I can’t speak for any other Kansas City Chiefs fans out there, but I was very jealous of the four teams that advanced to the conference championships this weekend.
Yes, I am jealous that “my” team is done for the season and they are still playing.
Yes, I am jealous that the fans of one of those four teams will get the experience of cheering on their team to a Super Bowl win, something that I have never known.
However, there is something more specific about these four teams that I am very jealous of. Simply put, it’s their defenses.
All four teams have the type of defense that a team can count on. They keep their teams in games even when the offense is struggling. They usually even take it a step further and set up their offenses with big plays and turnovers. The bottom line is other teams fear playing these defenses because they know they are going to get punched in the mouth on every play.
The thought first came to my mind as I watched the Ravens/Steelers game on Saturday. “Wow, I would give anything for a defense like these guys have!”
Then on Saturday night as Green Bay went on the road and shut down “Matty Ice” and the Atlanta Falcons I thought: “That is what KC needs to make a real playoff run!”
Finally on Sunday as the team I loath more then any other shut down the greatest post season quarterback of this generation I lost all reason. “I don’t care about a #2 WR or upgrading the offensive line! We should spend every draft pick and FA move to get a dominant defense!”
The logical part of my brain knows we need balance.Patrick did a great piecejust this last week on how the Chiefs finally are starting to find balance for the first time since before Marty was here (unless you count sucking on offense and defense under Herm as balanced). So I decided to look at the numbers for the remaining playoff teams to see what kind of model they set.
The results after the break.
The stats back up the notion that all four teams still alive this week have top ten defenses.
The Steelers are #2 in YPG allowed, #1 in PPG allowed, and #3 in opponents 3rd down percentage.
The Jets are #3 in YPG allowed, #6 in PPG allowed, and #10 in opponents 3rd down percentage.
The Packers are #5 in YPG allowed, #2 in PPG allowed, and #9 in opponents 3rd down percentage.
The Bears are #9 in YPG allowed, #4 in PPG allowed, and #6 in opponents 3rd down percentage.
So how do the Chiefs compare? Well they’re close, but not quite there yet.
The Chiefs were #14 in YPG allowed, #11 in PPG allowed, and #13 in opponents 3rd down percentage.
So they were below all four teams in all three categories, but not by a drastic amount.
I was expecting to see about the exact same thing when I looked at the same stats for offense.
The Steelers are #14 in YPG, #12 in PPG, and #6 in 3rd down %.
The Jets are #11 in YPG, #13 in PPG, and #15 in 3rd down %.
The Packers are #9 in YPG, #10 in PPG, and #8 in 3rd down %.
The Bears are #30 in YPG, #21 in PPG, and #27 in 3rd down %.
The Chiefs were #12 in YPG, #14 in PPG, and #20 in 3rd down %.
So the Chiefs were right there with these four teams in terms of offensive production this season. You would like to see that 3rd down % ranking higher, but overall it looks pretty good.
This is probably about the time I should mention that KC put up their numbers on what we all know by now was a very soft schedule. When up against a top notch defense the offense looked worse then those rankings show.
So here’s my question for you Addicts. What is the fastest way for the Chiefs to become a Super Bowl contender? Should they continue to build an overall balanced team, or should they build the defense (or offense I guess) to an elite level so they have a strength to lean on while they develop the other side of the ball?
I really believe the defense is much closer to being at an elite level then the offense is. Tamba Hali is one of the best pass rushers on the planet, Brandon Flowers is becoming an elite shut down corner, Glenn Dorsey is starting to look like the dominant force we drafted him to be, and Eric Berry is going to be a very special player. If we could upgrade a few more spots (NT, another pass rusher, run stuffing ILB, anyone other then McGraw in dime packages) I really think we could make the jump from “a good young defense” to “an elite defense”. I think the offense is going to take more time. However, there are enough pieces in place on that side of the ball ( Jamaal Charles , Dwayne Bowe , etc.) that with a little more consistency they can still put enough points on the board to win games if the defense is creating turnovers and giving them a short field.
So there you have it Addicts. I am officially on the “Defense Wins Championships” bandwagon. I’d love to hear what you think.
Once again, thanks for reading and GO CHIEFS!!!!!!
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8 Comments on Memo To Chiefs: Defense Wins Championships
chiefsfanincolorado says:
I’m gonna have to go with Paddy’s thoughts on this one. I believe we need a balanced attack. We are still in a transitioning stage at this point. We still need to fill holes on both sides of the ball. On defense, we need another pass rusher (maybe Studebaker, haven’t seen it yet though) and on offense, we need to work heavy on the OL (gonna need to replace some older players soon) and pick up another top receiver to compliment DBow. I also believe we should try for another quarterback late in the draft and see what we can get in FA for Brokie. We’re a good team now, but a long ways from being a great one!
Lyle Graversen says:
And again, logically speaking I have no problem with them upgrading every position possible. I just think we are a few upgrades away from really having a special defense and I hope they don’t settle for “good enough”. Let’s say our only significant FA signing is Steve Breaston and then in the draft they take an OL in the first round and another WR or RB in the second, I’ll be bummed. Even if all those players turn out to be great and our offense improves because of it. As long as we are improving the D I’ll be happy.
matt says:
i think we need a WR and a backup RB because Jones is ready to leave, but Belcher is developing at ILB. We should trade up in the 2nd round and get Stephen Paea. draft a FB, cocks and cant steale for the most part suck. We of course need a pass rusher and some depth at Safety and try for some depth at WR too
calchiefsfan says:
I’m a firm believer in a balanced team, good on both sides of the ball. We were slightly above average this year.
I would like to see us take the best player available at a position of need in the draft, NT, WR, OLB, O-line. Not necessarily in that order. Depth in the later rounds.
We’re not going to fix all the problems this off season but the offense seems to need more attention. The last two games showed a real weakness in regards to our offensive line. They couldn’t protect Cassel and were completely man handled. We’re never going to go anywhere if we don’t fix that. I have been a big Albert fan but I’m am starting to doubt his ability to stop the premier pass rushers. I also like the thought of getting someone like Wisniewski in the first to strengthen the interior.
When I look at our D, our biggest area of need are NT and a pass rushing, play making OLB to compliment Hali. But those aren’t drastic needs…yet,(we have Edwards and Studie). We’re pretty good and/or developing good players at all the other positions.
So when I look at the Chiefs, O-line and wide receiver are 1 and 2. Then defense.
Lyle Graversen says:
I would argue that NT and another pass rusher are drastic needs. I do agree that WR and o-line could be upgraded as well.
danny says:
I agree we need another OLB and a nose and someone to stuff the middle at ILB, I wish they would have let Demarr play a little more for Belcher.
On the same token we need another stud or two on the offensive line and without a doubt our passing game showed too many leaks this season so another big time wideout is crucial, so adress one in the offseason and some in the draft, could you imagine if we would have picked up Holmes this last year for a fith round pick, we would have been much more dynamic, could have gotten Julius Peppers too he might be the Defensive MVP this year, we would have been better with both for sure.
moxy says:
Defense wins championships, no doubt. I don’t think it is coincidence that Pioli has targeted the defense with his top picks.
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