Chiefs giving Tannehill respect ahead of AFC title game

Even though Ryan Tannehill accumulated just 160 passing yards through his first two postseason contests this year, the Kansas City Chiefs aren't underestimating the Tennessee Titans quarterback ahead of their AFC Championship Game matchup on Sunday.

"(The Titans have) one of the top offenses in the National Football League since (Tannehill's) been in there," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters, according to NFL.com's Grant Gordon. "Everybody talks about the run game, but this guy can sling it. He's got some good guys to do it, too. He's playing good football. Smart kid."

Tannehill has taken a back seat to running back Derrick Henry during the Titans' surprise playoff run, but he's been one of the league's hottest quarterbacks as the starter. The former Miami Dolphin has gone 9-3 since replacing Marcus Mariota and led the NFL in passer rating during the regular season.

Kansas City and Tennessee met in Week 10, which was Tannehill's fourth start of the campaign. The Titans won 35-32 as the quarterback threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns.

"You got Ryan Tannehill, I don't know where people got off saying he was falling off, but great quarterback," Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark said Friday. "(He's) got 4.6 speed still running as a quarterback when he's extending downs with his feet."

Tennessee, which is coming off upset wins over the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens, will look to become just the third No. 6 seed to reach the Super Bowl since the NFL reformatted its playoff structure in 1990.

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