Kansas City Chiefs: Make Landry Jones Beat You

The KC Chiefs host the Pittsburgh Steelers today at Arrowhead Stadium in what could be the Chiefs’ last chance to prove they’re not a bottom-tier NFL team.

The Kansas City Chiefs are tough to beat at home. That’s been the case for many years and it’s a calling-card for the Chiefs identity. Today, the Chiefs (1-5) meet the Steelers (4-2), and its opposing quarterback Landry Jones that presents a potential advantage for Kansas City.

Here in Big 12 country, you might remember Jones as the four-year starter who threw for 16,646 yards at Oklahoma, a career 63.6 completion percentage and 123 touchdowns. He’s the Big 12’s all-time leader in pass attempts (2,183), passing yards and, oh yeah, interceptions (52) too. His 126 total career touchdowns is third most in Big 12 history. (via Sports-Reference.com)

He’s got good size at 6′ 4″, 225 pounds, and he looked sharp in his first career game. He completed 8-of-12 passes last week against a tough Arizona Cardinals defense, and he added his first two career passing touchdowns.

But the big thing for the Chiefs is, even though Jones is in third season, this week will be his first career start. He’ll be playing in just his second career game today, and the Chiefs must do everything they can to force Jones to beat them.

Force the 3rd-and-long, and force Jones to make pressure decisions under the weight of the Arrowhead crowd and a dangerous Chiefs pass rush.

Now, Jones will have some of the best offensive weapons in the NFL. Receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell are two of the best football players in the league. And receiver Martavis Bryant did this last week, via the NFL’s Official YouTube page:

Of course, the Steelers will do everything they can to protect their young quarterback. Heavy run attack, short, one-read passing plays, bubble screens, etc. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley is a crafty offensive mind, like him or not. But it’s just a fact that a Jones-led Pittsburgh offense is not a Ben Roethlisberger-led Steelers attack. And the Chiefs must capitalize on that.

It’s on the Chiefs defense to contain Bell and the Steelers’ running attack, much like they did a week ago against Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson. It’s a tough job, but it’s the only way Kansas City can force Landry Jones to beat your defense.