Kansas City Chiefs grades: Another improbable win
By Andrew Jones
Defense: B
They gave up a lot of yards but when it came down to it the defense won the game again for the Chiefs. Eric Berry had the game of the season with another pick 6 and his first ever pick 2 off a failed two-point conversion attempt. His 8 points by himself was more than two other teams scored on Sunday. He had an amazing homecoming and deservedly stole the headlines of the game. Berry is playing for a contract but knowing what I know about him, his priorities during the season are different. He wants a championship in Kansas City ahead of his own big payday. He wants to get paid but there might be a few things ahead of that on his list of goals. After that game, John Dorsey had better be looking at any way possible to get him his money.
Lost in the heroics of Berry is a group effort by the Chiefs in goal to go situations. Not only were the Falcons forced to settle for two field goals but they were also turned away on fourth down on the Chiefs’ 10 yard line. That is holding one of the most prolific offenses in the league to 6 points when it could have easily been 21. Now they didn’t have Julio Jones at 100% for most of the game but the Falcons still have plenty of firepower to move the football.
Where the Chiefs really stumble in the grade this week is the penalties. Both offensively and defensively the penalties killed the Chiefs all day and extended Falcons’ drives. Some of them were definitely calls that could have been left out but the Chiefs need to be more disciplined against the Raiders this week. Let the Raiders be the Raiders and the Chiefs can take full control of the AFC West.