Chiefs' Defensive Woes Under Spagnuolo Raise Concerns for Postseason Success
The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense has become a growing concern as the team heads into the latter half of the 2024 season. Despite an impressive record and a potent offense, the Chiefs' pass defense is struggling, and it could jeopardize their hopes in the postseason. Recently, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has found himself at the center of this issue, particularly after the Chiefs’ 30-27 win over the Carolina Panthers.
While the offense has been productive, especially with Patrick Mahomes at the helm, the defense has shown alarming cracks. In their last five games, the Chiefs have allowed quarterbacks like Gardner Minshew, Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, and even rookie Bryce Young to throw with exceptional accuracy, completing over 70% of their passes, with a combined 8 touchdowns and just 1 interception. Given that the Chiefs will face even tougher quarterbacks in the playoffs, this defensive vulnerability is a serious red flag.
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Spagnuolo points to several factors contributing to this decline. One of the biggest issues is the injury to cornerback Jaylen Watson, who was lost for the season. Watson had emerged as a key player in the Chiefs' secondary, and his absence has left a significant hole. Though Spagnuolo has a track record of getting solid performances from backups, the replacement for Watson, Nazeeh Johnson, has struggled to maintain the level of play needed. Johnson has been targeted frequently by opposing quarterbacks, and the Chiefs have also been forced to play rookie Chamarri Conner in the slot, where he has not been as effective as a true cornerback.
Another critical issue is the Chiefs' lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Over the past seasons, the Chiefs' pass rush, led by elite defensive tackle Chris Jones, has been a major strength. However, this season, their pass rush has been underwhelming, especially on the edges. The defensive line, apart from Jones, has failed to get consistent pressure, and blitz packages led by Spagnuolo have not been as effective. Without a strong pass rush, the secondary has been left exposed, allowing quarterbacks to extend plays and make accurate throws under little pressure.
The Chiefs' linebackers and safeties, while solid in other areas, are also not strong enough in coverage to compensate for the lack of pass rush. Nick Bolton, in particular, has always had coverage issues, and with longer plays developing due to the lack of pressure, those issues are becoming more apparent. Even safeties like Justin Reid and Bryan Cook, who have been serviceable, struggle when opposing quarterbacks have all day to throw.
Spagnuolo has been vocal about his frustration with these defensive lapses. In the Carolina game, he acknowledged the importance of closing out games, especially in critical moments like the Panthers’ successful two-point conversion to tie the game late. Despite these setbacks, Spagnuolo remains hopeful that adjustments can be made, especially with the return of Charles Omenihu, who could help boost the pass rush. However, there is no denying that without a significant improvement in getting to the quarterback, the Chiefs’ defense could continue to hold them back.
As Spagnuolo puts it, the Chiefs need to find a way to get back to their pass-rushing ways and stop relying solely on their offense to carry the team. If they don’t, the defensive struggles we’ve seen over the last few games could prove costly in the playoffs, where every team is more than capable of exploiting weaknesses like these. The Chiefs’ defense, once a strength, now requires urgent attention if they are to make a deep run in the postseason.
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