Kansas City Chiefs: Three reasons for defensive success in 2019
By Kole Berrey
If I had a dollar for every time in the offseason I heard the phrase “If the Kansas City Chiefs just had an average defense, they would be unstoppable,”, then I wouldn’t be writing this.
Instead, I would be sitting on a beach in Cabo sipping on a margarita watching my yacht on the sea during a sunset. The point is, I would be a very rich man. For whatever reason, the narrative in the national media this season is that the Kansas City Chiefs defense is still bad.
Talking heads still bring up last year’s numbers when talking about this team, and there are still statements like “Patrick Mahomes is great, but can the Chiefs defense get a stop when it matters most?”
The truth of the matter is that this Chiefs defense isn’t just average. It is not some middle of the road, getting carried by its offense, just lucky to be there unit. Not only is the Chiefs defense not losing games for the team anymore, it is outright winning them for Kansas City.
This defensive success isn’t a mirage either. This is the type of success that isn’t just the product of facing bad teams or back up quarterbacks. This is real, aggressive, hit you in your mouth and make you like it defensive football in Kansas City.
This week on the KC Kingdom Podcast, we discussed this and so much more. We talked Chiefs vs Broncos, and what we liked from the game, as well as breaking down the upcoming Chiefs vs Bears Sunday Night Football showdown. We also talked about Terrell Suggs, and just how he fit into this defense.
If you have the time, give us a listen at the link below. If that doesn’t interest you, however, no worries. Just scroll below and keep reading on how and why this Chiefs defense is putting the league on notice.
There are a couple different reasons why the Chiefs defense has seen such drastic changes this year compared to last year’s unit. A new coaching staff, a plethora of new players, and a mini culture shift is among the reasons we are seeing dominant defensive football in the Kingdom once again.
I am going to take an in depth look in all three reasons, with the first being how hiring Steve Spagnuolo was the first domino to fall in this defensive overhaul.