I heard in the game day thread that this defense isn't sb worthy by a very objective person that never complains or acts spoiled.

The last 2 weeks, the defense has vastly improving the turnover column. Along with no turnovers by the offense. The Chiefs went from -4 to +4 in just 2 weeks. That's an impressive swing

Now if they can stop 3rd and 15!

Doesn't this also align with Charles coming back and the benching of Johnson?

<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@nfl/video/7450977606083726638" data-video-id="7450977606083726638" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@nfl" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@nfl?refer=embed">@nfl</a> <p>disguised brilliantly 🫢 <a title="kansascity" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/kansascity?refer=embed">#kansascity</a> <a title="chiefs" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/chiefs?refer=embed">#chiefs</a> <a title="nfl" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/nfl?refer=embed">#nfl</a> @chiefs</p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - NFL - NFL" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-NFL-7450977553844210474?refer=embed">♬ original sound - NFL - NFL</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async onerror="var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='https://iframely.net/files/tiktok-embed.js';document.body.appendChild(a);" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>

Yes

Meatballs bring him energy.

Crazy what a difference those two moves made

One of the things I have noticed over the last 2-3 years is how we make improvements in the game. First quarter, teams often move pretty effortlessly against us, second quarter we start getting stops, and the second half is usually a totally different animal. Just feels that way anyway.

Exactly. Game time adjustments have been spot on usually.

Defense really putting up numbers now.

3rd overall
3rd scoring
3rd run defense
11th in net yards gained per pass attempt
11th in pass TD allowed

I pray he never gets another HC offer, and I know that being greedy!

Come the playoffs there will be blood. Spags be sending dudes...

Clamping down towards the end just like last year.

Just need CJ's calf to be okay. :crybaby:

NFL GMs and owners don’t hire retreads his age.

Loses Sneed
Loses Watson in week 7
Omenihu out until Thanksgiving
Loses Chris Jones for a game and gets season high 5 sacks

#1 defense in points allowed right now. 3rd best rush defense. I ****ing love this guy

coward

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jets</a> are requesting an interview with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for their head-coaching spot, source says. The two-time <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Giants?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Giants</a> DC and interim HC will discuss a potential return to Jersey. <a href="https://t.co/47szKdB9p6">pic.twitter.com/47szKdB9p6</a></p>&mdash; Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/1877063538478301270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Jets are doing 57 interviews.

Yeah, it might be shorter to list the coaches the Jets are NOT requesting to interview.

I really don’t want this man to leave this team.

We were 3rd in ypg before Bronco game

So if KC gets the 3Peat.

Kelce retires (probably)
Nagy leaves
Spags leaves (nooooo)
Mike Borgonzi leaves for GM roles somewhere... (he's Veach right hand man...)

What they pay Mahomes $100m next year to suck... as we rebuild?

Maybe we trade the expensive future pieces like McDuffie?

Either way, this could be the end of this wing of the dynasty...

Kelce is not retiring under any circumstance.

What makes you so certain? Seems like he wants to get started making baby Swifties.

And if the OC and DC and Asst GM all leave... that's a whole new ballgame.

Spags isn’t leaving.

He will get a nice raise to stay in KC. Highest paid DC for a 3 year extension.

What makes you so certain he IS retiring?

He's said multiple times that he's playing until the wheels fall off.

OC'S come and go under Andy, that is not going to matter. Spags will but given the amount they pay for DC, having autonomy, and high profile position...Andy will be able to find a quality DC.

Spags has already said he wants another shot at HC. Replacing the OC won't be much of a problem as they have come and gone already. Losing Spags will be tougher unless there's a disciple on the coaching staff that no one is talking about.

Dave Merritt is the disciple everyone has talked about. He's been with Spags most of his 28-year professional career. Brendan Daly has also been with Spags quite a bit and spent time on Brad Childress' and Bill Belichick's staffs.

I'm curious why any of these teams would hire a HC at Spags age.

Honestly, if Spags got a HC gig somewhere, Merritt would probably be my preferred option barring something unforeseen occurs.

He should treat both those interviews like Spud from Trainspotting.

Joe Cullen has also been a DC before.

Is Mahomes retiring? Because if he is that's the end. All that other shit would suck but doesn't matter. Mahomes + Rice+ Worthy is going to be a problem for the league for years

While I don't disagree... it creates a year of issues as the whole team needs to learn a new scheme.

OC Nagy going, isn't a problem.

My guess is if Spags is HC somewhere... Dave Merritt or Joe Cullen or BOTH go with him.

So I think it's all contingent on which domino falls first. If it's a rebuild and all the coaches scatter.

Kelce retires. If there is more continuity... he probably stays another year or so.

What the hell is this man?

It's a young team still overall. There's zero reason to tear it down when Andy and Mahomes are what drive everything. And let's be real, it's Patrick's team. Andy wasn't winning Super Bowls until he arrived. So as long as he's here, we ALWAYS have a chance.

I don't think that's the issue. I think we have a 2 year rebuild and then go hard after the next wing of the dynasty. Like Brady did.

There will be a lull, especially if many coaches bail.

Completing a 3peat is a good time for them to go off on their own... in their minds, I would assume.

Yes, true... but all of these guys are about to get paid. So, IMO it all depends on what the coaches do, who bails, who moves on...

I think the odds Spags actually gets offered a job are less than 40%.

Wasn't our rebuild supposed to be 2 years ago and we've won the super bowl since lol

Obviously I want this to go on forever, but I'm also logical about it... trying to see what MIGHT happen if Spags, and the defensive coaches leave and Borgonzi leaves.

Borgonzi is a guy most don't talk about... but he manages all the NCAA scouting and whatnot. He is Veach's right hand homie.

I'm just gonna enjoy these last games of this season and hope we put feet on everyone's necks.

Let the cards fall as they may afterwards. I HOPE Spags stays. He's amazing. Love that guy.

I like those odds.

If we get the Superbowl, most jobs might already be filled... o:-)

Lower. I don’t see how he’s ahead of any of these guys:

Aside from the offensive guys, he doesn’t even appear to be a top 3 defensive coach candidate.

Vrabel, Glenn and Saleh all seem higher on peoples list.

He's also really old and the trend now is to not hire older coaches. Just seems everything is working against him other than he's on the staff of the team that keeps winning.

To spite the Chiefs.

I don't know who is and isn't getting paid quite frankly. I think they've molded into the old Patriots model where they are going to draw some hard lines in the sand and if you wanna prioritize money, you can go be the next Tyreek Hill. Be our guest.

I wouldn't let a blue chip elite like McDuffie go anywhere though. There's no reason he won't accept a perfectly reasonable contract and really, he probably deserves to be the highest paid CB.

If they draw the line in the sand this could be a very difficult offseason to be honest.

I hear what you're saying - maybe you lose both Bolton and Smith for example.

But if they won't take our money, someone will. They'll use it on outsiders if they must who are hungry to win a title.

The Smith one doesn't concern me that much, I think Morris could easily be a good RG.

Bolton does because I don't see a ready made LB to step into his spot in the draft and we are already thin at the position.

Bring bill cowher in for an interview

Don't know what people see in Saleh. Yeah, he's elite with one side of the ball, but then we're getting yet again into the head coach model of the mastermind coordinator who can't seem to nail all the CEO-type responsibilities required of guys who want to be the top coach.

It's really hard to see him as much more than a Vic Fangio. I'm sure he can win you lots of games if the QB is stable and the offensive coaching staff is top tier, but take either of those away and the best he can do for your franchise is tread water. And not even consistently, either.

The Chiefs found 2 great weapons and have a very young defense and are going to rebuild? Because they lost a DC and a tight end that they drafted (and found) weapons to replace?

Steve Wilks and Lou Amarumo would be my two choices if Andy doesn't promote in-house. Both are proven and experienced guys just like Spags was before we hired him. Cullen had one year as a DC for the Jags under Urban Meyer and that obviously didn't go well. Merrit has been with Spags at NY and with us and if Spags leaves my bet is he takes Dave with him as DC if we don't give Dave the DC job.

Obviously we should all be praying that Spags stays but if he doesn't then I'd personally want a proven, experienced guy who has operated at the top level and not a guy who is learning on the job whilst we're in the middle of this incredible period. Spags won a superbowl before he came here. Wilks and Amarumo have been to a superbowl themselves. So that's why I'd look at them.

If he doesn't go back to SF first, I'd add Robert Saleh to that list as a talented DC. Two guys from Reid's tree to keep an eye on would be Ron Rivera and Leslie Frazier. Frazier, however, has an Assistant HC title with Seattle, so he might not be available.

Yeah I would have named him but I just saw he's been talking to the Niners so I'm not expecting him to still be on the market if Spags leaves tbh.

Keep Saleh away, I don't want his outdated Seattle scheme.

I wouldn't call it an overly cerebral philosophy. In fact I'd argue it's reliant on a plethora of talent to win their battles and isn't difficult for experienced QB's to take apart and advantage of.

Do not want.

I do want another attacking defensive mind though. Attack on offense and on defense.

Hell, the Bangles just fired their defensive mastermind. I'd welcome him aboard to ass blast the only QB in the AFC that's presented us problems.

Well, ordinarily, that's what that would mean.

But not when you have Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.

I would prefer to promote from within should Spags leave; keep the 'system' such as it is, and just stay with it. The 'system' is really loose in this case, it seems to be more just about disguising what are the same coverages everyone uses-it's just that by prioritizing flexibility in personnel You don't know who's doing what on any particular down. That, and being aggressive. That's not something that really gets 'solved'.

If the Ravens win and Zay remains out, this is how we attack them. They don't have the receivers to beat the blitz with Zay out. And they always have protection issues against us.

The ENTIRE defense is healthy going into the AFCCG. Huge.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonTexans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HoustonTexans</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chiefs</a> bad job in ptotection! Spags wins 2 plays in a row <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BaldysBreakdowns?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BaldysBreakdowns</a> <a href="https://t.co/OQVToVL1vk">pic.twitter.com/OQVToVL1vk</a></p>&mdash; Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaldyNFL/status/1880765049356382248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

yeah zero interest in that sort of “we do what we do no matter what!!!” defensive coaches who won’t/are slow to adjust cuz they believe too heavily in their scheme

what makes spags so great is his unmatched versatility in playcalling

Look back towards the beginning days of this thread. A lot of people thought that key strength of Spags to adjust as the game goes along was a weakness.

They didn't word it in those terms, but they used words like "reactionary" and thought he'd be running a passive defense that's constantly chasing after what the opposing offense does.

Lol.

Spags is very much a "do what I do no matter what" guy. Have you already forgotten his insistence on playing an Anthony Hitchens wearing cinderblock sneaks?

How about Dan "Throw Here" Sorenson? Ha ha. All NFL coaches are going to do what they want, and the KC coaching staff is no different.

The Texans coming out of half, holding the football ten minutes and surrendering what should have been the game tying score suggests to me, that Spags was stuck in an "I can stop em playing soft" mode.

5 plays in, nope, it'll work. It'll work just stick with it.

10 plays in, ha ha still not changing, it'll work God dammit.

15 MOTHER **** YOU SPAGS plays later for 82 yards taking 10:24 of the third quarter and a touchdown later, it finally ****ing clicks that oh hey, yeah that didn't work.

After pulling his panties back up, and bleeding from his asshole down both legs, we saw him get that mindset changed real quick. The problem is that you should not need to get bukkake'd on national television allowing them to hold the football for damn near an entire quarter on one drive before you understand your shit ain't right.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a team come out of half in the ****ing playoffs, and get the train run on them marathon style like that.

Spags was in bad need of goggles and a snorkel to survive the load that Slowic dropped on his ****ing face after that 1st possession of the third quarter.

Fortunately, it appears that those 15 plays were their best shot, and they didn't have much left after that.

Steve spag about to be the next head coach of... The Kansas City Chiefs. We win it all this year, andy, trav, maybe CJ ride off. Spags takes over. I'm good with that.

He is only 2 years younger than Andy - while I would like it to happen, I don't think it will

Lol Andy's not retiring

Andy appears to be on a GLP-1 weight loss program to me. If he loses some weight and maintains that, he can stay at it until every record is his.

It is entirely unrealistic to expect that Andy Reid would even remotely consider the idea of retiring before the wheels fall off of the run he's on.

He has a qb that the floor is overtime of the afc championship game. The greatest qb that ever lived.

Andy appears to enjoy coaching very much. He's compensated very well for the job he's doing, and he's headed to the 7th straight afccg.

He's not going anywhere until he either physically cannot do it anymore, or the wheels fall off through failure to maintain a championship roster by the front office.

Jesus. Spags has been nails in the playoffs. And at least in recent history he has used the regular season to test out players he likes only to tighten it up for the playoffs. You’re clinging to guys like hitchens and Sorensen as if that wasn’t a bygone era where we didn’t have quality depth. He’s been a stellar coach the past few years including mostly solid rotations. We are always playing around with our DL and secondary rotations.

Dude. We get it. You hate the chiefs.

Sometimes guys need to PLAY BETTER. Sometimes, they're just not GETTING IT DONE.

Sometimes, maybe it's not the CALL, but the execution.

During that drive, The Texans were shoving the defensive line around.

And after that, the defense played better. Yes, Spags saved the blitzes for later in the game, and yes, Furious George played like a man possessed in the 4th quarter, but there were stretches of the game (especially that drive that was the entire quarter pretty much) they just weren't playing well as a unit.

Rust? maybe. Worthy opponent? For sure. Crazy cold, I'm sure.

The Texans were loose and fired up. KC was maybe a little flat at times. We still got what, 8 sacks? And gave up 12 points?

Wait, you are bitching about a defense that gave up, let me check, 12 points in a playoff game. 12 freakin points. You will take that every game. If your D only gives up 12 points and you lose, your problem is offense not defense.

Spags, you came through with a glorious sack fest. Let's build on that for next week. You're a rock star.

Okay so.....

Is there a coach on the Chiefs you DO like?

This was a normal spags game. Opening drives a little rough with supreme adjustments. The only reason it felt different is because the texans held the ball so long...which I was ok with due to shortening the game. Now I assumed the offense would move the ball the next series because that's what they do when their backs are against the wall.

I like that spags doesn't panic. He makes those adjustments when the defense gets off the field. And I agree with Chris above. Defense needed to make some plays up front.

Nope.

He's one of these guys that no matter what the Chiefs do (meaning WIN all of the damned time), he knows a better way.

And no, he doesn't, because nobody has ever won the way The Chiefs are in this stretch, it's historic.

What he said about Spags is moronic. Spags is the ONLY defensive coordinator I can think of that doesn't so much have a strict SYSTEM as an approach. His approach is to utilize smart, versatile back end players to cause confusion and disruption. THAT is why his defenses are sustainable from year to year.

There's always one very specific thing that gets his feathers so ruffled that he has to make it into a 200 word rant.

This time, it was the 10 minute drive the Texans pulled off. He was probably convulsing in his chair in anger so much, spewing it onto CP was the only way to get the toxicity out of his system.

I was watching that drive laughing.

Texans straight up dicked themselves taking that much time off the clock.

The Chiefs have an incredible talent for losing slow whether it's the only TD they give up during the game, or every snap for our terrible guard-cum-tackle.

And everyone complains. When the Chiefs are not winning the game they are finding ways to not lose it.

Making the offense go on a 10-minute drive to score is making them be perfect to get that score. So many chances for things to go wrong during that kind of drive. If they pull it off you tip your cap and move on. The other guys get paid, too.

Not only that but also, what was the biggest knock on Reid as a head coach his entire career? Clock management, remember we had that issue with him when he got here too. The last 6 years that hasn’t been an issue, I don’t think he fixed it, but someone did. My guess is Mahomes did. So you have one of the best coaches that now has the best qb that also fixes that coaches biggest weakness. It’s a recipe for perfection.