Tag: Defense

PFF grades for every player on Chiefs defense at Kansas City’s bye week

Check out the grades earned by every member of the #Chiefs defense through nine weeks of the 2023 NFL season.

The Kansas City Chiefs defense has been an impressive group in 2023 and has its sights set on becoming one of the best groups to ever take the field in franchise history.

Led by All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones and second-year cornerback Trent McDuffie, the unit has been extremely effective at limiting opponents to minimal points and yardage through nine games this season.

The resurgence of Kansas City’s defense has given Chiefs fans hope for the future as the team’s offense continues to work its way back to championship form at the season’s midway point.

Several contributors have helped buoy the defense on a weekly basis while others have left something to be desired to this point in the season. Pro Football Focus has broken down the play of each member of the unit through the first nine weeks of the season, and assigned players grades that reflect the quality of their performances.

Check out how each member of the Chiefs’ defense has fared through Week 9, according to PFF:

5 things to watch for when Broncos face Bills on ‘Monday Night Football’

Here are five things to watch for when the Broncos go on the road to face the Bills on ‘Monday Night Football.’

The Denver Broncos are set to make a 1,500-mile journey to Orchard Park, New York to play the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football in Week 10. Here are five big things to watch in this big prime-time game.

Ryan Clark breaks down Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo’s successful gameplan vs. Dolphins

Ryan Clark breaks down Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo’s successful gameplan vs. Dolphins

Last Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense slowed down the best statistical offensive team in the league so far this season, the Miami Dolphins. The unit led by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo created a masterful game plan that held Miami to only 14 points, catching the eye of many critics around the league.

Former NFL defensive back and current television analyst Ryan Clark took an interest in the defense’s Week 9 performance. On the latest episode of Inside The NFL, Clark broke down two defensive plays that he felt changed the game in Kansas City’s favor.

“Let’s look at how they were able to attack Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins with “two safety high defenses. Here, you’re going to get a corner cat, which is a corner blitz from Jaylen Watson. He’s going to roll the safety over to number one, but they play this from a too-high look, which gives Tua Tagovailoa the feeling that he can’t push the football down the field.” Said Clark, “George Karlaftis drops right into the zone where you want to hit Tyreek Hill. It’s a hitch in the backfield, a sack. Now that’s how they bring the pressure.”

“The way they played man-to-man. It wasn’t single high, two safety high, press. You’re going to see here they’re going to attempt to attack Trent McDuffie in the slot who, because he’s pressing, is able to get right up on Tyreek Hill,” said Clark. “you get the strip and the fumble. Now you get a pitch from (Mike) Edwards to Brian Cook.

“It’s a huge play that puts points on the board. What I love about this last play is now it’s just a straight zone. You’re not affected by the exit motion from Raheem Mostert in the backfield. It’s the hands of Willie Gay Jr. It gets Tua Tagovailoa off of his first read, and we see when he has to come off of his first read, that’s when teams have success.”

The Chiefs’ scoring on defense was the difference at the end of the game and further proved that Spagnuolo’s unit is a respected group this season. On Monday Night Football, they will have another challenge in Week 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles under the lights.

Chiefs DB Trent McDuffie makes appearance on PFF’s midseason All-Pro defense

Pro Football Focus selected Chiefs DB Trent McDuffie to be a member of its midseason All-Pro defense.

The Kansas City Chiefs defense has been one of the NFL’s best units in 2023, and with eight games left on its schedule, the team is predicted to have several players receive recognition after the season.

Chief among them is defensive back Trent McDuffie, who has been one of Kansas City’s most consistent contributors through the team’s first nine games. Pro Football Focus named McDuffie to its midseason All-Pro list this week, indicating that his exceptional play has been turning heads around the league.

While McDuffie’s selection on this prestigious list doesn’t guarantee that he will warrant All-Pro recognition at the season’s end, it bodes well for his future as one of the Chiefs’ top defenders.

Expect the second-year defensive back to do everything he can to keep cooking up the same kinds of exceptional performances that landed him on this list of midseason standouts.

His contributions are likely to be a key to success in Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVII rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11.

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LOOK: Chiefs DB Joshua Williams’ comical expression during insane Bryan Cook TD

To say that #Chiefs DB Joshua Williams was surprised when Mike Edwards lateraled to Bryan Cook in Week 9 would be an understatement.

Fans weren’t the only people whose eyes bugged out during Bryan Cook’s insane touchdown in the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 9 matchup against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Defensive back Joshua Williams can be seen with a comical expression on his face in a picture of the play that occurred in the second quarter of Kansas City’s international matchup in Frankfurt, Germany.

To say he looked surprised would be an understatement:

Williams didn’t touch the ball but was right in the thick of the action when Mike Edwards lateraled to Cook after recovering a fumble forced by Trent McDuffie. Cook would take the ball more than 50 yards to paydirt to give Kansas City a 21-point lead with mere seconds remaining before halftime.

Pictures like this are a great way to see plays from the perspective of the players who participated in them, and Chiefs Kingdom can certainly relate to the intense emotion displayed by Williams in this shot.

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49ers WR Deebo Samuel responds to Patrick Mahomes’ thoughts on best defense in NFL

#49ers WR Deebo Samuel responds to #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ thoughts on the best defense in the NFL

The Kansas City Chiefs are in the midst of their bye week, holding an impressive 7-2 record after nine games. The defense has rightfully received plenty of praise for the excellent start to the season, as it was acknowledged recently by quarterback Patrick Mahomes. 

The reigning NFL Most Valuable Player made the bold statement of calling the Chiefs defense the best in the league following their 21-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Berlin, Germany. The declaration wasn’t unanimous amongst the rest of the league, as immediately, 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel provided his commentary. Samuel appeared on Tuesday’s episode of the “Up & Adams Show.” to disagree with Mahomes’ statement while speaking with hist Kay Adams. 

“Suit yourself, man. I think everybody is going to think they’ve got the best offense in the league, best defense in the league,” said Samuel. “Why wouldn’t you? I’m going to say the same thing. I’m going to say we have the best offense in the league and the best defense in the league.”

The 49ers’ defense has continued to play well this season but hasn’t had the fanfare of the Chiefs unit, which is considered a surprise jump from past seasons. The two teams don’t meet each other this season, but there is always a possibility of a Super Bowl rematch in February. 

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Chiefs defense is NFL’s best on third down since 2000

The #Chiefs defense is having an incredible season, and this stat proves that the unit comes up big in crucial situations.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive resurgence in 2023 has been a sight to behold for fans who yearned for more tough play from coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit in recent seasons.

Now one of the top defenses in the league, one stat in particular shows just how dominant Kansas City has been in crucial situations, especially on third downs.

According to Tony Holzman-Escareno, an NFL Senior Researcher, the Chiefs are only allowing 3.0 yards per play on third downs, which is the best mark of any defense since at least 2000.

Tidbits like this are a great way to contextualize the outright dominance of Kansas City’s defense in 2023, and the team should have no problem continuing their winning ways as long as the unit continues to come up big in crucial situations.

Expect Spagnuolo to keep his foot on the gas as the Chiefs look to defend their Super Bowl title against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11.

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Playmaking Saints secondary leads the NFL with 12 interceptions

Credit where it’s due: Dennis Allen’s secondary leads the NFL with 12 interceptions. Offseason coaching staff changes are paying off for the Saints defense

Credit where it’s due: Dennis Allen’s secondary leads the NFL with 12 interceptions through their first nine games. Offseason coaching staff changes are paying off for the New Orleans Saints defense. The decision to bring on coaches who shared Allen’s vision for the defensive backfield like coordinator Joe Woods and secondary coach Marcus Robertson have made a difference — and, we’ll admit, those were moves we questioned when Allen rolled out those changes in the spring.

But the numbers speak for themselves. Turnovers are one of the NFL’s most high-variance stats from one year to the next, but it’s not often you see a team go from ranking 30th in interceptions (7) to leading the league in just a single season. And it’s not like the Saints have different players out on the field.

Tyrann Mathieu, Paulson Adebo, Marcus Maye, Alontae Taylor, and Marshon Lattimore were all starters last year and they’ve all returned, albeit with some minor shakeups like Taylor moving to the slot. But whether it’s due to different coaching points like playing the ball differently or simple bounces going New Orleans’ way, the defense is doing a much greater job at creating opportunities for the offense this season. They need to keep that momentum going during the back half of the 2023 campaign.

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Chiefs have second-most sacks in NFL through Week 9

The #Chiefs’ defense has accumulated the second-most sacks in the NFL through Week 9 of the 2023 season.

The Kansas City Chiefs defense has proven that it is not to be trifled with this season, and as their 2023 campaign wears on, it is becoming evident that they are a particularly special group.

According to the Chiefs’ Senior Team Reporter Matt McMullen, no less than 13 of Kansas City’s defenders have registered half a sack or more through Week 9, and the team’s 31 total sacks are good for the second-best mark in the NFL.

For a team whose identity has mostly revolved around the offense during Andy Reid’s tenure, the resurgence of the defense is a welcome sign for fans who pined for the return of defensive-minded football in Kansas City.

There remains plenty of work to do if the Chiefs intend to defend their Super Bowl title later in the season, but the pieces certainly seem to be in place for a championship-caliber defense to help buoy Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City’s offense in the 2023 playoffs.

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Chiefs S Mike Edwards explains decision to lateral ball on fumble recovery vs. Dolphins

Chiefs S Mike Edwards explains his decision to lateral the ball on fumble recovery

The Kansas City Chiefs had plenty of big moments in their 21-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany. The defense stood tall for most of the game, especially during a turning point play in the first half.

The scoop fumble return for a touchdown from safety Bryan Cook extended the lead to three scores and was set up by the punch out from Trent McDuffie. The scoop part, however, was by Mike Edwards, who had the presence of mind to lateral the ball back to Cook to run 59 yards for the score. Edwards spoke about the fantastic takeaway and decision to lateral during the run-back in his postgame press conference.

“So once I got it, I felt Tyreek (Hill) on my ankle,” He explained. “So I was about to get tackled. And I was like, Nah, we gotta get this home, we got to do something else. So I looked back, and I seen my boy BC (Bryan Cook). And I was like, I trust him. You gotta have trust to do some stuff like that, but I trusted him. I just pushed it back, and he did the rest.”

The highlight play is not standard in the league, as coaches typically would prefer the defenders in a turnover scenario not to put the ball at risk. Edwards comedically addressed whether or not this was an authorized action.

“Yeah, we got a touchdown out of it,” said Edwards with a smile. “It better be good.”

The score at the end of the half stalled a promising drive and served as the difference in the game as the Chiefs held on by a touchdown.