The defensive intensity and reliability of the Kansas City Chiefs defense so far this season have contributed significantly to the team’s 3-1 record. The addition of Chris Jones from his holdout has led to three straight victories, and offseason free agent signing Drue Tranquill has filled in effectively for an injured Nick Bolton over the last two weeks.
The defense will have another test this week against Justin Jefferson and the lethal Vikings offense. The disappointing start to Minnesota’s season shouldn’t be taken lightly, as a game in Minnesota puts a bigger target on the Chiefs’ defense since the Vikings are looking for a spark to ignite their season. Chiefs safety Mike Edwards spoke with reporters on Wednesday about the plan to slow down Jefferson on Sunday.
Buy Chiefs Tickets“Yeah, I mean, it’s the NFL. Like I said, he’s one of the best receivers in the game,” Edwards said. “It’s hard to stop him. All the play after play, but like I said, we have everybody come, swarm to the ball, and try to limit the explosive plays. I mean, if he gets a five-yard catch, you can’t turn five yards into 60 yards. So it’s trying to, like I said, to stop the explosive gains and be good.”
The Chiefs’ defense is ranked in the top ten on various football ranking platforms. ESPN Analytics’ Football Power Index currently ranks Steve Spanuolo’s unit fourth in the league with a 73.3% defensive rating.