Patrick Mahomes Has Ultimate Praise for KC Chiefs’ Defense
Just like it has many other times this season, the Kansas City Chiefs' defense was the star of the show in Saturday's Wild Card victory over the Miami Dolphins. While Andy Reid and Matt Nagy's offense undoubtedly played a more efficient brand of football and hung 26 points on Miami, Steve Spagnuolo's side of the ball managed to shine even more.
For anyone watching this season, that shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
Entering the postseason, Kansas City held tremendous rankings in a variety of statistics. Points and yards allowed (second), first downs (third), passing touchdowns (fourth), rushing touchdowns (fourth), EPA per play (sixth) and DVOA (seventh) all reflected a successful regular season. A seven-point allowance against Miami to open the playoffs was more of the same.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who's been singing the praises of the defense for months, is happy to not have to face the other side of the ball.
“I talked about it I think in training camp, I really would not want to play our defense," Mahomes said. "We have great players, we have great players all around, every single level you have players, you have depth, guys rotate in, can do it all and then you have Spags in the scheme and all the guys are so well coached in the scheme that they use it to their advantage and you never know where they’re at. (L’Jarius) Sneed can play inside [and] outside, (Trent) McDuffie can play inside (and) outside, all the linebackers can guard and can make tackles. It’s hard to make a beat on what they’re doing and that’s why I knew in training camp I was like, ‘Man I’m glad I don’t have to play those guys because that would be tough.’”
Holding the ball for just 25:55 of game time on Saturday, the Dolphins' previously high-powered attack produced incredibly mortal results. Gaining just 13 first downs and 264 yards on 4.5 yards per play, Mike McDaniel's group went 1-for-12 on third down and punted four times. It was an ugly showing for a team that ranked first in offensive yards gained and second in points scored during the regular season.
Of course, Kansas City knows a thing or two about struggles on offense. The 2023-24 campaign marked a significant decline in output compared to the year before. Punter Tommy Townsend only took the field six more times this season than last and the Chiefs attempted three more field goals. Those are very minor figures but when combined with one of the worst turnover differentials in all of football and a middling red zone offense, it's easy to understand why things weren't clicking as much. According to Mahomes, having an elite defense to lean on allows him to flip his mindset and trust them to get the ball back to him.
“You have to, I learned that this year," Mahomes said. "When it’s not there you have to be able to throw it underneath and punt the ball, flip the field, and not be frustrated with it. I had that mentality where I want to score every single time, I played in the Big 12, I want to score every single time. When your defense is playing like that you have to find what’s the best way to win the football game and if that’s punting the ball, flipping the field, letting them get a stop for us and then score on the next drive, that’s what you have to do.”
In years past, the Chiefs didn't have that luxury. When Mahomes and the offense turned the ball over, punted or opted for three points rather than pushing for seven, there wasn't a ton of confidence or statistical backing that trusting the defense was wise. This season, things are different. Spagnuolo's group, boasting one of the sport's better pass-rushing conglomerates and a lockdown cornerback duo, can help now.
Complementary football is the goal, and even that wasn't achieved for stints in the regular season. Kansas City needed its defense to get to 11 wins, and it'll need it again if it wants to win the Super Bowl. As Mahomes acknowledges, though, that isn't always a bad thing.
