When discussing the Kansas City Chiefs, we focus on Mahomes, Mahomes, and Mahomes. A lot has been said and written about the offense, and occasionally, the defense comes up, especially in the last three games. We tend to talk about defensive plays and great stops. Let’s take a closer look at the players and what they mean in Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme.
Let’s look at the critical piece in the middle of the defense. Nick Bolton. He is Spag’s defensive quarterback. He wears the green dot and calls the plays on the field. His backup is Drue Tranquill. Bolton has been a stalwart on this defense since he was drafted out of Missouri. He has appeared in 44 of the last 54 games the Chiefs have played since his rookie year. He has started in 40 of those 44. In all the games Bolton has appeared in, the Chiefs are 33-11. That’s a 75%-win percentage with Bolton in the lineup. Looks like he’s a valuable piece of the puzzle.
Everyone contributes, but arguably, the Chiefs are better when he’s playing. Until the Falcons game, Bolton was having a tough go this season, though. He’s been dinged up since last season but hasn’t shown much of a slowdown in production. He’s on pace for 125 combined tackles and assists, exceeding the limited production of his abbreviated 2023 season. Although he’s been wearing a brace on his left arm, and you can see he’s been having some back issues, he still brings it on every snap he’s on.
Tershawn “Turk” Wharton is one of this team’s quietest inside-line players. He always seems to turn up his clutch when you need him. The defense/deflected pass of Kirk Cousins right into the arms of Chamarri Conner and then lateraled to Jaylen Watson for a total 15-yard return was as excellent a play as you could write up.
The turnover turned into three points on a Harrison Butker field goal a few plays later. Turk gets inside on nearly every snap he’s on. His gap awareness and long reach can choke the middle of the line enough to slow, if not stop, any chance at a downhill game for most offenses.
This defense played tight after the first series of the game. Spagnuolo had them cooking with five passes defensed, two sacks, and 10 QB hits. This backfield disruption reminded Cousins what it’s like to face a tough defense. Spagnuolo always seems to get the feel for the game after the first series.
Why this is the case is anyone’s guess.
Patrick Mahomes must start in the hole unless the players execute the initial action well. Diagnosing an offense on the fly takes a high degree of skill, and sometimes, they can’t get it in early-game action. This is maddening for fans, but one would think that after reviewing the film and scouting reports, Spags would know the first offensive tendencies. Of course, the opposition watches the Chiefs, as well. It’s genuinely a chess game for devising effective game plans on both sides of the ball.
Ultimately, Andy Reid, Matt Nagy, Steve Spagnuolo, and Dave Toub are the best at what they do. Their high degree of success demonstrates that. Establishing consistency is always tricky, but when they do, the Kansas City Chiefs are the best in the NFL—bar none.
