<\/p>\n
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo wants to break a troubling pattern: surrendering fourth-quarter touchdown drives, when a stop would essentially clinch a victory.<\/p>\n
In Monday\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
All\u2019s well that ends well for the Chiefs, who won the coin-toss and scored a touchdown on the first possession of overtime. Game over.<\/p>\n
But to Spagnuolo, it shouldn\u2019t have come to that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important thing is we won the game,\u201d he said. \u201cNobody 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this one stung a little bit and we hope to improve there,\u201d Spagnuolo said.<\/p>\n
Still, as the Chiefs head into Sunday\u2019s home game against the Denver Broncos (noon, Channel 5), they remain in the NFL\u2019s top five in points and yards allowed.<\/p>\n
This week\u2019s assignment: contain dual threat quarterback Bo Nix, who has steadily improved and has the Broncos in playoff contention. He was honored as the NFL\u2019s Offensive Rookie of the Month for October.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s another athletic quarterback,\u201d Spagnuolo said. \u201cI think those guys are always headaches, because there are certain things you can and can\u2019t do because you\u2019re afraid that he\u2019s going to make you look bad with his feet. \u2026They got themselves a good one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what else to watch as the Chiefs take their AFC West rivals:<\/p>\n
With a sack in each of the past three games, Karlaftis is on a roll. His four sacks this season lead the Chiefs.<\/p>\n
In KC\u2019s previous two games, against the Buccaneers and 49ers, Karlaftis also batted down a pass. He\u2019s been the Chiefs\u2019 most reliable defensive end and leads this position group with 83% of defensive snaps taken.<\/p>\n
Karlaftis and the Chiefs\u2019 pass rush will be tested by a Broncos offensive line that\u2019s allowed the second fewest quarterback pressures this season.<\/p>\n
The Chiefs should be getting healthier at defensive end with Mike Danna\u2019s likely return to action this weekend. Also, Charles Omenihu, out since suffering an ACL tear in last season\u2019s AFC Championship Game, should be returning to practice soon, according to KC head coach Andy Reid..<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s the most Mahomes has thrown against any one opponent.<\/p>\n
Earlier this season, Surtain returned an\u00a0interception 100 yards for a touchdown\u00a0against the Raiders.<\/p>\n
Mims, a Pro Bowl specialist as a rookie last season, is one of NFL\u2019s top return men. Will the Chiefs kick to him? Perhaps not, after what happened against the Bucs.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably the best guy we\u2019ve faced all year,\u201d 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\u2019 Mecole Hardman is fourth with 12.5 yards per return.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\u2019s victory over… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2048,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kansas-city-chiefs"],"yoast_head":"\n