Overreaction No. 2: The d-line is fine without Chris Jones
This Chris Jones saga is just getting to be too much. His sitting in a suite to start the season is a terrible optic, and his agents are not helping the discussion.
Chris Jones’ agents look like they’d play henchmen if Lifetime made mafia movies. pic.twitter.com/dd70vkN1UK
— Guy’s Snacks (@GuysSnacks) September 8, 2023
Thankfully, the NBC broadcast did not hammer viewers with how much better the Kansas City defense would be with Jones on the field. That is because the defense did surprisingly well against the Lions.
The pre-game storylines focused on how explosive the Lions' offense was, whether it was pounding the rock or Jared Goff slinging it downfield. All in all, the defense held Detroit in check. They allowed two touchdowns, 3.5 yards per rush, and forced a fumble. Sure, they allowed 253 passing yards and two receivers with at least 70 yards, but the bend-don't-break approach from defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo worked once again.
The Chiefs defensive line was inarguably the most questionable decision entering Week 1. Without Jones and the suspended Charles Omenihu, Kansas City entered the game without their top two players. The group performed better than their lone sack suggests, though. The defensive line buckled down in the trenches as the game went along, allowing 3 yards per rush between the tackles.
George Karlaftis looked strong, whether it was applying pressure or batting down passes. Rookie Felix Anudike-Uzomah hit the quarterback twice, leading the Chiefs. Mike Danna was not dominant but showed his value on the interior in true-pass situations. The defensive line will not take over games, but the unit as a whole is fine until Jones comes back.