The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the New York Jets 35-12 on Sunday, improving to a 6-2 record. While the game was close early on, timely red-zone defense and a dominant second half kept the Jets out of the end zone and held them scoreless.
A big factor in the performance was the pass rush. Leading up to the game, the Chiefs’ pass rush failed to make any meaningful impact in the losses to the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos. After being called out this week for the lack of production, the defensive
line showed up and played their best game since the opener.
Here is how they did it
Chris Jones returns to form
The Chiefs’ All-Pro defensive tackle has had a slow start to the season, but he exploded for his best game of the year on Sunday, recording two sacks and creating pressure throughout.
Early on, Jones applied quick pressure using power rushes, setting the table for his counter moves later in the game.
Jones still has the power to move opposing linemen at will when left single-blocked, and this week he made Geno Smith uncomfortable by crushing the pocket early in the game.
The power moves are designed to put offensive linemen on skates and force them into overaggression off the snap, which is when he can work his counters like his hand swipe-to-rip combo.
Throughout his career, this has been Jones’s go-to move. On the snap, the right guard tries to set quick on Jones and gets his hands on him first to stop the power rush. Jones lined up with a running start from his alignment in front of the tackle, took advantage of the guard’s flat set, and swatted his hands away while ripping through the B-gap. The guard’s quick set means he didn’t get much depth, which gives Jones a very quick path to the quarterback.
Jones interior pass rush was good all game, but later on he had his best rush of the season from the edge.
At this stage in his career, Jones does not have the same explosion and quickness that he did to beat tackles off the edge consistently as he did in years prior, but as shown with his sack of the right tackle, he can still load up and bring his full force and quickness for one play in late-game situations.
It’s not a spot the Chiefs should line him up in frequently at this stage in his career, but it is a good curveball for them to throw in late-game situations.
Karlaftis continues playing well
Arguably the Chiefs’ best defensive player so far this season, defensive end George Karlaftis continued his strong season on Sunday, finishing good pass-rush attempts with sacks.
His effort and hustle on a game-in, game-out basis are undeniable, but the main criticism of his game has been his failure to finish plays with sacks.
Before the Chiefs’ Week 5 bye, Karlaftis did not record a sack, but since then he has recorded four, including two on Sunday.
On the snap, Karlaftis lands inside with his hands on the right tackle and walks him into the pocket. He gets to the quarterback’s level, disengages the block, and engulfs him for a sack.
Karlaftis has used the bull rush a few times this season to compress tackles into the pocket, and he is playing with more power than he has shown so far in his career.
A relentless motor and good timing also helped him collect another sack.
The Jets sell a play-action look off the snap, which makes Karlaftis hesitate out of the gate initially. As the quarterback pulls the ball, Karlaftis gets a bead on the play and quickly accelerates around the tackle. Sensing danger and under duress from rookie edge R Mason Thomas, the quarterback attempts to flee, but Karlaftis bends and gets just enough of his ankles to bring him down for a sack.
Ashton Gillotte
Getting in on the sack party was second-year defensive end Ashton Gillotte, who had his best game as a pro rushing the passer.
Finishing with five pressures and one sack, Gillotte strung together a well-deserved performance getting after the quarterback.
One of the Chiefs better run-stuffing defensive linemen this season, Gillotte found himself on the field when the Jets would try a trick play.
The Jets sell a duo look on the snap, but the running back quickly flips the ball back to the quarterback, who surveys down the field. Lined up as a 6-technique off the snap, Gillotte is solo-blocked by a tight end, but uses a fierce start off the line of scrimmage to drive him off the line. Recognizing the trick play, he uses a long arm to help disengage, and then hustles to attack the quarterback.
His sack came as the offense was preoccupied with Jones and Karlaftis.
With six defenders on the line, Gillotte inside, with Karlaftis as a 4-technique, and Jones a wide 5-technique, the Jets slide protection to the right. Jones loops inside while Karlaftis attacks the right B-gap. This causes the right guard to take Karlaftis, but the center lets Gillotte go with Jones looping.
The trap was set, and Gillotte quickly runs down the quarterback.
The bottom line
This is the kind of performance the Chiefs should expect from Jones and Karlaftis. They are the two highest-paid defensive players on the team, and as seen in Gillotte’s big game, they need to open up looks for the rest of their teammates.
Smith has been one of the most sacked quarterbacks so far this season, so this isn’t a game the defensive line can rest on; they should use it as a building block for where they want to go this season.
