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The Kansas City Chiefs still haven’t played their best football

By Grant Tuttle

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 08: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs talks to Travis Kelce #87 and teammates in the huddle during the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 08: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs talks to Travis Kelce #87 and teammates in the huddle during the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 18: Defensive back Rashad Fenton #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs and teammate Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates Fenton’s interception in the fourth quarter over the Los Angeles Chargers at Estadio Azteca on November 18, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 18: Defensive back Rashad Fenton #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs and teammate Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates Fenton’s interception in the fourth quarter over the Los Angeles Chargers at Estadio Azteca on November 18, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images) /

New defensive scheme

To start the season, many Chiefs fans were using the expression, “Here we go again.” It was apparent at the beginning of the season that this defense was showing serious struggle. The team could not defend against the pass or run, prompting many to give up on the prospect of the Chiefs having even an average defense. Now, things have changed and it looks like the Chiefs defense may be on pace to be one of the top ten by the end of the season.

The Chiefs needed to mesh defensively. That was very clear at the beginning of the season when players were out of position and there was a lack of communication in the backfield. Slowly but surely, the perception of Kansas City’s defense is changing.

Kansas City no longer has to rely on the offense to put up a ton of points to win the game as it did last season. Now, we are seeing more pressure and tighter coverage that is giving some quarterbacks some real problems. In the last 3 games, the Chiefs have produced 7 sacks and 7 interceptions. This defense is steadily improving and should be even better by the postseason.

Why the Chiefs can get it right

As mentioned already, the Chiefs have shown steady improvement throughout the season. The defense appears to be on an upward swing with very little sign of decline. For once, it is not Mahomes that has carried the team on his back and propelling them to the playoffs, it’s the defense.

That being said, I would expect the offense to get on the same page. In the early portion of the game against the Patriots, Andy Reid called plays that we have not seen all season. Then, once they took the lead, they began to revert to more of the simple plays that they have used all season. Further, Mahomes and the offensive line will have three weeks to improve themselves and get ready to likely play the Patriots again in the postseason.

This team is very much a Super Bowl-caliber team. In my years as a Chiefs fan, I have never seen a balanced team like this one. It has always been that they have a great offense or a great defense, never both. This season, Kansas City has a chance to have very productive groups entering the playoffs. This December and beyond, there is a lot for Chiefs Kingdom to be thankful for.

Chiefs face an energized Broncos team with Drew Lock. dark. Next

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