The Chiefs can win ugly thanks to Chris Jones
Games like yesterday are why you pay the superstar defensive tackle
Ugly wins count too.
That’s one of the thoughts that kept running through my head as I joined the throng of exuberant (and relieved) Chiefs fans streaming out of Arrowhead yesterday evening. On a day that was filled with more frustrating moments than reasons to cheer, it had been a game experience that could best be described as “aggravating.” But at the end of the day, following yet another massively clutch kick by Harrison Butker (who has firmly seized the reins as the most clutch kicker in the NFL), the Chiefs had managed to escape with a win against a team that they just struggle to perform against.
And no matter how ugly it was, the result on their record still says “2-0.”
(NOTE- as I write this article, news of Isiah Pacheco’s injury being significant, a fractured fibula, is breaking. We’ll see what the Chiefs decide to do with that, but it’s an unfortunate injury to a guy who was playing very, very well)
There were a wide swath of reasons why the Chiefs looked so “meh” against the Bengals. Patrick Mahomes (whose film review will be earlier rather than later this week) had yet another uneven performance against Lou Anarumo’s defense, throwing a pair of horrific interceptions and barely escaping a third thanks to penalty luck. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, while showing up in the clutch, struggled to defend the middle of the field. Penalties and self-inflicted errors seemed to rob the Chiefs of nearly every big play on offense. It was an ugly, ugly game.
And yet, Kansas City was able to emerge from the slog with a win. And not because they have Patrick Mahomes, or Travis Kelce, or Andy Reid. But in large part because they have Chris Jones.
This is about as high-quality a sack as you’ll find (shared with Karlaftis, who does a nice job crushing the pocket and moving inside when Burrow tries to step up and scramble). Jones is able to win inside immediately and split the double team, forcing his way into Burrow’s lap before he has time to go through any reads. Note that Burrow has to take off as soon as he completes his drop. This came on 3rd and 10 in the red zone and Cincinnati had to settle for three points after marching down the field. It’s a “takes points off the board” type of play due to the singular ability of Jones to win quickly even with an extra blocker coming his way.
There were other players who were wildly crucial to Kansas City coming out on top yesterday (Trent McDuffie, Rashee Rice, and Pacheco all had terrific games), but Jones was once again the difference maker on several crucial downs. And in a slog of a game, being a guy who can swing a play or two for your team is the line between walking away a loser and walking away an ugly winner.
Let’s talk about Chris Jones, game-swinging plays (including ones that don’t show up in the box score), and how a guy like him is a difference-maker when you need to win ugly.