The Kansas City Chiefs dropped a crucial game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday night, and one of the biggest culprits was their pass defense. The Chiefs coughed up 295 passing yards to Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, including a 32-yard pass to wideout Troy Franklin with 54 seconds remaining that set up a 35-yard, game-winning field goal attempt by Wil Lutz. The question now is what Kansas City will do to fix the unit.
That answer may be buried within hours of tape watching by head coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo this week, but an immediate answer is the play of cornerback Kristian Fulton.
Fulton returned to the lineup this week after being out since Week 2 with an ankle injury and being a healthy scratch. Fans were hoping for an encouraging bounce-back effort this weekend, but that wasn't the case. According to Pro Football Focus, Fulton played just nine snaps, but after allowing a 35-yard reception to Franklin earlier in the game, it appears the Chiefs may need to reverse course for a second time and take him out of their plans for the rest of the season.
Kristian Fulton’s Big Mistake Raises Alarms for Chiefs’ Struggling Secondary
Fulton’s big gaffe came in the third quarter shortly after QB Patrick Mahomes threw an interception after Kansas City’s first drive. With the Broncos backed up on their own 11-yard line, Nix eventually led them to a 3rd and 8 on their own 25. Matched up with Franklin on the line of scrimmage, Fulton whiffed on a press attempt, allowing Franklin to get open downfield to move the chains.
The play sparked an 89-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by Jaleel McLaughlin’s four-yard touchdown run. But it should also spark conversation about Fulton’s future.
Signed to a two-year, $20 million contract last spring, Fulton played 15 snaps for the Chiefs in the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, allowing a 14-yard reception. After playing two snaps the following week against the Philadelphia Eagles, Fulton was sent to injured reserve with his ankle injury before returning this week.
While Fulton has been rehabbing, the Chiefs' secondary has remained one of the NFL's better units, allowing 198.0 passing yards per game (10th) with the No. 1 Pro Football Focus coverage grade (80.5). Yes, Kansas City's CB situation hasn't exactly been perfect this season, but it's clear that a mistake-prone option isn't good enough to be in the spotlight.
So, what's next? Do the Chiefs keep playing Fulton, hoping that he'll figure things out on the job? Or do they bench him again and pray that the second time will be the charm? Neither options is foolproof.
Getting Fulton was supposed to provide a boost for the defense, but it took one play to temper that excitement. With Fulton not looking like the player they paid for, benching him may be their only option as the season has reached a critical stage.