After Sunday’s win over Packers, has the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense finally arrived?
Chiefs coach Andy Reid has said on multiple occasions in recent weeks that the defense was close to putting it all together.
If Sunday’s 13-7 win against the Green Bay Packers provided an indication, perhaps that time has finally come.
OK, not having to face Aaron Rodgers helps, but the Chiefs limited the Packers to 301 total yards and 19 first downs. Kansas City also held the Packers to seven points, 17 below their season average of 24.
“I thought our defense, we did a nice job against the run game, we did a nice job against the pass game, put pressure on the quarterback,” Reid said. “We didn’t hold back and guys played hard and aggressive.”
Health probably has a lot to do with the Chiefs’ defensive performance. KC recorded seven quarterback hits on backup Packers QB Jordan Love.
For the first time this season, the Chiefs had all their starting pieces on the field at the same time after multiple players missed time because of injuries.
Linebacker Anthony Hitchens returned after missing two games with a triceps sinjury, and he resumed his role as the green dot play-caller alongside Willie Gay Jr. and rookie Nick Bolton. Hitchens paced the defense with a seven tackles, including one for a loss.
With the linebackers in place, the Chiefs effectively contained a dangerous Packers run game from taking over the game.
“I’m glad we took care of the run game like we did,” Reid said. “I think they probably came in and were going to run the ball on us. … But I think that they weren’t able to do that. So, my hat goes off to Spags (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo), the game plan he had and everything that went with it with the players.”
Right defensive end Frank Clark, who missed three of the Chiefs’ first four games because of hamstring injuries, has hit his stride and showed his ability to cause havoc in the Packers’ backfield, totaling three quarterback hits to go along with two tackles.
Mathieu chipped in with six tackles and a sack, while cornerback L’Jarius Sneed had six tackles, an interception and two passes defensed.
Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who missed four games with a quad injury before returning in Week 7, matched Hitchens with seven tackles.
The Chiefs turned in a strong defensive performance, but Sneed said the unit hasn’t arrived yet. Instead, he thinks the best is still to come.
“We haven’t arrived yet,” Sneed said. “There’s still a lot more work to do. Just taking it day by day each practice and get better and better.”
