Steve Spagnuolo’s KC Chiefs Defense Must Replicate Prior Success vs. Dolphins
On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs will play on Wild Card Weekend for the second time in the Patrick Mahomes era. It'll be a familiar foe for the Chiefs as the Miami Dolphins travel to Arrowhead.
We saw this game take place in Germany earlier in the season, with Kansas City traveling back to the States with the victory. The key matchup for the rematch will be the Chiefs' defense vs. the Dolphins' offense, just like in the November showdown.
The first thing that jumps out is Miami having running back De'Von Achane available for Saturday's game. Achane was not able to play in the Germany matchup due to injury. His open-field speed and playmaking out of the backfield present a difficult task for any opponent. He adds even more speed to what is already an extremely fast offense with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and more speedsters. Miami loves to call outside runs and stretch plays with Achane to use his speed to beat the defenders to the edge. It'll be essential for Kansas City's linebackers, Drue Tranquill and Willie Gay, to use their athleticism to get to the spot before the Dolphins can use that elite speed to create a big play.
Blitzing from the secondary was one way the Chiefs' defense had success against the Dolphins in the first meeting. On a third down early in the game, Jaylen Watson recorded his first sack of the season as a rusher from the cornerback position. Miami had no clue it was coming, and Watson had a free run at Tua Tagovailoa. Kansas City continued to succeed throughout the game, especially with Trent McDuffie, who recorded a pressure and a hurry when blitzing from the nickel spot.
Steve Spagnuolo's ability to dial up blitzes at the opportune time was seen on the game's final play. Kansas City sent a "zero" blitz look with both safeties unevaded to the quarterback. It caused Tagovailoa to take his eyes off the ball, fumbling the snap, securing the win for the Chiefs. Overall, Kansas City created three sacks when blitzing with its defensive backs against Miami in Germany.
Another way Spagnuolo and the Chiefs' defense found success was by neutralizing Miami's motion. Miami has found an innovative way to change the offense's formation while the ball is snapped. It would open up space in the defense and allow their weapons to get a running start on the play. Early in the season, it caught opponents off guard. However, the best defenses have been able to throw a counterpunch.
Kansas City disguised looks pre-snap so that Tagovailoa couldn't predetermine his read. They would shift into their actual coverage look when the Dolphins began to motion because they could time the snap and limit Miami's chance to react to the changing picture. This allowed the Chiefs to eliminate explosive plays, which Miami's offense is built on. They only allowed one explosive play in the first meeting this season. Repeating that recipe will be critical this Saturday.
In the past, we've seen the Chiefs' defense get a 'playoff boost' under Spagnuolo. With how well the defense has played throughout the season, an extra bump in the level of play would make a defense that could "carry" an underperforming offense on a deep playoff run. It all begins with slowing down the explosive Dolphins offense on Saturday and replicating the success they found in Germany earlier this season.
