Chiefs aim to finish strong, with no playoff hopes and no Mahomes starting against the Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs insist they have plenty of motivation left when playing their first game with no hopes of a playoff berth in more than a decade and worse, no Patrick Mahomes.

The franchise that played in seven consecutive AFC championship games and five Super Bowls during a remarkable run still has something more than pride on the line. The Chiefs (6-8) need to win out starting with Sunday's visit to Tennessee to continue the streak of a winning record in each of coach Andy Reid's 13 seasons.

They haven't finished with a losing record since 2012 — the last season someone other than Reid was the coach.

"Now it’s about finishing, and finishing strong,” defensive end George Karlaftis said of the Chiefs' frustrating and disappointing season.

This hasn't been a typical season for Kansas City. Last week's 16-13 loss to the Chargers was just the latest. The Chiefs visit the Titans (2-12) having lost three straight and five of their last six and are just 1-5 on the road. Still, the Titans expect Kansas City's best because of what the Chiefs have done in the last decade.

"You’ll see somebody different at the quarterback position, but that’ll be about it,” Tennessee right tackle JC Latham said.

That will be Gardner Minshew, someone the Titans are familiar with from playing against AFC South rivals Jacksonville and Indianapolis. Minshew will be making his first start for the Chiefs.

“As sick as Gardner is over the whole thing, he also has an opportunity and wants to do well,” Reid said. "It’s great for him career-wise, whether it’s here or somewhere else.”

Tennessee is coming off a two-game road swing capped by a 37-24 loss at San Francisco. With Mahomes out, a game that once stood out because of the Chiefs' dazzling playoff resume remains a big one even if rookie quarterback Cam Ward won't get to play against the two-time NFL MVP.

“We’re trying to go out there and try to find a way to win," Ward said.

The Chiefs have long valued veteran backups behind Mahomes, mostly to keep them in the playoff hunt should he miss time with an injury. Minshew wants to follow in the footsteps of Matt Moore, Chad Henne, Blaine Gabbert and Carson Wentz, all of whom have helped out the Chiefs over the past few years.

“Been fortunate to be around for a while. Seen a lot. Learned a lot,” Minshew said. “Hopefully put all of that to use.”

Minshew threw for 312 yards with two touchdowns in his last start against Tennessee, leading the Colts to a win Dec. 3, 2023.

The Titans haven’t won at home in more than a year, mired in an 11-game skid of their own that is tied for the franchise’s worst since arriving in Tennessee in 1997. Ward has yet to walk out of Nissan Stadium with a win that counts when it matters most.

This is the first of a two-game homestand to conclude the season, and Ward said the plan is to win both to have a little home winning streak going into next season.

“And that’s what our fans they need to see,” Ward said. “They need to see us winning at home. We need to make our home atmosphere one of the best in the NFL. We get a chance to go do that on Sunday against a good team.”

Mahomes is merely the biggest name in Kansas City to be dealing with an injury. Wide receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton were in the concussion protocol, left tackle Jaylon Moore is dealing with a knee problem, right tackle Jawaan Taylor has had a triceps injury, cornerback Trent McDuffie has been hobbled by a knee injury and linebacker Leo Chenal has been dealing with a shoulder situation.

“All our young guys are playing,” Reid said. “They’re in there and going.”

The Titans and running back Tony Pollard are coming off their best back-to-back rushing performances this season. Pollard ran for a career-high 161 yards, then followed up with 104 yards. He is going for his first three-game stretch of 100-yard rushing games.

“I couldn’t be happier, not just for the guys up front, for Tony,” Titans interim coach Mike McCoy said. “But for our football team, the way we run the football the past couple of weeks, because we got a little personality, a little dirtier, too.”

That won't be easy against a Kansas City defense that ranks seventh in the NFL, giving up just 99.1 yards per game.

AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta in Kansas City, Missouri, contributed to this report.

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Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) makes a touchdown catch in the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) is held back by an official during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) looks to throw a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew drops back to pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Travis Head took off his helmet and gloves, dropped to his knees and planted a kiss on the pitch after posting a century in a fourth consecutive test on his home ground at the Adelaide Oval.

It was trademark “Travball" on Day 3 of the third Ashes cricket test.

The freewheeling Australia batter had a huge reprieve on 99 when he slashed at a Jofra Archer delivery and was dropped by Harry Brook at gully. That was after he fended a Joe Root tweaker and took off for a quick single, only to be sent back by batting partner Alex Carey.

Head faced eight balls without scoring while on 99, then went for broke and advanced down the pitch and drove the ball back over Root’s head to the long-on boundary to move to 103.

It was his 11th century in 63 tests, and second in five innings since being promoted from No. 5 to open the innings in Perth. That's where his match-winning innings sealed Australia's eight-wicket win to open the series.

By stumps Friday, Head was unbeaten on 142 and his unbroken partnership with fellow South Australian Carey (52) was 122. Australia was 271-4, with a lead of 356.

Head said his new-look celebration of the century was designed to get a laugh out of his teammates.

“I got the rise out of the dressing room that I expected," he said in comments published by Fox Sports. He added, more seriously, that his hometown "wicket has looked after me over the last few years.

"I didn’t think I’d get one, so to get four (centuries at the Adelaide Oval) is not too bad. I felt alright.”

Brook took two excellent catches in the slips to remove Marnus Labuschagne (13) and Cameron Green (7) off Josh Tongue's bowling, but the one he missed against Head was costly.

The Australians went in to bat after dismissing England for 286 just before lunch, after Ben Stokes and Archer helped cut the first-innings margin to 85 with a record 106-run ninth-wicket stand.

Stokes walked off the field yelling at himself and shaking his head after being bowled for 83 by Mitchell Starc, bringing an end to a defiant, 198-ball innings that dragged his team back into the contest.

After losing the first two tests in Perth and Brisbane and allowing Australia to post 371 in the first innings here, England's chances of keeping the five-test series alive seemed remote when Stokes went to the crease on Day 2 with the total at 71-4.

With England on the verge of collapsing at 168-8, Stokes joined forces with No. 10 Archer to bat out the evening session. The pair resumed Friday with England at 213 for eight, still 158 behind.

Australia wanted to clean up the last two wickets quickly but Stokes and Archer, who took a five-wicket haul when England was bowling, dug in.

Stokes stepped down the wicket to Scott Boland for a driven boundary to bring up the 50 partnership off 89 balls, then raised his half-century with a single off 159 deliveries. It was his slowest 50 in test cricket — his 37th — but vital for his team.

Not long after, Archer took a single off Cummins to reach his first test half-century off 97 balls, bringing England's deficit under 100.

But the innings ended relatively quickly after left-armer Starc bowled Stokes with a delivery from over the wicket that angled back. The Stokes-Archer partnership was the highest ever for the ninth wicket for England at Adelaide.

All that time in the sun had an impact on England's bowling attack, though. Archer, who took five wickets in the first innings, took 0-15 in 10 overs on Friday. Stokes, England's highest wicket-taker this year, didn't bowl and had to leave the field for a short while in the evening session.

England is capable of tracking down a big target in the fourth innings, chasing 370-plus against India twice in the last three years, so Bazball won't be completely dispensed with despite Stokes' stoic first innings.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australia's Travis Head celebrates after scoring century during play on day three of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Australia's Travis Head kisses the pitch after scoring a century during play on day three of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Australia's Travis Head reacts after scoring 50 runs during play on day three of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne reacts while batting during play on day three of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

England's Brydon Carse, left, celebrates with Ben Stokes after dismissing Australia's Jake Weatherald, during play on day three of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

England's Jofra Archer plays a shot during play on day two of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

England batsmen Jofra Archer, right, and Ben Stokes talk during play on day three of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

England's Ben Stokes bats during play on day three of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)