Steve Spagnuolo’s special moment and what else to watch when Chiefs face Broncos
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs sit 6-9, worst Andy Reid era record after Mahomes' knee injury.
- Spagnuolo chases locker-room winning feeling and builds Hall of Fame case.
- Broncos deploy Sutton and Mims to fuel offense and return yards.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ worst season of the Andy Reid era can be measured in many ways.
The 6-9 record entering the Christmas night home game against the Denver Broncos assures the most losses and first losing record for the franchise since Reid took over in 2013.
Losing Patrick Mahomes to torn knee ligaments; falling in one-score games when the Chiefs had mastered those in recent years; penalties, drops, turnovers and other uncharacteristic mistakes by the Chiefs have turned this into a most unforgettable season for the franchise that has played in five of the past six Super Bowls.
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo isn’t ready to big-picture the season just yet. No matter the record, he has one goal.
“I’m always chasing the feeling in the locker room,” Spagnuolo said.
What’s that?
Spagnuolo, who started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Massachusetts in 1981, has coached in the NFL and in college. He’s served as a head coach and assistant. As the only coordinator in NFL history with four Super Bowl rings, he may be the first with his title to enter the Hall of Fame.
The pursuit of that feeling has pushed Spagnuolo throughout his career.
“I’ve been in this league a long time,” Spagnuolo said. “To me, the best moment, the best hour of my life, is every time we win a game and we’re in that locker room and we’re hugging. To me, that’s special.
“And you know, someday, when we’re not in this business, that’s what I’ll miss the most. So, we’re still chasing that.”
That should be part of Spagnuolo’s Hall of Fame speech.
Here’s what to watch when the Chiefs look to slow down the Broncos, who along with the New England Patriots stand 12-3 and are battling for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
Chiefs player to watch: Defensive tackle Chris Jones
On Tuesday, Jones and center Creed Humphrey were named starters for the Pro Bowl Games. Jones hasn’t loaded up on sacks this season (four), but he continues to be a force in the middle and deserves the honor.
Although, he wasn’t impressed.
“I’m super grateful and super, super appreciative that my peers and the fans consider me a Pro Bowler,” Jones said. “Early on in my career, I always wanted to make the Pro Bowl and everything.”
But when Jones wasn’t picked in 2018 when he recorded 15 1/2 sacks, including an NFL record of 11 straight games with at least one sack, he softened his stance on the award.
“That’s when I realized none of it really matters,” Jones said. “I play to win rings, man.”
Broncos player to watch: Wide receiver Courtland Sutton
The eight-year pro is having another excellent season. He tops the Broncos with 69 receptions, 972 yards and seven touchdowns.
For this game, the 6-4 Sutton will go against a Chiefs defense that could be without its top two cornerbacks because of injuries: Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.
Last week against the Titans, Kristian Fulton got a season-high in snaps, and rookie Nohl Williams’ playing time continued to climb. Also, look for Josh Williams, who has started 12 games in his four-year career but has only 17 defensive snaps this season, to get more playing time.
Special teams player to watch: Broncos receiver Marvin Mims
Mims continues to be one of the NFL’s top return men.
He leads the NFL in punt return yards while averaging 15.7 yards per return. He’s also Denver’s primary kickoff return specialist.