KC Chiefs: Week 13 Report Card VS Oakland Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Tyvon Branch (27) celebrates with teammates after a pick six – Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
B. . . Kansas City Chiefs. DEFENSE
The Chiefs defense hasn’t looked as sharp the past two games, but they did keep the Chiefs in this one near the end of this game, especially in the fourth quarter.
Justin Houston missed all of Sunday’s game in Oakland, which could be a large reason for the early struggles, but the biggest difference for the Chiefs D on Sunday was the secondary making plays late in the game.
The Chiefs secondary picked Derek Carr off three times, but did allow him to put up 283 yards in the air and also throw for two touchdowns. The Chiefs who had interceptions were Marcus Peters, Tyvon Branch (his first of the season), and Josh Mauga.
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Branch’s was a pick six against his former team, which was cool to see and also sealed the game. Peters’ was returned far enough to put KC in the red zone. Mauga ended up running 66 yards, but couldn’t make it into the end zone, but still put the Chiefs on the Oakland one-yard line and allowed them to put up easy points.
Oakland’s turnovers lost them this game. Had Carr been a little smarter with the football, the Chiefs might have lost this game in blowout fashion.
Had this report card been based solely off of the first half, the defense would have had a lower grade. Oakland had a 14-7 lead at half time, but Carr was making it look easy out there.
Fortunately, the Chiefs defense came through. They absolutely saved this team in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter, and showed they were the defense we’ve been used to seeing over the past few years.
Next: Regression