Chiefs vs. Chargers: Dee Ford says “it was good to be back”
By Matt Conner
![CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers scrambles out of the pocket from Dee Ford #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at StubHub Center on September 9, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers scrambles out of the pocket from Dee Ford #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at StubHub Center on September 9, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/eb683426d2482e9988091375ec2cdcf72e6230192e01ede330fa40910a1d247b.jpg)
Dee Ford came up big for the Kansas City Chiefs against Philip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers in a sign of potentially good things to come in a contract year.
While it’s easy to talk about a list of concerns when it comes to the Kansas City Chiefs defense, it’s also becoming a bit too easy to overlook the good things that happened in the preseason or the Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
In particular, the performance of outside linebacker Dee Ford was something to behold on Sunday, a man who finished the game with four quarterback hits on Philip Rivers and the team’s only sack on Sunday afternoon. Coming off of a season shortened by serious back issues, Ford was an unlikely candidate for defensive MVP but he showed why Chiefs coaches have been excited by his healthy return to form.
“It was good to be back, man,” said Ford after the game. “Someone asked me earlier, ‘Where do you get your energy from?’ I’m livin’. I’m playing NFL football right now. How can you not be excited? For me to come back from my second back surgery, this is important for me.”
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Ford missed several games with back pain last year for the Chiefs before being placed on injured reserve in December. It was a frustrating season that could have been Ford’s final year if not for his ailing back that actually guaranteed his fifth year with the team due to his contract. Fortunately Ford was able to work himself back into shape with the Chiefs training staff.
“Physically I felt good, but I have a lot of room to grow, but this was a good first start,” he said.
Ford’s admission that he has room to grow also applies to a Chiefs team that looked promising in all facets of the game, especially offensively and on special teams, while also displaying plenty of problem spots that warrant attention and correction.
“We did well but we know we can improve as a defense and as an offense, too—and they did awesome,” said Ford..” As a team, we understand where we can really go, so we’ll correct it Tuesday and take that to practice on Wednesday and carry it into Pittsburgh.”
The Chiefs visit the Steelers on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. C.T.