Adrian Fedkiw
When the near 350-pound defensive tackle Dontari Poe leaped over the pile and into the end zone in the first half, the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense showed that they could do some damage on the offensive side of the ball too.
Add the Justin Houston pick-six and that’s a pair of scores for the defense.
The Chiefs dominated the San Diego Chargers 33-3 to win their fourth straight game. They held the Chargers to a measly 201 yards after coming into the game fourth in total offense, averaging 414 yards per game. San Diego never found the red zone and didn’t move the ball past Kansas City’s 34-yard line.
The resurgent defense forced two more giveaways, upping their turnover ratio to plus-12 during the winning streak.
A stingy defense sure makes a playcaller’s job a lot easier. The Chiefs finished 2015 ninth in scoring averaging 25.3 points per game and the defense played an instrumental part in that. They scored six defensive touchdowns and many of their 29 takeaways, which was fifth in the NFL, provided Kansas City with prime field position.
Prior to his introductory press conference in January there were reports saying that Chiefs head coach allowed Pederson to call plays, but nobody knew how often. During the presser, Pederson explained how much latitude he was granted.
His answer may have raised a few eyebrows.
“I was able to call plays since the Pittsburgh game on,” he said. “Coach Reid and I had a great understanding and great feel for the game. He allowed me to call the second half of every football game from that game on.”
That Steelers game was the start of Kansas City’s stunning turnaround in 2015. The Chiefs were in the midst of a five-game losing streak and 1-5 heading into that Week 7 contest, but their 23-13 triumph was the beginning of their 10-game winning streak to close the regular season. The victory over the Chargers got Kansas City back to .500 at 5-5.
Not to discredit Kansas City’s winning stretch, but let’s take something into account. This was a fourth game in a row where it was the beneficiary of facing a team playing some of its worst football of the season. Pittsburgh didn’t have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Week 7, the Detroit Lions had just made wholesale changes within the coaching staff and came into their Week 8 London showdown against the Chiefs at 1-7, Peyton Manning threw four interceptions and passed for just 35 yards in Week 9 and the Chargers had just dropped their sixth straight following their Week 11 loss.
With that being said, the Chiefs outscored their opponents 130-39 during that four-game winning streak.
Let’s go possession by possession.
How the grading works:
To put it simply a (+) is a win for the offense, a (-) is a win for the defense and a (/) is a tie. For example, if a team has a 1st and 10 and the offense picks up five-or-more yards it’s a win for them. It’s a victory for the defense if they hold the offense to three yards or fewer. A four-yard gain is a tie.
An offensive touchdown results into (+++), but a turnover forced by the defense gets (- – -). A field goal is (++) and a safety (- -).
(++)- Offense gains 15-29 yards past the original line of scrimmage. If the offense commits a holding penalty and they pick up 15 yards on a 1st and 20, the offense gets just one (+) instead of two.
(+++)- 30-49 yards
(++++)- 50-74 yards
(+++++)- 75-or-more yards
Other notes: A 75-yard TD gets (++++++++) and any pick-six/fumble recovery for a score results into (- – – – – – – -). Another example, if the defense forces a turnover and returns it for 50 yards, they will receive (- – – – – – -). If the defense forces a three-and-out they get a bonus of (- -).
KC 1st drive of second half: 13:10 left in the third quarter, ball at own 28 leading 12-3
1+10 (28)- 11 personnel- Brandon Flowers took a poor angle on a wide receiver screen and Jason Avant gained 20 yards (++)
1+10 (48)- 13 personnel- Charcandrick West left guard loss of two yards (-)
2+12 (46)- 11 personnel- Flip screen to Travis Kelce for nine yards (+)
3+3 (45)- 11 personnel- Swing pass right flat West for one yard (-)
3-2 KC on drive
All three of Pederson’s pass calls didn’t go past the line of scrimmage and Kansas City netted 30 yards. The first two were flip screens to wide receivers — Kelce lined up as a wide receivers on second down — and Pederson took one out of Chip Kelly’s playbook with a called swing pass on 3rd and 3. Center Mitch Morse couldn’t get to the perimeter in time to make a block on Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett, who made a solid open-field tackle on West in the right flat to prevent the Chiefs from moving the chains. There were two wide receivers lined up on the right side, but neither stayed in to block. Albert Wilson ran a vertical route along the right sideline and quite frankly, I’m not sure what Jeremy Maclin was attempting to do. Verrett was matched up against him in the slot.
Getting back to the screen game, it’s essentially an extension of the running game and Pederson had trouble finding ways to run the ball in Week 10 against the Denver Broncos. In his lone run call, Pederson lined up a trio of tight ends on the left side in a predictable run formation. Defensive end Kendall Reyes knifed right past tight end Brian Parker off the snap to get into the backfield, and outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu eventually made the tackle when West tried to bounce it out to the right.
KC 2nd drive of second half: 7:57 left in the third quarter, ball at own 31 leading 12-3
1+10 (31)- 10 personnel- Illegal use of hands on San Diego (+)
1+10 (36)- 12 personnel- Spencer Ware right guard three yards (-)
2+7 (39)- 11 personnel- Ware designed left guard run, bounces it outside to the right and picks up eight yards (+)
1+10 (47)- 13 personnel- Ware right guard two yards (-)
2+8 (49)- 13 personnel- Play-action boot left and Alex Smith scrambles for three yards (-)
3+5 (48)- 10 personnel- Corey Liuget sacks Smith for a loss of five yards (-)
4-2 SD on drive, 6-5 SD in second half
I referenced in the last series how Pederson had trouble attempting to run the ball against the Broncos. West had just 11 carries for 13 yards in the second half against Denver and despite his struggles, Pederson never elected to utilize Ware which was a bit surprising. Ware had just a pair of totes for four yards against Denver, but ran the ball three times for 13 yards on this drive after West left the game with a hamstring injury.
Pederson went back to his 13 personnel package with three of his tight ends lined up on the left side of the offensive line two more times on this trek. The first resulted into just a two-yard run from Ware and the second was a failed play-action bootleg attempt. Smith rolled to his left, but Kelce was blanketed by Verrett and safety Jimmy Wilson on a post corner route and Flowers had Parker and the left flat covered. The third tight end Demetrius Harris stayed in to block.
Liuget then bullied Morse en route to his sack on Smith.
KC 3rd drive of second half: :36 left in the third quarter, ball at own 21 leading 19-3
1+10 (21)- 20 personnel- Smith three-yard scramble (-)
2+7 (24)- 12 personnel- Denzel Perryman sacks Smith for a loss of 13 yards (-)
3+21 (10)- 10 personnel- Swing pass left Ware six yards (-)
5-0 SD on drive, 11-5 SD in second half
The Chiefs put seven more points on the board before Pederson called another play. Houston cut in front of Danny Woodhead on an attempted screen pass in the right flat for the interception and returned it 17 yards for the score. Houston and Tamba Hali wreaked havoc all afternoon against the outmatched tackles King Dunlap and Joe Barksdale. Hali tallied a pair of sacks against Barksdale.
Good thing for Houston’s pick-six because Kansas City’s offense had an ugly three-and-out on its third touch of the second half. Kelce lined up in the backfield on first down. The play design was for Smith to hit Kelce in the right flat following the play-action fake to Ware, but 3-4 outside linebacker Melvin Ingram jammed Kelce at the line of scrimmage, forcing Smith to take off and run for a minimal gain.
Pederson called a play-action bootleg to the right on second down. The fake, however, resulted into a sack as linebacker Denzel Perryman did an excellent job of disguising his blitz off the left edge and came through unblocked. Smith ran right into him.
KC 4th drive of second half: 13:45 left in the fourth quarter, ball at San Diego 44 leading 19-3
1+10 (44)- 11 personnel- Smith attempted to take off and scramble, but lost a yard (-)
2+11 (45)- 11 personnel- Ware counter right guard one yard (-)
3+11 (45)- 11 personnel- Kelce dropped a crossing route (-)
5-0 SD on drive, 16-5 SD in second half
The Chiefs got the ball right back following the three-and-out after Jay Herndon muffed a punt, but again failed to pick up a first down. Outside linebacker Kyle Emmanuel beat Jah Reid on third down, forced Smith to step up in the pocket and Kelce dropped the crossing route.
KC 5th drive of second half: 9:50 left in the fourth quarter, ball at own 23 leading 19-3
1+10 (23)- 11 personnel- Ware right guard 52 yards (++++)
1+10 (25)- 20 personnel- Quick slant Maclin nine yards (+)
2+1 (16)- 11 personnel- Quick slant Wilson seven yards (+)
1+GL (9)- 20 personnel- Ware up the middle no gain (-)
2+GL (9)- 21 personnel- Ware left guard three yards (-)
3+GL (6)- 11 personnel- Flowers called for a hold (+)
1+GL (3)- 11 personnel- Ware off right tackle touchdown (+++)
10-2 KC on drive, 18-15 SD in second half
The Chiefs finally gained some traction on the ground as Ware exploded for a 52-yard run. Check out the block by J. Reid, opening up the hole and taking Liuget out of the play. No power personnel package was needed either as the big gainer came out of a single back formation with a tight end and three wide receivers.
Pederson called three pass plays on the march, all quick slants. Maclin picked up nine, Wilson seven and Avant was held by Flowers on the third to give the Chiefs a fresh set of downs inside the five. Ware plunged in from three yards out a play later. Check out the great block by Kelce.
KC 6th drive of second half: 4:13 left in the fourth quarter, ball at SD 24 leading 26-3
1+10 (24)- 22 personnel- Ware left edge 20 yards
1+GL (4)- 22 personnel- Ware left guard two yards
2+GL (2)- 22 personnel- Ware left edge touchdown
The Chargers failed to convert a fourth down in their own territory and the Chiefs needed just three plays to find the end zone again. Up by 23 with less than five minutes remaining, I stopped my scoring.
Let’s show Smith some love because while the defense was forcing a plethora of turnovers during the team’s resurgence, Smith wasn’t giving the ball away. He broke Steve DeBerg’s team record of 233 straight passes without an interception and extended that record to 253 by the time the final whistle blew. His last pick came in Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers.
Overall Thoughts:
This was another underwhelming performance from Pederson. Kansas City might’ve scored 21 points in the second half, but one touchdown came on Houston’s pick-six and another was scored with less than three minutes remaining and the outcome already decided.
Prior to Ware’s 52-yard run, which came with less than 10 minutes left, the Chiefs totaled just 35 yards on four second-half drives. You can understand Pederson’s offense struggling against the Broncos a week prior, they were by far the best defense in 2015, but being pretty much anemic against the Chargers? They were 21st in points per game allowed in 2015 (24.9).
Pederson’s teacher also put him in another favorable position, staking the Chiefs to a 12-3 halftime cushion.
While some may wonder why Reid would call the first half and not the second, it’s not surprising at all. He’s known as being one of the best at scripting a game’s first 15 plays. This game was a perfect illustration of that. Kansas City scored 169 points in the opening 30 minutes and 162 in the final 30 over its last 12 games — including the postseason. So that’s 14.1 points per half for Reid and 13.5 for Pederson, not that much of a difference.
The Chiefs held a lead at the break in nine of those contests and six were by 10-or-more points, so Pederson was usually put in positive circumstances. You might as well make it seven by 10-or-more points because not only is a nine-point lead pretty much double digits, but Houston’s pick-six gave Pederson a 19-3 advantage to work with.
I gave him a D+.
WEEK 9: BYE
BRONCOS WEEK 10 GAME GRADE: C-