The Kansas City Chiefs are over .500 for the first time since the opening week of the season — thanks to the strength of their defense. Kansas City has experienced a turnaround on that side of the ball, allowing just 16 points per game (fifth in the NFL) and 311.5 yards per game (sixth in the NFL) over the last four weeks.
The last two weeks, Kansas City has ramped up the intensity defensively, allowing just 12 points per game and 300.5 yards a game. They also have forced three takeaways in that stretch.
Kansas City is a far from perfect team, but the Chiefs are correcting that side of the ball just in time for the second half of the year.
“The last two weeks, I think the guys have played better,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Monday. “Some of it is just getting the guys back on the field as a unit. Getting 24 (Melvin Ingram) in there I think helped. That’s a nice addition. If you can add a Pro Bowl-type player in on the defensive line, it surely can’t hurt, and he got quite a few snaps in there on nickel situations. But they’re playing well together, and I think (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Spags is doing a nice job with the game plans.”
Ingram made his presence felt in his first game with the Chiefs, playing 29 snaps and finishing with four pressures, a tackle and a run stop. The Chiefs enjoyed the added dynamic Ingram brought to the defense, pressuring Packers quarterback Jordan Love 28 times in the win.
“He came here to play and that’s what he wanted to do, so first game he gets 29 snaps,” Reid said. “I can’t tell you what he gets next time, but he’s been a starter in this league, and I think as long as he’s playing a lot, I think that’s what he wants to do. He’s getting in that twilight part of his career, but he still can play, and he knows all that, but he loves playing man. We got a taste of that yesterday. We got a chance to see it which was kind of fun.”
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With Ingram on the outside edge, that allows the Chiefs to move Chris Jones back to the inside at one of the tackle spots — where he’s dominated the past several seasons. The Chiefs will continue to move Jones around the line, which Jones doesn’t seem to mind despite having just three sacks on the year.
“Chris just wants to do what’s best and help out wherever he can,” Reid said. “He played inside; he played a couple snaps outside. He sure did a nice job there; I mean that’s what I thought. I appreciate his attitude on that as he goes forward.”
Kansas City allowed 32.6 points (last in the NFL) and 437.4 yards (31st in NFL) per game over the first five contests. The defense is turning around as the offense tries to get back on track, looking to complete the final piece of the puzzle toward a Super Bowl run.
“It keeps you humble and keeps you working hard, and if it doesn’t, you get your tail kicked,” Reid said. “That’s how it works, so it’s important that we keep that attitude, keep enjoying each other’s glory moments and support each other and doing those things that are right.”
