Kansas City Chiefs have made their defensive strategy vs. Buffalo Bills' offense crystal clear
In Week 11 the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Buffalo Bills for the eighth time (including the postseason) over the past five years. The Chiefs are 4-3 over the Bills during that span. It's safe to say that both teams know each other very well and know what it takes to beat […]
In Week 11 the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Buffalo Bills for the eighth time (including the postseason) over the past five years.
The Chiefs are 4-3 over the Bills during that span. It's safe to say that both teams know each other very well and know what it takes to beat the other. These matchups come down to execution and who makes the least amount of mistakes.
Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones knows that disrupting Buffalo's execution starts with affecting Josh Allen. That's easier said than done as Allen is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but if Kansas City's defense can make him uncomfortable and flustered, it can contain the Bills' offense.
"Try to contain Josh Allen," Jones said when asked what the priority is for the defense in this game. "Keep him in the pocket. He can make every throw. He's increasingly dangerous outside of the pocket. He can create plays with his feet. He's hard to bring down. Also, just affecting Josh Allen."
Allen's running ability is just as dangerous as him throwing the ball. As Jones noted, Allen has a large frame and isn't easy to tackle. He and running back James Cook have become one of the most lethal rushing duos in the league, combining for 837 yards and 12 touchdowns. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo knows first hand how hard it is to gameplan for Buffalo's rushing attack.
“Listen, this quarterback (Josh Allen) is – I can’t – there aren’t enough superlatives to say for my – the extent of my knowledge and words is not good enough to do him justice because he’s tough," Spagnuolo said. "And then, they put a (running) back (James Cook) back there that can run it. I mean, we have to continue to play the run well and then there’s all the other stuff, but what they add to it is the quarterback can run and he runs like a fullback. It’s not doing this (motions hands to the right and left),I mean he can (motions hand in a straight line) so we know what we’re in for. We’ve gone against him quite a bit, but (I have) a lot of respect for him and we have our work cut out for us.”
Allen has had some of the best performances of his career against the Chiefs. You can tell that the rivalry means a lot to him, and he does everything he can to get a win. K.C. may be the most well equipped it has ever been to slow down Allen as it ranks third in the NFL in run defense this season.
If Buffalo beats the Chiefs, it will trail K.C. by just a half game for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Bills will also have the crucial tiebreaker should the two teams finish with the same record. If the Chiefs win, they will essentially have a 3.5-game lead (factoring in the tiebreaker) with seven games to go. The Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers, who K.C. plays later this season, are also lurking closely.
Chiefs’ Chris Jones is ready to be in Buffalo to play the Bills and it has nothing to do with football
Eat some wings and beat the Bills, those are the plans.
