Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo reveals key strategy for defending Josh Allen ahead of AFC Championship game
Kansas City's defense will take a different approach while guarding Josh Allen and the Bills in the AFC Championship game.
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Steve Spagnuolo and Josh Allen (Image Credits: L-via Open Source/X, R-via IMAGO)
The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in the same position they were in 2020. They are just one more win away from returning to the Super Bowl for the third straight year and in the way stand Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. The rivalry between the two teams has intensified over the past few years.
The Chiefs’ defense which has stayed elite throughout the season will seek vengeance from Josh Allen for the team’s first regular season loss. Kansas City’s defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo understands he has a big task at hand in the AFC Championship game but it is a challenge he is not shying away from.
He gave the MVP candidate his flowers while sharing snippets of his plan to stop Allen in his press conference on Thursday.
He’s one of those guys especially, up front, and if you’re talking about the four or five guys that we bring- they need to function as one because he finds one little seam and if we have guys in man with their back turned, I mean that’s where he- I’ll tell you he’s one of those guys, and you know, you have all seen it- he sees everything.
Steve Spagnuolo said
The defensive coordinator believes Allen has a keen eye for detail and within a matter of seconds, he can figure out the coverage and find an opening where he can pass the ball.
Steve Spagnuolo believes Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen’s game is similar
The Chiefs have a top-10-ranked defense in the NFL this season. However, Buffalo has beaten 7 of the 8 best defensively-ranked teams in the NFL through the regular season and in the playoffs. Josh Allen has found a way to torch defenses. This year, Buffalo’s offense is evenly distributed. The team does not have a single Pro Bowl receiver yet because all of them do their job well, and they continue to win.
Steve Spagnuolo believes Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes’ games share eerie similarities.
I watched him this morning, a defensive play- I forget who they were playing; it looked like they put their leg out to trip the running back. He immediately was turning to the official, he saw everything. He’s just like Patrick (Mahomes)…I think he can sense and feel when there is an opening there, and that’s what gets really challenging.
Steve Spagnuolo said
While fans like to object to quarterbacks reaching their hands out to the officiating crew at the most minor of inconveniences, the game is the game, and there is nothing smarter than taking every advantage one can get in this game. Kansas City’s strategy seems to be a no-brainer. Do not turn your back on Josh Allen and attempt to keep the margin of error close to 0.
While Kansas City has had a memorable run this year, they are not going to be playing the same Buffalo squad they are accustomed to. This is because Josh Allen is having the best season of his career and there is just one thing left for him to achieve, which is a Super Bowl win.
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Sumedh Joshi
(2271 Articles Published)