The Kansas City Chiefs have long been known for their explosive offense under Patrick Mahomes, but this season, the defense is stealing the spotlight. The unit, led by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, has been dominant, with the run defense standing out as one of the league's best.
After hitting their stride late last season, the Chiefs defense has continued to build on that momentum, improving week after week and helping the team control games even when the offense is still finding its rhythm.
Kansas City ranks third in the league in run defense, allowing just 83.9 rushing yards per game. This stout front has given up only five rushing touchdowns all season and is holding opponents to a mere 3.7 yards per carry. With this type of containment, opponents have been forced into passing situations, as shown by Kansas City’s opponents running the ball only 39.65% of the time. This one-dimensional pressure has paid off as Kansas City continues to limit high-powered rushing attacks across the league.
The Chiefs’ defensive success has been even more impressive considering the caliber of running backs they've faced. This season alone, they’ve held Derrick Henry to 46 yards, Zach Moss to 34, Bijan Robinson to 31, J.K. Dobbins to 32, and Alvin Kamara to just 26 yards. In Week 8, they shut down Alexander Mattison, limiting him to only 15 yards, and held the Raiders as a whole to just 33 rushing yards. These performances include several of the lowest outputs of the season for these backs, underlining just how disruptive the Chiefs have been in shutting down the ground game.
The Chiefs’ run defense hasn’t just been solid—it’s been critical to their ability to win tough, low-scoring games as the offense continues to find its footing. With players like Chris Jones leading the charge up front and Nick Bolton in the middle, Kansas City’s defense has proven it can dictate game flow, keeping opponents off balance and setting up favorable situations for the Chiefs' offense.
Heading into tougher matchups down the line, Kansas City’s defense is positioned to continue this trend, serving as the foundation of their success and giving them a formidable edge as they push for another deep playoff run.
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