The Chiefs need to keep forcing Seattle to pass.
Oct 26, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams wide receiver Kenny Britt (81) is unable to catch a pass while defended by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith (21) and safety Kurt Coleman (27) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 34-7. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Bob Sutton may have had the best 2014 of any assistant coach in the league. I was among the many Chiefs-watchers who saw the offseason departures and injuries to the secondary as the certain doom of this team. There appeared to be panic early, and the Chiefs have yet to put up the same starting four D-backs for consecutive games this season.
Amazingly, however, this has worked. The Chiefs are the top-rated pass defense in the league and have only allowed 22 pass plays of 20 yards or more. Such big plays were the kryptonite to the team’s gnarly 2013 defense, but it appears Sutton has found the recipe to stopping them. Only two teams in the league have allowed fewer in 2014.
The Seahawks have been unimpressive through the air all season and in three of its past five matches Seahawks QB Russell Wilson has completed fewer than 59% of his passes. The Chiefs are also allowing the 10th lowest opponent passer rating and the 7th lowest opponent yards per completion.
Don’t expect Wilson to suddenly break out of his slump this week.