Chris Jones deserves to the paid and other lessons learned in Week 9
By Byron Smith
The Defense Is Only Getting Better
Dalvin Cook averaged 102.87 yards per game going into Week 9. He also averaged 5.3 yards per carry and led the league in first downs. Kirk Cousins was averaging 249.6 yards per game, with just over 12 yards per completion and a 72% completion rate. Stefon Diggs led the team in receptions with 37 catches for 706 yards.
Against the Chiefs, the 31st run defense in the league, Cook was only able to rush for 71 yard on 21 attempts, gaining only 3.4 yards per carry and 3 first downs. Cousins completed only 50% of his passes, 19/38, for 220 yards. Diggs had only 1 reception for 4 yards.
Despite analyst and fans alike being extremely critical of the Chiefs defense this season, they were able to stop some of the best players in the NFL. Despite an extremely slow start for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense and new system, the Chiefs’ have finally found a defensive foothold the last few weeks, building on blitzes and bluffs before the snap to throw offenses off their game.
With the Chiefs set up for a pretty easy ending to the season (with the exception of the Patriots), the Chiefs have a few quiet weeks to further build on this defensive foundation. This should set them up well for the postseason.