The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense came together at the right time in 2019, helping the team close out the regular season and make its push to Super Bowl LIV.
A big goal that the defense had this season was to carry that momentum into the new year. Players like Tyrann Mathieu sought to ensure that the defensive unit in Kansas City would remain a reason why this team won games. For the most part, they’ve been able to meet that goal this year.
Against the New Orleans Saints in Week 15, the defense put together one of their best games yet. They stifled Drew Brees and the Saints’ offense, especially early in the game forcing a punt and an interception in back-to-back drives. They didn’t allow a completed pass until well into the second quarter of the game.
During the Chiefs’ media availability on Wednesday, Mathieu was asked if he felt the defense was clicking as it had back in 2019.
“I would hope so,” Mathieu said. “I think we’ve done a lot of great things defensively. I think we’re still reaching for really our best game. I still don’t think we’ve put together our best game yet.”
Mathieu feels the best is still coming for this defense. He’s hopeful that the performance that he’s searching for will arrive before the end of the regular season, possibly even this Sunday.
“I’m hoping that game will come against the Falcons this Sunday, which like I mentioned, they’ve got great talent on offense, a lot of explosive receivers,” Mathieu said. “I think Matt Ryan can still throw the football at a high level, so we’ll have that opportunity, we’ll have that challenge to kind of go out here and really try our best together a defensive game that we all can really be happy about.”
Don’t let the record of the Falcons fool you, they’ve got some weapons on the offensive side of the ball that can cause some problems. They’re only a few weeks removed from a dominant 43-6 win over the Chiefs’ AFC West rival, the Las Vegas Raiders.
You won’t catch Mathieu and company underestimating their opponent this week and that mentality already sets them up for success. It’ll give them a chance to finish the season strong as they seek to defend their Super Bowl title.
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