KANSAS CITY
Chris Conley Color Rush Jersey , Mo.聽— The only defense the Kansas City Chiefs played most of this season was, well, in defense of their own defense, which gave up so many yards and points that it became a running joke around the league.Yes, the Chiefs scored in bushels. They also allowed points in bunches.The fact that they spent most of the season coughing up 30 points and 400-plus yards per game came despite the fact that they excelled at sacking the quarterback. They finished with 52 of them, tied for the NFL lead, thanks primarily to the trio of Chris Jones, Dee Ford and Justin Houston.Yet things began to change in Week 17, when the Chiefs shut down the Oakland Raiders in a game they needed to win to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC. And when critics claimed that the Raiders were playing for nothing, the Chiefs backed it up with a defensive gem in the divisional round against the Colts.Now, that suddenly stingy defense gets its biggest test Sunday against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.At stake: A trip to the Super Bowl, the first for the Chiefs in 49 years.So what changed? How did a Swiss cheese defense that was torched by the Patriots for 43 points in a Week 6 loss in Foxborough suddenly turn into a steel curtain, and just in the nick of time?"In the last couple of games, the three things we've done is we've limited the explosive plays, we've done a really solid job of tackling and we've had one defensive penalty in two weeks," Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said. "Those three things allow you to function and go."Take each one in order.In the Chiefs' four losses this season
https://www.thechiefsfanshop.com/Anthony-Sherman-Jersey , they allowed four plays of 40-plus yards and 21 plays of at least 20 yards. Seven of those came in a particularly dismal defensive performance against the Rams, who ultimately won a 53-50 shootout at the Coliseum in Los Angeles.But the Chiefs didn't allow a single play over 15 yards against Oakland, and didn't allow the Colts a play over 30 yards. In fact, Indianapolis didn't score on offense until late in the fourth quarter.Their success in limiting big plays is, at least in part, a byproduct of improved tackling.Then there are the penalties. After leading the league in total penalties and defensive penalties this season, their defense has been flagged just once over the past two games."Most points that are produced in a drive usually result from an explosive play and-or a penalty in the drive," Sutton explained. "The common thing when you look back and say, ‘Hey how'd they get down the field?' It's usually you had a (pass interference) here or you gave up a 20-yard run here or whatever it was. So, if you can manage those and do a relatively good job on those things, you put yourself in a good position to play. I think the guys that have played have done a good job."Ah, there's the caveat: The guys who have played have done a good job.The Chiefs have been missing pieces on defense the entire season, and often they have been crucial playmakers. Highly paid linebacker Justin Houston, who had a pair of sacks against the Colts, missed four games with a hamstring injury. Top cornerback Kendall Fuller missed a game with a broken hand. Starting safety Daniel Sorensen missed half the season with a broken leg.Those injuries alone are enough to derail any defense, but the Chiefs have also played almost the whole season without Eric Berry
Harrison Butker Jersey , their star safety and arguably the team's emotional leader.He played in just two games because of his heel but is poised to play Sunday against New England."That's my guy. Eric Berry has kind of taken me under his wing since I got here," Chiefs cornerback Steven Nelson said. "We call him ‘Coach' in our room because he's so knowledgeable. He means a lot to our team and our defense, so whenever we can have him out there, it's a great thing."The Patriots are under no preconceptions the defense they marched up and down the field against in Week 6 will show up on Sunday. Bill Belichick said this week that there is little to glean from that win, while Brady was quick to heap praise on a defense playing its best all year."We've played them quite a bit over the years," the Patriots quarterback said. "They've had some incredible units that we've played against. They've got play-makers at each level. Obviously, a good scheme. They make you work for it. It's a very tough, hard-nosed team. They compete on every snap. They've been in a lot of close games this year. It's a great challenge for us. I don't think you can take anything for granted." KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid delivered some promising news Wednesday when he rattled off the list of players who wouldn’t be practicing for this weekend’s trip to Seattle and running back Spencer Ware and offensive lineman Cam Erving were missing.Then he mentioned right tackle Mitchell Schwartz.“You mean Cam Erving, right?” Reid was asked.“No, Mitchell,” he replied.Well, so much for a promising injury report.Reid indicated the Chiefs’ stalwart right tackle hurt his knee in last week’s fourth-quarter collapse against the Chargers, which prevented the Chiefs from clinching the AFC West and the AFC’s top seed, but also put even more pressure on Sunday night’s game against the Seahawks.Reid did say that Schwartz was “making progress” and could play against Seattle.“I mean, to me
Daniel Sorensen Color Rush Jersey , he’s one of if not the best right tackle in the league,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said of Schwartz, who was voted a Pro Bowl alternate this week. “He’s had a ton of success for a long time. It was disappointing him not making it (as a starter).”Reid also said Kendall Fuller could play against the Seahawks, even though the Chiefs’ top cover cornerback played through a fractured hand against the Chargers. Fuller had a minor procedure to fix the damage and was wearing a soft cast around his right wrist in the locker room Wednesday.Wide receiver Sammy Watkins also remained out as the Chiefs resumed workouts in earnest for the first time in a week, though Kelvin Benjamin continues to take on a bigger role in the offense.The biggest help on that side of the ball might be Ware and Erving getting back.Ware hurt his shoulder and hamstring a couple of weeks ago against Baltimore, and he was inactive for the game against the Chargers. Combine that with the release of Kareem Hunt earlier this season and the Chiefs were down to journeyman Damien Williams, Darrel Williams and Charcandrick West.Damien Williams wound up flashing the most promise, running for 49 yards and two touchdowns while showing some ability in the passing game.In fact, he performed so well that Reid indicated he would likely share some of the load with Ware, who had been the Chiefs’ clear-cut No. 1.“I mean, will it be equal? I don’t know about that. We’ll just see how it all shakes down,” Reid said. “Again, I told the guys if they’re available we’ll find a way to use you the best we can, so be ready and alert for it. We’ll see how it all shakes out there.”The return of Erving helps to solidify an offensive line that has managed to weather injuries to just about everyone. Mitch Morse missed time with a concussion before returning to his center job, and right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff remains on injured reserve with a broken leg.Now, Schwartz is being held out of practice with a knee injury.The injury outlook is a little rosier on defense
Kendall Fuller Color Rush Jersey , even with Fuller’s status for the Seahawks in question. Strong safety Eric Berry came out of his season debut against the Chargers in good shape and 10 days between games means it’s possible he could play the entire way Sunday night.The Chiefs defense struggled in the second half against Los Angeles, when Berry went to the bench as planned. And he was sorely missing as the Chargers rallied for two late TDs and the win.“We’ll see how that goes. He’ll continue to increase time and we’ll see how that disperses out there and what the plan will be for this coming week,” Reid said. “The positive was that he came out feeling good. He was sore. He hadn’t played in a long time.”Notes: The Chiefs had six players voted to the Pro Bowl this week: Mahomes, TE Travis Kelce, FB Anthony Sherman, WR Tyreek Hill, LB Dee Ford and LT Eric Fisher. “Huge honor,” said Fisher, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, who will be going for the first time. “I got mom and grandma in town and they were all excited. You get the texts, the phone calls from the people that have been behind you from Day 1. It’s a dream come true.” … Schwartz wasn’t the only Pro Bowl snub. DE Chris Jones did not make the team, though he was listed as an alternate. “They’re both great football players and if we could have voted for our own guys, we would have,” Sherman said.
2019-03-05, 06:47 Daniel Sorensen Color Rush Jersey 
