Chiefs-Payments: How the sport was misplaced for Kansas Metropolis on third down

There was a variety of consternation over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ file and level differential this yr, however regardless of a few of their struggles, they had been 9-0 coming into the sport.

What set the Chiefs aside was their third-down execution on each side of the ball.

On offense, the Chiefs are first in third-down conversion price. That is typically when Patrick Mahomes turns into a superhero, uncorking ridiculous throws out-of-structure or scrambling. On protection, the Chiefs aren’t fairly as environment friendly — they rank twenty first — however had been top-10 earlier than November. Third downs on protection are when Steve Spagnuolo cooks, going into his bag of pressures and designer coverages to throw offenses off.

Nonetheless, once I watched the sport this week, I assumed each groups had been even on first and second down, however third-down execution was the distinction. Buffalo was 10 of 16 on offense on third downs, whereas Kansas Metropolis was simply 5 of 10. And whereas 5 of 10 isn’t unhealthy, the Chiefs transformed two third-and-inches for first downs and missed one — so on different third downs, they had been solely 3 of seven.

As we speak, let’s break down how each items struggled on third down:

Offense

It’s tougher to forecast too many offensive points for the Chiefs on third down, the place they nonetheless had been 5 of 10, however I do assume the Chiefs had two essential points on third down, notably on third-and-long.

Buffalo enjoying man protection
Buffalo’s cross rush integrity

Let’s begin with No. 1.

Not like any earlier matchup between these groups, Buffalo was lastly keen to play man protection. The Payments have at all times had a secondary drawback towards Kansas Metropolis’s velocity, however with its personnel vs. the Chiefs’ slower personnel, Buffalo determined to get bodily and keep on with routes.

Tight finish Travis Kelce couldn’t discover any house all sport, DeAndre Hopkins misplaced his one-on-ones, and the Chiefs couldn’t discover solutions that obtained the Payments into softer shells.

I really felt the distinction this week was that Buffalo did a superb job preserving pass-rush integrity and nonetheless getting strain. Buffalo’s entrance had a superb sport plan. Take this rep, for instance:

Greg Rousseau, a long-armed energy rusher, goes to make use of a bullrush to free himself across the nook, swiping by means of to maintain Mahomes from bailing. Von Miller, who has performed Kansas Metropolis so many occasions he is aware of all of Mahomes’s tendencies, spins inside to maintain the pocket tight, working off Rousseau. Ed Oliver wins up the center.

Buffalo additionally neatly used a ton of three-man rushes, utilizing a linebacker as a spy anytime Mahomes bailed. Each Terrell Bernard and Dorian Williams are very quick, to allow them to chase Mahomes down and velocity Mahomes’s clock up.

The Payments at all times coach their cross rushers extremely properly towards Kansas Metropolis. The Chiefs offensive line must play with extra power towards three-man rushes — notably at sort out, the place Wanya Morris and Jawaan Taylor had been unhealthy. Credit score Buffalo for his or her plan and execution.

Protection

The third-down protection was the actual killer for the Chiefs, the place Buffalo went 10 of 16 on Sunday. On protection, I’d determine three core points;

Nazeeh Johnson is being focused
Buffalo attacking the Chiefs’ safeties in man protection
Kansas Metropolis’s lack of pass-rush presence

To start out with, Johnson, Buffalo relentlessly attacked him one-on-one.

They didn’t typically goal Trent McDuffie moreover one go route between Cooper and McDuffie, which he blew up. As an alternative, they recognized Johnson as a defender to assault, they usually succeeded in that.

The go ball Cooper caught over him was good protection however a greater throw, however the larger difficulty was how typically Johnson was in battle. Buffalo constantly switched their releases and numbers to confuse him, and he was at all times unsuitable.

Johnson would typically go along with the unsuitable route or be late to get well from a launch. Buffalo was attacking his eyes and talent to learn issues accurately, and on Sunday, he was unsuitable.

I’ve lined this over the previous few weeks, however for the reason that Jaylen Watson harm, the Chiefs are actually simply enjoying two cornerbacks (Johnson/McDuffie) and as an alternative turning to a few or 4 safeties at a time of their secondary. Whereas I agree with the choice — they’re at the moment the six finest defensive backs on the roster — it does result in conditions the place the Chiefs are pressured to play man protection with their safeties.

If the Chiefs need to play man protection or blitz, that’s going to depart safeties on an island one-on-one, and with Justin Reid, Jaden Hicks and Bryan Prepare dinner, they’re not good defenders in these spots. Even Charmarri Conner, the best-man protection defender of the 4, isn’t that quick and fluid to cowl quick receivers like Curtis Samuel.

Buffalo was capable of power Kansas Metropolis’s safeties to speak man protection switches and sort out in house, and the Chiefs couldn’t do it. This issues me in a rematch if Watson isn’t wholesome.

I might’ve posted a couple of clips, however the Chiefs’ cross rush was unhealthy on Sunday. Chris Jones was successful one-on-one, however he couldn’t end performs with sacks. Apart from that and some Tershawn Wharton wins, the Chiefs did nothing to have an effect on the pocket.

Even with their blitzes, the Chiefs couldn’t have an effect on the pocket. Joe Brady had a learn on practically each blitz; Allen was capable of swap protections, discovering open routes off swap releases in man protection vs. non-McDuffie defenders.

The underside line

The Chiefs this season have been a third-down machine. In cash conditions, each side of the ball at all times execute. Third down isn’t all the pieces in soccer, however for me, it normally separates elite items.

Your coordinators current their most unique calls, and the quarterback has to deal with tight conditions towards a fierce cross rush and designer protection. What’s at all times separated Kansas Metropolis is that they’ve Mahomes, a literal god on third down, and Spagnuolo, who at all times designs super third-down playcalls.

This week, the Chiefs misplaced, and of any group within the NFL, I believe the Payments are the group that may harm the Chiefs on each side on third down. Josh Allen is a supernova the Chiefs have by no means stopped regardless of their file towards him, and whereas I do assume Mahomes and Kansas Metropolis can be higher of their subsequent matchup on third down, Sean McDermott and the Payments coach their protection so properly. They’ve improved their third-down variety over the previous two years.

If and when these groups meet once more, the Chiefs should execute higher on cash downs in the event that they hope to win.