Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo wants to break a troubling pattern: surrendering fourth-quarter touchdown drives, when a stop would essentially clinch a victory.
In Monday’s victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Baker Mayfield marched the visitors 71 yards in 1 minute, 49 seconds for a TD with 27 seconds remaining. The Bucs elected to kick the extra point for the tie and send the game into overtime rather than go for two.
All’s well that ends well for the Chiefs, who won the coin-toss and scored a touchdown on the first possession of overtime. Game over.
But to Spagnuolo, it shouldn’t have come to that.
“The most important thing is we won the game,” he said. “Nobody felt good about the way it ended defensively. That last thing we want to do is put the offense back out there. That part was disappointing, and quite frankly we need to get better there.”
Spagnuolo noted that in their previous two victories, over the Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco 49ers, the Chiefs surrendered fourth-quarter touchdown drives. In each case, the Chiefs held a two-score lead at the time.
“But this one stung a little bit and we hope to improve there,” Spagnuolo said.
Still, as the Chiefs head into Sunday’s home game against the Denver Broncos (noon, Channel 5), they remain in the NFL’s top five in points and yards allowed.
This week’s assignment: contain dual threat quarterback Bo Nix, who has steadily improved and has the Broncos in playoff contention. He was honored as the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Month for October.
“It’s another athletic quarterback,” Spagnuolo said. “I think those guys are always headaches, because there are certain things you can and can’t do because you’re afraid that he’s going to make you look bad with his feet. …They got themselves a good one.”
Here’s what else to watch as the Chiefs take their AFC West rivals:
Chiefs player to watch: Defensive end George Karlaftis
With a sack in each of the past three games, Karlaftis is on a roll. His four sacks this season lead the Chiefs.
In KC’s previous two games, against the Buccaneers and 49ers, Karlaftis also batted down a pass. He’s been the Chiefs’ most reliable defensive end and leads this position group with 83% of defensive snaps taken.
Karlaftis and the Chiefs’ pass rush will be tested by a Broncos offensive line that’s allowed the second fewest quarterback pressures this season.
The Chiefs should be getting healthier at defensive end with Mike Danna’s likely return to action this weekend. Also, Charles Omenihu, out since suffering an ACL tear in last season’s AFC Championship Game, should be returning to practice soon, according to KC head coach Andy Reid..
Broncos player to watch: Cornerback Patrick Surtain
With nine interceptions, Patrick Mahomes is on pace for his most picks in a season. And Surtain could worsen matters for the Chiefs in that regard.
Surtain has 10 interceptions in his All-Pro career and two have come against Mahomes. The Chiefs QB has thrown 72 picks in his career, including 11 against the Broncos. That’s the most Mahomes has thrown against any one opponent.
Earlier this season, Surtain returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown against the Raiders.
Special teams to watch: Broncos WR Marvin Mims
Mims, a Pro Bowl specialist as a rookie last season, is one of NFL’s top return men. Will the Chiefs kick to him? Perhaps not, after what happened against the Bucs.
The Chiefs had Harrison Butker place a kickoff in the landing zone to prompt a return, only to see Bucky Irving return it to midfield.
“Probably the best guy we’ve faced all year,” Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said of Mims, who ranks sixth in the league in punt return average with 11.4 yards per try. The Chiefs’ Mecole Hardman is fourth with 12.5 yards per return.
