Super Bowl LVII: Four Chiefs defenders who need big days versus Eagles
Which players on the KC Chiefs defense need to step and play versus the Eagles if they want to win Super Bowl LVII on Sunday?
With Super Bowl Sunday right around the corner, the Kansas City Chiefs are set to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in their quest for a third Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. The entire team, of course, is under pressure to win but which players, in particular, are under the most pressure?
Let’s review several players on the defensive side of the ball for the Chiefs who need to step up and play well on Sunday evening if the team wishes to win their second Super Bowl Trophy in three years:
1. Someone on the defensive line other than Chris Jones
Chris Jones is one of the defensive players in all of football and he was the driving force behind the Chiefs ranking second in the NFL in sacks this past regular season. I have faith that Jones will live up to the challenge but Kansas City needs someone other than him to step up if they want to beat an elite Philadelphia Eagles offensive line. Whether it be Frank Clark, George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Khalen Saunders, and/or Carlos Dunlap, Steve Spagnuolo needs multiple players on the defensive line generating consistent pressure on Jalen Hurts if they want to limit an excellent Philadelphia offense. The defensive line will also need a strong performance against the Eagles running game and that will require multiple players and not just one.
Frank Clark is three sacks away from being the NFL’s all-time leader in postseason sacks, so he is certainly capable of elite performances in the playoffs. George Karlaftis has been very good over the past couple of months rushing the passer. Mike Danna has been quietly effective when he’s been on the field. Khalen Saunders has had his moments and Carlos Dunlap will look to win his first title in his thirteen-year NFL career. If another player(s) steps up and plays extremely well, the Chiefs have a very good chance to win another Super Bowl.