The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a 27-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.
In the game, Bills quarterback Josh Allen ran the ball 12 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns, giving Kansas City’s defense fits throughout the contest.
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will face a similar challenge this weekend against the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson with a Super Bowl appearance on the line.
Head coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Monday, sharing his thoughts about how his team might be able to outmaneuver the highly mobile quarterbacks that dominate the modern NFL.
“I would tell you, it’s somewhat the same,” Reid said of defending against Allen and Jackson. “You have to stay in your lanes, you have to stay disciplined with any quarterback that runs. Lamar is special, he’s fast and one of the faster guys on the field when it’s all said and done, and he’s shifty. Whereas Josh will go right through you — he doesn’t care. He’s a big man and probably equally as fast. He’s a fast kid, he runs away from secondary players. You’ve seen that on tape.”
For this week’s matchup against Jackson, Reid told reporters that he will emphasize discipline throughout the entire week of practice.
“This kid, he throws it well, he throws it on the move well, runs the ball well,” Reid continued. “We’ve just to stay on top of that part of it throughout practice this week and then during the game.”
One area where the Chiefs defense has been exposed is the running game. Allen’s mobility and threat to keep the ball opened up Buffalo’s rushing attack, and that will be even more prevalent against Jackson and the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.