Loss hurt, but this Chiefs D-lineman broke a long scoring drought vs. Rams

It had been a long time since Allen Bailey had been in the end zone with a ball in his hands.

Until Monday, his last touchdown, he figures, was about 12 years ago, when he was in high school at McIntosh County Academy in Georgia. And he was a fullback back then.

But after nearly eight scoreless years in the NFL and four at Miami, Bailey finally got on the board in the Chiefs’ 54-51 loss to the Rams.

“I had many a fumble recovery, but never a defensive touchdown,” Bailey said. “It was cool.”

As Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston mauled Rams quarterback Jared Goff, forcing the ball loose, Bailey was in the perfect position to catch it as it ricocheted off the offensive linemen surrounding Goff. He snagged it out of the air and ran it two yards into the end zone, causing quarterback Patrick Mahomes to jump up from his spot on the bench, fist pumping furiously as he celebrated the score that gave the Chiefs’ a four-point edge with 11 minutes and 7 seconds left Monday night.

“I saw it happen in slow motion when Houston stripped the ball and it popped out,” Bailey said.

It seemed at the time like that could be the defining moment of the epic battle at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.

And yet, there would be more fireworks — literally and figuratively — in the remaining minutes of the final quarter that led to the Rams’ record-setting win.

But even though Bailey’s play wasn’t the moment that changed it all for the Chiefs, it was a major part of his career evening. Earlier, before the touchdown, Bailey sacked Goff, giving Bailey six sacks for the season — a new career high.

“Big plays, you need those,” linebacker Dee Ford said. “That’s what we hang our hat on is pressuring the quarterback and turning the ball over. Justin made an amazing play and Allen was able to take it in and score. That’s exactly what we needed.”

Bailey was just one part of a strong performance by the front seven. While the secondary struggled, the Chiefs’ front line displayed a consistent ability to pressure Goff. They sacked him five times for a loss of 34 yards and had seven quarterback hurries.

“I think we showed a lot of heart,” Houston said. “We took several punches. Everybody’s got a game plan until you get hit in the mouth. We got hit in the mouth several times, but for us to keep fighting as a whole, I think that shows what type of team we are and how much heart we have.”

Brooke Pryor

Brooke Pryor covers the Kansas City Chiefs and NFL for The Star.

This story was originally published November 20, 2018 at 1:40 AM.