The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs entered the weekend with two victories within the final six days — the most recent clinching a spot within the AFC playoffs. The 19-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday night was tight, and the Chiefs’ protection was bailed out by a self-inflicted error by the Raiders’ center-quarterback alternate.
Linebacker Nick Bolton pounced to the fumble restoration, sealing the win — however he was conscious of the performs that put them in such a nerve-racking place. In his post-game press convention, Bolton identified an emphasis for the Chiefs’ protection that the unit struggled with towards the Raiders.
“Now we have to seek out methods to make them take the lengthy, onerous street,” Bolton advised reporters. “Eradicate explosive performs, make them make contested, robust catches. A few of them are vast open.”
The Chiefs’ protection held the Raiders to a few factors for a lot of the recreation, however two possessions within the second half made an enormous distinction. Each drives lasted solely two performs, the second of every being an extended landing go.
“We preached early about getting our swagger again,” he continued. “We had been in a position to sort of get that going, then we had an explosive kick return. Now we have been preaching about it not mattering the place we get the ball; we’re going to make them kick a discipline purpose. Then we gave up an explosive go, a landing on that play.”
It was the second consecutive recreation the place explosive passes had been the lowlight for the Chiefs’ protection. The protection has struggled in particular person matchups, however that may additionally end result from a scarcity of chemistry in a bunch that has handled lineup adjustments this season.
That features this recreation when cornerback Nazeeh Johnson was changed by Joshua Williams late within the first half. The very best model of the defensive backfield continues to be a piece in progress, which was defined additional by Chiefs’ cornerback Trent McDuffie within the locker room afterward.
“I believe a giant factor occurred in that two-minute [drill] on the finish of the sport, somewhat miscommunication with up-tempo,” McDuffie defined. “We simply have to scrub it up. We had a rookie who couldn’t hear however is doing an incredible job of studying the playbook. It takes time.”
The Chiefs allowed the Raiders to drive previous midfield each instances the group wanted to late within the fourth quarter. Raiders tight finish Brock Bowers had a piece completion on every drive, together with a 25-yard catch in particular person protection. It speaks to a necessity for gamers to execute.
“I don’t assume the communication is that unhealthy; all people is aware of what we’re doing; I believe the largest factor for us is simply going on the market and making the performs,” McDuffie advised reporters. “We’re in the fitting place; we simply should make the performs.”
Picture by David Eulitt/Getty Photos
Even with a stronger efficiency from the Chiefs’ go rush, the protection blemishes had been nonetheless exploitable. Defensive deal with Chris Jones earned two sacks, and defensive finish George Karlaftis tacked on one other in a recreation with loads of strain on the Raiders’ go recreation.
Jones acknowledges the issues and sees them as correctable — particularly his particular person errors.
“If we eradicate the large performs and the penalties, I believe we’ll be the place we wish to be as a protection,” Jones advised reporters throughout his post-game press convention.
“I had two offsides [Friday] — one gave them a primary down, and one other moved them nearer,” Jones elaborated. “I’ve to be higher on that. Cross interference penalties, palms to the face penalties, little issues like that may add up all through the season, particularly within the playoffs.”
The Chiefs should use the 5 remaining video games within the common season to patch up these holes, however Jones desires to make it possible for doesn’t change the protection’s mentality snap to snap.
“Nonetheless play bodily,” Jones demanded. “Don’t take away from the physicality a part of how we play in our protection. Simply right the errors.”
The Chiefs’ subsequent alternative to enhance on these defensive particulars is Week 14 towards the Los Angeles Chargers, greater than every week away. Bolton sees the extra days of relaxation as a chance to get higher.
“This final recreation, we didn’t get to essentially dive into the movie due to the quick week,” Bolton defined. “These additional days, we will watch two video games and get the communication proper, get the eyes proper, and be on the ’s and Os of what we have now to do.”
The Chiefs might want to discover methods to decelerate opposing passing assaults, however quite a lot of it comes right down to the gamers on the sphere performing nearer to the group’s customary.
