Big part of the difference is Cincy and Buffalo got Hendrickson and Miller at DE, we got Clark. Complete failure in that one aspect. A single pass rusher as good as one of those two makes a night and day difference on defense. Unfortunately I have zero faith in them finding one. Karlaftis will probably top out as a 7-8 sack a year kind of player. Fine for a #2 strongside DE type, but they need their #1 DE.

I really thought we’d be better than this because we wouldn’t be giving so many snaps to nieman, sorensen and hitchens.

Justin Reid has been a big disappointment

Reid doesn't tackle worth a shit.

People love some bottom or middle of the pack defense on here. Believe me, your not going to see opposing quarterbacks throwing I-pads or Google pads on the sidelines out of frustration from Spags defense. He’s not fooling anyone or especially the Bengals with his concepts. Dude was unemployed for a reason when we picked him up.

We only have two sure tackles in our back 7... Bolton and Sneed. Everyone else is hit or miss.

Thornhill and Reid were missing tackles yesterday at a ridiculous level.

Yeah this isn’t coaching. This is the players fault. Literally being put in position to make plays and just being a gigantic pussy

Blocked by a ****in TE LMAO

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Bengals have been so diverse/creative in the run game lately!! <br><br>Wham/trap concept has the LBs moving with the guards opposite of the RB alignment to create better angles at the second level and Sam Perine hits the hole opposite of flow. <a href="https://t.co/RypXkDPLQX">pic.twitter.com/RypXkDPLQX</a></p>&mdash; Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) <a href="https://twitter.com/austingayle_/status/1599954377036664832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Getting demolished up front. Wtf is Bolton doing waiting for contact? ****ing attack!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Look at the movement the RG and RT get on this double team. My goodness. <a href="https://t.co/lpaRSXGPEw">pic.twitter.com/lpaRSXGPEw</a></p>&mdash; Robert Mays (@robertmays) <a href="https://twitter.com/robertmays/status/1599592674100580353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

What the **** is he doing?!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Watch Nick Bolton <a href="https://t.co/JcBcBV2Igb">pic.twitter.com/JcBcBV2Igb</a></p>&mdash; Nate Christensen (@natech32) <a href="https://twitter.com/natech32/status/1599949511790452738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The pussy just stops bc he’s terrified even though the defense was set up perfectly.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Ja&#39;Marr Chase difference. <a href="https://twitter.com/Real10jayy__?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Real10jayy__</a><br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KCvsCIN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KCvsCIN</a> on CBS<br>📱: Stream on NFL+ <a href="https://t.co/KRUwj1CkWe">https://t.co/KRUwj1CkWe</a> <a href="https://t.co/30wfEzzUOM">pic.twitter.com/30wfEzzUOM</a></p>&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1599558027660603393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Oh and my favorite.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Perine dribbles Justin Reid like a basketball <a href="https://t.co/MaFT6H1IQc">pic.twitter.com/MaFT6H1IQc</a></p>&mdash; Tino Bovenzi (@TinoBovenzi) <a href="https://twitter.com/TinoBovenzi/status/1599532272624881664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Our defense was composed of a bunch of scared labia’s in this game. FFS

I'm ready to get rid of Chris Jones. Take whatever money you were going to pay him and get the best DE you can and then get some average interior guys.

The last time Veach got his guy at DE it was Frank Clark.

Surprised by Bolton though. Usually he is a beast.

I wonder what we could trade Jones for? Let him work out a deal with a new team that he wants to go to, like Hill did. He wants a new deal so he'd be motivated to work something out.

Otherwise let him play another contract year - which seems to motivate him. Then I guess you have to let him walk.

So, we just give up and don't try again

Bolton usually plays downhill, attacking. He was passive yesterday. I’m not sure why.

No. But it illustrates the risk of literally giving up our best defensive player with no clear alternative to fall back on.

Jones was instrumental in several of our one possession wins this year. Replace him with a DE who underperforms for a 100m salary and we'll see what a truly bad defense is like.

Spags is a tough to access because on the one hand he's a DC who has won two superbowls and he hasn't had the greatest collection of talent in KC to work with. But on the other hand his defenses perform in spurts. They'll have a purple patch every year where they look decent but against top oppostion reality sets in. With the coming schedule the defense should be looking to finish strong and get a top 15 ranking and around 19-20 ppg given up. But everything will come down to the playoffs and how Spags performs. We reach another SB he won't be in danger..but if the defense fails then Andy and Veach would be a foolish if they didn't consider getting Fangio and pouring tons of assets into finally building a top defense for Pat.