Head coach Andy Reid is not ready to give up on defensive tackle Chris Jones. The veteran star has faced a rough patch lately, including a game against the Denver Broncos where he recorded zero tackles. Reid says the numbers do not show the full picture of what Jones is doing on the field. The coach believes Jones is working hard even when the stats look empty.
The Chiefs lost to the Broncos 28-24 on Sunday, dropping their record to 5-2. This loss followed a defeat to the Seattle Seahawks last week. Fans are asking for changes, but Reid insists the team is still building pressure. He points out that Jones draws double teams from many angles, which helps other defenders get to the quarterback.
The Numbers Tell a Partial Story
It is easy to look at the box score and think Jones is not playing well. However, data from Sports Info Solutions shows Jones is third on the team with 16 pressures. Teammate George Karlaftis leads the squad with 32, while R Mason Thomas has 21. These stats prove Jones is still disrupting the offense even if he does not get the sack.
Reid explained his view during a news conference after the game. He noted that blocking balls is a key part of the defensive plan. “That’s one man’s opinion. I saw him move his head, but I didn’t see a false start,” Reid said regarding a controversial penalty call in the game, according to Yahoo Sports. He also defended the front seven. He says the team needs to use Jones’ attention to their advantage.
Cowherd Says the League Has Figured Them Out
Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd believes the Chiefs have been solved by other teams. He told his audience that Kansas City beat itself with 11 penalties and a collapsing lead. Cowherd claims the roster is thin and that the offensive line is a major problem.
“Kansas City beat itself last night,” Cowherd said. He added that the offensive line allowed the second-most pressures in the league over the last two weeks. Cowherd thinks the team needs to act fast before the trade deadline. “They have to go get a wide receiver, and by the way, the last two weeks this O-line has allowed the second-most pressures in the league, so they have a major deficiency on the O-line,” he said. “Even a great samurai can’t win a sword fight with a plastic knife. Patrick Mahomes, it’s the trading deadline in a week; you have got to get him help,” Cowherd said.
What the Team Needs to Fix
Travis Kelce also spoke about the issues after the loss. The tight end said the team has a lot of procedural mistakes to fix. He admitted that he and his teammates need to be better. “We got a lot of fight. You gotta take the positives out of this. You can’t dwell on it,” he said, via The Athletic. Kelce noted that the team feels they should have won but must face reality.
The Chiefs have a short window to make moves. The trade deadline is just one week away. They face the New York Jets next on Sunday.
