The Kansas City Chiefs were without a few names because of injury entering the game last week in Dallas. Yet, the injury issues only continued to pile on during the course of that loss to the Cowboys. It has been a season where Kansas City has given itself minimal margin for error. The latest ailments certainly do not help that case, as the hope to reach the playoffs gets trickier.
One player who did not play at all on Thanksgiving was defensive back Chris Roland-Wallace. Making the team as an undrafted free agent last year, Roland-Wallace has become another diamond in the rough for Kansas City at defensive back. He is not going to be somebody who plays 100 percent of the defensive snaps. And when he is on the field, Roland-Wallace is not going to consistently light up the stat sheet.
Yet, the absence of Roland-Wallace put the Chiefs in a bit of a deployment bind in Dallas. He is a player who can handle different roles and situations on the back end. Additionally, his mix of instincts and range has led to Kansas City limiting explosive plays when he is on the field.
Not having Roland-Wallace against the Cowboys was already a tall task. Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott is a passer who feels most confident when attacking vertically and to the outside perimeters. Add in dynamic wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and the Chiefs were left to make plenty of stops one-on-one out in space.
The Chiefs have long approached opposing pass catchers with a brand of physical man coverage and pressing at the line of scrimmage. But in a confusing theme this season, Kansas City has not been able to make enough stops on third down. Mainly, failing to create routine pressure as a pass rush while rushing four has been a main cause for concern. But even on the back end, the Chiefs have not been making as many reactive plays on the football when in man coverage one-on-one.
Where Roland-Wallace levels things for Chiefs' defense
Roland-Wallace has been able to make stops as a tackler when triggering laterally or downhill. He has been effective as a roaming robber in the middle of the field, nabbing four passes defended and two interceptions across the last two seasons. Roland-Wallace has also boosted the Chiefs by breaking up passes with well-timed hits against pass catchers down the field.
He does not get as many chances as other Chiefs defensive backs. But as a player who can handle both nickel defender and safety responsibilities, he has helped to balance what Kansas City lost by not re-signing Justin Reid. Bryan Cook has had some impressive moments and outings this season. But in terms of athleticism and making plays down the field, he has not matched what Roland-Wallace has forced. Certainly, it has left the Chiefs to make more plays on the outside.
And K.C. failed to do that for much of the day in Dallas. Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson each had one of their worst outings of the season. Watson had the early interception as Prescott was affected during his release. Outside of that takeaway, the duo was left scrambling against Dallas pass catchers. Those two and many other Chiefs defenders were hit with penalties in coverage as well. Kansas City finished the day with 10 penalties for 119 penalty yards. In what ended up being a close, one-score game, the mix of penalties and failure of stops in coverage cost the Chiefs the most.
Where Texans could attack if Roland-Wallace remains out
Dealing with a back injury, it will be fascinating to see when Roland-Wallace can return. Everything is essentially a must-win for Kansas City down the stretch. The Chiefs can only hope to have this defensive back return to mitigate any pressure for other K.C. DBs.
If he is unavailable again against the Houston Texans, the Chiefs will likely see a heavy dose of passes in the middle of the field and on in-breakers from C.J. Stroud. With how Houston attacks through the air, Kansas City must be quicker to trigger and find the football if Roland-Wallace is unavailable. Plus, the Chiefs cannot gift Texans pass catchers easy leverage advantages. If Stroud has the time, he may not hesitate to take deep shots if Roland-Wallace is not in there.