Chiefs coach says KC should’ve had 4 interceptions Sunday and he let team know it
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs defense secured 2 interceptions last Sunday against the Giants offense.
- Defensive backs coach Merritt said team missed 2 more interception chances.
- Spagnuolo emphasized need for turnovers to counter Ravens’ high-scoring attack.
Ravens running back Derrick Henry has fumbled three times in three games this season, and boy, the Chiefs sure hope that trend continues Sunday.
But as Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo noted Thursday, his defense has yet to recover a fumble this season. They’ve only forced one fumble, by defensive back Chamarri Conner.
Spagnuolo said turnovers will be important to slowing the Ravens, who lead the NFL in scoring. Baltimore is averaging 37 points a game.
“I think we might have forced one or two out and we haven’t gotten one,” Spagnuolo said of the fumbles. “It was nice to get the two interceptions last week. Really, to slow this crew down, somehow, some way, we need to find a turnover or two and give the offense some field position.”
The Chiefs had a pair of first-half interceptions last Sunday against the Giants as both Chris Roland-Wallace and Jaylen Watson picked off Russell Wilson.
That’s half the number of interceptions that Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt believes the team should have had.
Merritt playfully poked fun at safety Bryan Cook, who nearly had an interception.
“He should have caught the one in the end zone. He got up and pretended like his neck was hurt,” Merritt quipped. “Basically, he alligator-armed it. Stand out there and catch the ball.
“But I think he’s just taking more chances, he’s more confident, and so that’s good to see, Bryan is on that ascending perspective that we would like to see him on.”
Alligator-armed? Merritt was asked if that’s the kind of thing he tells the players in meetings.
“Absolutely, all of them,” Merritt said. “Even Jalen Watson, go back, Jalen Watson should have had two interceptions. That one pass that everyone thought was a dirt ball, it actually went through his hands and hit his stomach. So you look at the TV copy, he should have actually caught that. I think he closed his eyes.
“Just like guys getting ready to make a tackle. If you close your eyes, you probably are going to miss it, so you have to keep your eyes open, like my buddy, Mike Singletary, used to do. But he should have had two interceptions. “
Merritt is certainly hopeful the Chiefs’ defensive backs will be playing with their eyes wide open on Sunday.
This story was originally published September 26, 2025 at 10:02 AM.
