On Sunday night, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs shall be enjoying within the AFC’s Divisional Spherical for the sixth straight season — and their creativity in defensive play-calls could possibly be a giant motive why.
“Have a look at our final recreation… we performed seven (or) eight completely different coverages,” cornerback Trent McDuffie informed a gaggle of reporters forward of Wednesday’s apply, because the workforce ready for its highway matchup with the Buffalo Payments.
Throughout Saturday’s convincing 26-7 Wild Card win over the Miami Dolphins, Kansas Metropolis even deployed a dummy protection: displaying single-high security protection earlier than the snap after which rolling again to two-high protection through the play.
“I preserve telling the coaches,” joked McDuffie, “in case you want me at security I can all the time do it.”
The 2-to-one/one-to-two defensive play-call not solely went viral, but additionally confused Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa It led to a tipped interception that set the Chiefs up in prime area place.
“I like when [Spagnulo] will get to go in there and sort of simply mess with the offense,” remarked the All-Professional cornerback. “I really feel prefer it’s such a thoughts recreation with this protection. We do plenty of good issues — and have plenty of gamers who’re in a position to be cerebral and do their job the proper approach — so I’ve had plenty of enjoyable enjoying in Spags’ protection.’’
Kansas Metropolis wasn’t restricted to simply patrolling the skies, both. The protection additionally managed Miami’s floor recreation, holding breakout rookie De’Von Achane and veteran Raheem Mostert to simply 42 dashing yards. In Sunday’s matchup, that shall be one other precedence for a Chiefs protection that Buffalo working again James Cook dinner burned for 140 complete yards within the groups’ first assembly on December 10.
“I really feel like on this protection we are able to do plenty of issues a method… and plenty of issues a special approach — and all play the identical approach,” mentioned McDuffie. “So once more, that’s why I say it goes again to Spags’ mastermind.”
