The Kansas City Chiefs possess one of the most dominant and physical defenses in the entire NFL. Because of how things went for the team last year, many of those elements were established throughout most of the 2023 campaign. There is something that the Chiefs defense is doing consistently well every week, however, and the results can be found from Kansas City's run defense.
In the team's early years under Andy Reid's leadership, the Chiefs' defense was a unit where teams feasted if they leaned on the ground game. That was still true during the earliest season after Patrick Mahomes' arrival. However, with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on the sidelines, K.C. has finally been as complete as ever as a run defense.
The run-stuffing under Spagnuolo has usually materialized more in the back half of the season and into the playoffs. But for the entirety of the 2024 season thus far, the Chiefs are shutting down the opposing rushing attack. And their run defense is standing out in more ways than you may realize.
Slowing Down The League's Best Running Backs
If you are a fantasy football player with running backs preparing to play the Chiefs, you might as well leave them on your bench. Not many running backs have even garnered an impressive yards-per-carry result against Kansas City.
In terms of pure rushing yards, the most that the Chiefs defense has allowed to a running back in a single game is 58 (Jordan Mason in Week 7). Going into that game against San Francisco, no running back with at least 11 carries in a game against Kansas City had even reached 50 rushing yards. That includes a list of supreme talents like Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson, J.K. Dobbins, and Alvin Kamara.
To put an exclamation point on those opposing runners even more, all of those four names are in the top 12 in rushing yards currently. Three of those four are in the top 10. In fact, Henry leads the league in rushing right now with a total of 946 yards. Henry and Dobbins each had their lowest rushing outputs against Kansas City. Both of Robinson and Kamara had their second-lowest rushing output of the season against the Chiefs.
Just last week, the Chiefs' run defense allowed just 33 rushing yards on 21 carries to the Las Vegas Raiders. That is good enough for a pitiful 1.6 yards per carry. Alexander Mattison somehow wound up with just 15 yards on 14 carries. Five other Raiders who tallied at least one carry combined for just 18 yards on 7 carries. It is honestly hard to decipher which of those two points is more impressive.
Chiefs Defense Puts Fear Into Opponents
The Chiefs' defense has become exactly what Spagnuolo was hoping to have. They are able to meet runners at or behind the line of scrimmage to slow down the run. Kansas City can confuse offenses with their various disguises and defensive looks. The pass rush is completely versatile, a point that could be highlighted further with the trade acquisition of Josh Uche. And best of all, their stellar run defense has forced teams to become one-dimensional. That allows the Chiefs' defense to instill real fear into opponents.
This unit is built just how Spagnuolo envisioned when the team rebuilt the defense a few years ago. All of the Chiefs' defenders are instinctive, nor are they going to be overpowered physically very often. All told, those elements did not exist as much on the defensive side when Spags first came to Kansas City. To get that from a defense that is still largely young is an added bonus.
All of these aspects have shown up during this incredible start by the Chiefs' run defense. The instincts shine through when players like Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, and Nick Bolton seemingly beat the running back to the point of attack before it completely opens up. The Chiefs also have a physical edge over the entire front seven that is contagious for the entire depth chart among the first two levels of the defense. When given a chance to make a run stuff, there is just so much collateral damage that this front seven creates by doing the dirty work.
Having Stout Run Defense Paying Even More Dividends In 2024
The trends of the NFL goes through a circle over time and generations. It seems like we are witnessing a change in offensive attacks throughout 2024. For the first time in a good while, squads are more comfortable with being balanced and leaning on the ground game. This has been an identity of teams like the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles for a few years. They have made it clear that they are going to take it to you over and over on the ground. For others, having a solid running game has been viewed more positively this year.
Much of this is due to the ways defenses are playing now. The nature of two-high shells is taking away explosive passing opportunities down the field. Many defensive units are looking to get more speed than size on the field, as well, leading to lighter boxes in certain situations. Additionally, many NFL defenses are simply seeing a greater volume of runs on first or second down, as offenses look to stay ahead of the sticks and on schedule.
Having a stout run defense generally makes a bigger difference in the colder months of the regular season and into the playoffs. But for this particular campaign, the usage of running backs and the ground game is seeing a bit of a resurgence. Being able to lean on a defense that can slow that area of an opposing offense down is vital in winning games in this current stretch of the season. That is especially true when most NFL games are decided by one score.
For the Kansas City Chiefs, add their run-stuffing ability to the list of things where they are separating themselves from the pack.