Nick Bolton says KC Chiefs must improve in this area during Sunday rematch vs. Bengals
When linebacker Nick Bolton looks back to the Chiefs’ loss to the Bengals in Week 17, one thing in particular stands out on film.
“(We) didn’t execute the way we wanted to, didn’t tackle very well,” Bolton said Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s rematch against Cincinnati in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium. “So that’s kind of something we can clean up as a whole on our side, tackling better and making plays out there in space.”
The Chiefs allowed more passing yards (415) in that 34-31 loss on Jan. 2 than they have in any other game this season. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and receiver JaMarr Chase connected for 266 yards and three touchdowns.
Containing that duo will be paramount Sunday.
“I think these young quarterbacks are great for this league — (Burrow’s) one of them,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He’s a heck of a football player … He’s a coach’s kid that knows the game and kind of gets it.”
The Chiefs led 21-7 in the second quarter, but Burrow and the Bengals outscored them 27-10 the rest of the way. Perhaps most glaring was the Bengals’ game-winning drive in the final six minutes: The Chiefs whiffed on some tackles and allowed a huge conversion on third and 27.
That 30-yard gain was one of five chunk plays given up by the Chiefs. In the first quarter, they allowed Burrow to find Chase in a wide-open hole and missed several opportunities to bring him down as he raced to a 72-yard touchdown. He was left uncovered for a 69-yard touchdown in the third quarter, too. In the fourth, Burrow completed passes of 39 and 35 yards in addition to the aforementioned play.
So how do the Chiefs plan to limit the Bengals’ game-changing plays this time around, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line?
“Execution one through 11, that’s kind of the mindset we’ve got for this week,” Bolton said. “Doing our job to the best of our abilities, going out there and having fun, communicating, flying around and playing Chiefs football.”
Another point of emphasis will be creating turnovers. The Chiefs had registered at least one takeaway in 10 consecutive games before their Jan. 2 showdown in Cincinnati, but that streak ended against the Bengals.
“Whenever we’re playing great ball, we’re forcing turnovers, sacks, (tackles for loss), all that type of stuff,” Bolton said. “Of course getting a turnover, one or two a game, boosts our chance of winning, so we’ve got to get on the right foot with that ...”
Bolton said he and other members of the Chiefs’ defense know they didn’t execute well at times against the Bills last week, and they surely didn’t in their previous game against the Bengals.
“It’s one of the biggest challenges that we had playing this team,” Bolton said. “But we’re up for it and we’re ready.”
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense have put together some mesmerizing plays in their first two postseason games.
Now it’s the time for the defense to step up, too.
This story was originally published January 27, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
