Stopping the run a big focus for Chiefs in Week 5 | KCSN Daily 10.7
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Through the first four weeks of the 2022 NFL season, the Chiefs have boasted the best rush defense in the league. They’ve allowed the fewest total yards (263), the second-fewest yards per carry (3.3), and they’re tied for the second-fewest rushing touchdowns allowed (2).
Week 4 saw the team break and tie franchise records for the fewest rush attempts (6) and fewest rushing yards (3) in a single game. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo chalked that up to luck rather than anything special that was prepared for the Buccaneers.
“They decided not to run it very much,” Spagnuolo joked on Friday. “They only ran it five times, right?”
The defense has faced some challenging opponents in the run game so far this season and Spagnuolo knows that things aren’t going to get any easier as the schedule continues.
“No listen, we’ve got challenge after challenge after challenge,” Spagnuolo explained. “We had Jonathan Taylor and other backs before that. We had Leonard Fournette. It’s not going to change.”
This week, they’ll get Raiders RB Josh Jacobs, who has the fifth-most rushing yards in the NFL through four games (336) and is averaging 4.8 yards per rush. Jacobs rushed for nearly 140 yards in Week 4, the lone win of the season for Las Vegas. Spagnuolo seems to expect that the run game will be something the Raiders look to get going against Kansas City on Monday night.
“My guess is that in this particular game coming up, I think they’re going to make (the run game) a focus,” Spagnuolo said. “That back that Josh (McDaniels) has right now, he knows is really good. He got him cranked up last week and I imagine he would try to do the same thing. It’s going to be our job to see if we can get it one-dimensional. If we don’t stop the run, the other stuff will get ugly too. So that will be a focus.”
Even with the run defense being a strength of the team so far, it’ll be important that the players don’t get complacent in their preparation against this division rival.
Offensive Breakdown:
Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel and Good Morning Football's Matt Hamilton break down three plays from the Chiefs' big win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday and talk about what Patrick Mahomes is so good at. Later, the guys talk about the Las Vegas Raiders defense and what challenges it can bring.
Friday Injury report:
Chiefs:
DNP: K Harrison Butker (Ankle).
LP: RG Trey Smith (Pectoral).
FP: CB L’Jarius Sneed (Ankle), WR Skyy Moore (Ankle), TE Jody Fortson (Shoulder) WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Quad), WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Abdomen), WR Mecole Hardman (Heel), DE Mike Danna (Calf) and C Creed Humphrey (NIR).
Raiders:
DNP: LB Jayon Brown (Hamstring) and TE Foster Moreau (Knee).
LP: CB Sam Webb (Hamstring).
FP: WR Hunter Renfrow (Concussion), TE Darren Waller (Shoulder), CB Rock Ya-Sin (Knee), LB Denzel Perryman (Concussion) and S Roderic Teamers (Illness).
Key:
DNP (Did Not Participate), LP (Limited Participant), FP (Full Participant), NIR (Not Injury Related).
Defensive Breakdown:
Former Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro Linebacker Derrick Johnson and defensive lineman Mike DeVito break down the defensive film from the Chiefs' victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and point out some of the key players, including Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, and many more!
KCSN Update:
KCSN’s BJ Kissel catches up with Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus to talk about his three key matchups for the Kansas City Chiefs in their game this Monday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Quotable:
“Definitely a game-wrecker type of player. Need to know where he is at all times, whether he’s lined up at one, lined up at two, lined up in the backfield. Wherever he is every single play we need to ID where he’s at to make sure we’re aware.” - Chiefs S Justin Reid on Raiders WR Davante Adams
“I think he’s just smarter as a player, I think that’s the biggest thing. He knows how to get himself open, he knows how to use other people and other parts of the concept to get himself open. And he’s smart about how he blocks, how he can pin guys and get in the right position. I think he’s just continued to evolve and be even better as a tight end. He is getting up there – I’m going to try to keep him here as long as possible – I promise you. He’s not taking any screens like 80 (yards) anymore – I don’t think but he’s still going to make some production on the field.” - Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on Travis Kelce’s continued success at 33 years old
Quick Hits:
From the Basketball court: KU HC Bill Self will be attending the Week 5 game on Monday night against the Raiders as the team’s drum honoree.
From Flight Conley: In case you missed it on Thursday, former Chiefs draft pick Chris Conley is back with the team on the practice squad. The Chiefs Kingdom sent him a lot of love on social media and he returned the favor with a message on Twitter.
Important dates ahead:
Monday, Oct. 10 at 7:15 p.m. CT - Week 5: Chiefs vs. Raiders - GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City, Missouri
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