a bright spot for the defense.

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