On the first play of the fourth quarter in Week 8, the Kansas City Chiefs converted a third down while leading 24-13 against the Denver Broncos. With a new set of downs and an 11-point lead, it felt like the game — and the AFC West lead — was in the Chiefs’ control.
Three plays later, the Chiefs were punting away on fourth and inches, and nothing seemed to go right for Kansas City from there.
We know the offense failed to finish the next two drives, both crucial possessions that could’ve put the game
in the Chiefs’ favor. However, the defense allowed the Broncos to find their fourth-quarter magic, allowing two touchdowns in just 11 plays on the field.
At his press conference on Thursday, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo described the loss as “sickening” before answering questions about the 28-24 defeat.
“You have an 11-point lead going into the fourth quarter; the responsibility falls on the defense to make sure you win the game, and we didn’t do that,” Spagnuolo acknowledged. “I know that everyone wanted to score at the end. [Patrick Mahomes] has bailed us out a number of times in the eight years I’ve been here, but we don’t like to put the offense in that situation.”
Leading into Denver’s nine-play touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs had forced three consecutive three-and-outs. In retrospect, with the defense giving way over the next two possessions, Spags had a message for his unit following the collapse.
“I asked everybody to look in the mirror and ask themselves this question: Did we let up? Did we lose our edge? Did we lack the killer instinct?”
“I think we all have to look at that,” Spags reflected. “Did I call it differently? Does it need to be called differently? And so we had that conversation, and hopefully we will be presented with that situation again.”
While it may take self-reflection to finish these big games, the Chiefs are still looking for answers to finish plays, like opponent dropbacks. Kansas City is tied with the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants for the fewest sacks in the NFL.
However, Chiefs defensive end George Karlafits leads the NFL in batted-down passes (7) after Week 8. For a team with a low sack total, that’s a silver lining worth pointing out for the coach.
“I am happy with the six pass breakups,” Spagnuolo said. “When the offense drops back to throw the ball, all we’re concerned about is the end result. And quite frankly, sacks are glamorous… but on a third-down play, if a defensive lineman is knocking the ball down, you’re really getting the same thing: they’re punting.”
“What would be really nice is if we could get some of those first- and second-down sacks when they throw it,” Spagnuolo acknowledged.
While Spagnuolo’s point about early-down sacks helps, it seems that’s the only time the Chiefs get sacks this year. Out of the team’s nine sacks this season, only one has come on third down, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Whether it’s a killer instinct needed or a better pass-rush plan, the Chiefs’ defense needs to finish more pass plays to the ground to help finish close games like last week’s in Denver.
