Kansas City Chiefs have not allowed touchdown in 9 straight quarters

The Kansas City Chiefs defense has been a big reason for the team’s five-game winning streak. It is time to dive deep and look at the defense’s success.

Roughly a year ago today, the Kansas City Chiefs were second to last in the NFL in total defense. It was a defense, guided by then-defensive coordinator Bob Sutton, that frustrated a lot of Chiefs fans.

Twelve months later, the Kansas City Chiefs have one of the league’s most feared defenses. Coming off a 26-3 win on the road against the Chicago Bears, the Chiefs proved that they own a stout defense.

The Chiefs have not surrendered a touchdown in nine consecutive quarters, going back to the fourth quarter against New England in Week 14. Throughout the nine quarters, the Chiefs are allowing an average of just 1.5 points per quarter.

During the team’s five-game winning streak, the best winning streak of the season, the Chiefs have not allowed more than 17 points in a game. The Chiefs have outscored their opponents 136-48 during this streak, giving up 9.6 points per game. And while we’re having fun with numbers, the Chiefs are allowing an average of 0.75 points per quarter in the last two games, holding the Broncos and Bears to three points each.

During the five straight victories, the Chiefs have collected eight interceptions and 12 sacks. In addition, the Chiefs defense has allowed just 20 of 62 third down conversions, a conversion rate of just 32 percent. In 2018, the Chiefs allowed a conversion 42 percent of the time on third down.

Defensive newcomers Frank Clark, Tyrann Mathieu and Juan Thornhill have shown significant improvement during this winning streak. Clark has gradually become one of the better edge rushers in the NFL while Mathieu and Thornhill have become one of the better safety duos in the league.

With the losses of Alex Okafor and Emmanuel Ogbah, the Chiefs hope that Terrell Suggs, another newcomer, can help give the defense the extra push it needs with the playoffs just around the corner.

Give a lot of credit to head coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The Chiefs went through a massive facelift on defense during the offseason, parting ways with Justin Houston, Dee Ford, Allen Bailey, Orlando Scandrick, Steven Nelson, Eric Berry and Ron Parker. Even with the necessary changes, having that many in one year is challenging to handle.

The Chiefs defense got off to a slow start in 2019. Following the win against the Broncos last week, the narrative was that the Chiefs defense is peaking at the right time. After holding three of their last four opponents to single-digits on the scoreboard, the Chiefs have a lot of momentum going into the playoffs.

Kansas City’s offense might not be as dynamic as it was last year. But with a much improved defense and more balance on the team, Chiefs fans should be all right with that as the team inches closer to the postseason.