Five reasons why the Kansas City Chiefs will go 19-0 this season
Kansas City’s Improved Defense
Saying the Chiefs defense will improve is nothing ground-breaking. They finished 31st in total defense. Therefore, improvement from the team’s 31st ranking shouldn’t be hard of a feat. So, why is this significant?
The Chiefs allowed 26.3 points per game, putting them 24th in the league. In Kansas City’s five losses, including the AFC Championship game, Kansas City surrendered 40.2 points per game.
The Chiefs have done a lot to try to improve the defense by bringing in Steve Spagnuolo as the defensive coordinator, who is best known for helping the Giants capture a Super Bowl in 2008, preventing the Patriots from going 19-0.
The defense got a big facelift after switching from the 3-4 to the 4-3 defense and releasing safety Eric Berry and outside linebacker Justin Houston while trading outside linebacker Dee Ford.
In addition, the team made key acquisitions at all position groups. At defensive end, the Chiefs got Frank Clark and Emmanuel Ogbah in trades while signing Alex Okafor. For linebackers the Chiefs traded for Darron Lee and signed Damien Wilson. And in the secondary, Kansas City signed cornerback Bashaud Breeland and safety Tyrann Mathieu, who he and Clark are considered the two biggest additions of the offseason.
Kansas City used its second second-round pick on safety Juan Thornhill, who collected six interceptions and 141 interception return yards in 2018 with Virginia, ranking in the top five in both categories in college football.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones punched his first Pro Bowl ticket after breaking the NFL record for most sacks in consecutive games with 11. Linebackers Anthony Hitchens and Reggie Ragland look to rebound in Kansas City’s new defensive scheme.
There is a valid concern as to whether the team will league the lead in sacks again after tying first with Pittsburgh with 52. There are still some questions about the cornerbacks. But even with the current roster, Chiefs fans will see significant improvement from the defense. More specifically, better tackling, which will help the Chiefs altogether in 2019.