Rob Ninkovich expects the Chiefs will take down the Titans if they contain Derrick Henry and force Ryan Tannehill to throw the ball. (1:41)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- To Kansas City Chiefs safety Daniel Sorensen, the vicious open-field tackle that foiled the Houston Texans’ second-quarter fake punt was a routine play.

With the Chiefs trailing 24-7 in the AFC divisional round, Sorensen stalked Justin Reid from the other side of the line, shuffling and moving to mirror the Texans safety before the snap. When the direct snap went to Reid instead of punter Bryan Anger, Sorensen sprang into motion and brought Reid down short of the first down, giving possession back to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' offense, which would score three plays later.

“That’s my responsibility,” Sorensen said. “I’m almost like a linebacker back there. I’m just looking for something like that. And when I see it, I’ve got to respond and react to it.”

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It wasn’t even the biggest tackle of his six-year career, Sorensen said. To special-teams coordinator Dave Toub, though, it was nothing short of amazing.

“That was one of the most unbelievable tackles I’ve ever seen on a special-teams play,” Toub said. “It was a solo tackle, out in space, hard tackle, angle tackle, and then he has to stop him short for basically a 2-yard gain, otherwise, they get the first down.

“I thought it was a good call, I really did. But Dan, I think he’s been waiting all year for that play. ... He just was shot out of a cannon and didn’t miss a beat and made a nice tackle in space.”

But Sorensen wasn’t done making game-changing plays.

On the following kickoff, the BYU product forced a fumble that was recovered by rookie Darwin Thompson and led to a touchdown three plays later. Spurred by Sorensen’s stops, the Chiefs went from a 24-7 hole to trailing by just three in less than two minutes of game time.

His special-teams heroics earned him national attention -- something Sorensen hasn’t attracted much this season as a backup safety and special-teams contributor. As his highlight-reel tackle played over and over, people across the country started catching wind of "Dirty Dan." Usually content to be low-key, Sorensen is embracing the attention.

“To speak to any nickname that sticks, it just helps you kind of have a role and be a part of something so that people can associate and recognize you,” Sorensen said. “Just that fact is kind of neat.”

And now, Sorensen will likely be in a position to be recognized more often in the most crucial game of this season, the AFC Championship Game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday (3:05 p.m. ET, CBS).

After big plays in the last two games, Daniel Sorensen is suddenly in the spotlight for the Chiefs. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

In a game that could come down to stopping running back Derrick Henry, Sorensen is the Chiefs’ last line of defense. Literally.

With rookie Juan Thornhill out for the season following a torn left ACL in Week 17, Sorensen has become an every-down defensive back, frequently operating as the team’s free safety.

“He’s flown under the radar, but he had 108 plays in [the Texans game],” Toub said. “He played every down on defense and he played every down on special teams. He’s that important to us. He’s a behind-the-scenes guy, but he is so, so important to our football team. And he will be in these next two games.”

Sorensen is something of an unlikely hero, but it’s a role he has played a couple of times this season. A six-year veteran, Sorensen lost his starting safety spot to Thornhill during the preseason, and was viewed by many as a potential cap casualty in post-training camp cuts.

But the Chiefs needed Sorensen.

Sure, he provided veteran defensive depth, but his value is greater than that -- and that became glaringly obvious in the Chiefs’ historic comeback win against the Texans.

He has come up big in other times, too. In Week 17, Sorensen, playing in relief of the injured Thornhill, intercepted Philip Rivers as the Chargers tried to mount a last-gasp comeback. Sorensen’s pick with a minute left preserved the win and guaranteed the Chiefs a first-round bye.

As Thornhill’s replacement going forward, Sorensen is tasked with complementing the versatile Tyrann Mathieu, a player known for his swagger and knack for freelancing his way into game-changing plays.

In many ways, Sorensen is the antithesis of his backfield counterpart.

Mathieu thrives in the spotlight, seeking it out and basking in its glow. Sorensen is more comfortable flying under the radar.

While Mathieu embraces social media and is active on Twitter, Sorensen has an account but hasn’t used it in more than three years.

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Even as opposites, though, the two feed off each other. After foiling the fake punt, Sorensen celebrated with Mathieu’s signature move, pointing to his helmet to signal that his film preparation prevented the opponent from outsmarting him.

"I think both of them respect each other's game,” coach Andy Reid said. “They developed that. Dan probably knew more about Tyrann's play than Tyrann knew of Dan's play coming into it. I think they play off of each other well. They have good communication between them. They get along, most of all. You can see that, off of the field also."

Continuing that good communication and his game-changing play will be crucial for Sorensen -- and the Chiefs -- this weekend in their bid to overcome the final hurdle to a coveted Super Bowl berth.

“He’s important to us,” defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. “He’s important to Dave Toub. He made some terrific plays last week that changed the flow of the game. He is as steady a player that I’ve ever been around. Every day he comes in. He works at it. He’s the first guy out on the field. Always the first guy out, never misses. He loves what he does. He’s a professional in everything that he does. I’m glad that we got him.”