You guys that are saying this is the worst defense on paper are looking at things all wrong.

What's the best way to beat a Mahomes led offense? Run the ball, control the clock, keep the ball out of Mahomes' hands.

What kind of guys have they signed? Big, strong, DE's that play the run well. Honey Badger, a known aggressive, head hunting safety.

Beef up front. Aggressive, talented safety added. A nice 2nd tier CB added.

You guys need to look beyond sack totals. We led the league in sacks yet lost three games giving up 40+.

If you can't run the ball on KC you're going to lose. That's job #1. So they've been working on job #1.

They're not done yet; but so far the moves make good, solid, fundamental sense.

I'll be surprised if it isn't a receiver or a TE in the first. Assuming we pick in the first at all.

Just remember that when you're complaining about opposing QB's having all day to throw.

It's been a long time since Chiefs fans have had to complain about that. It's coming.

Remember what happened in the AFCG?

The Chiefs adjusted and started putting big bodies in to stop the run. And it worked.

So then Brady dinked and dunked us to death in the 2nd half.

You need a complete defense. Otherwise what you don't do well will be exploited. The Rams didn't need to run the ball to drop 50+ on us because we couldn't cover.

The Chiefs put beef on the line and the Pats adjusted.

Talked about this a ton during the year. Veach IMO saw this scenario LAST year. Was reason I believe most of his moves last year were designed to address the run D. He wanted (wants) to prevent the other team from slowing the game down, which was what everybody tried to do once they saw their D could not stop our O.

Yup.

I’d much rather get into a shootout than a slogfest with this roster, and the Patriots had free reign to play whatever style they wanted.

The talk of improving the Run D was established by the coaches and players well, well before we knew what had in this offense.

And that stemmed from being ran all over by the Titans in the playoffs.

Have you forgotten the countless fluff pieces and player quotes about fixing the run D last off-season?

In a league geared towards the throwing the football, the Chiefs have built a defense to …….checks notes...…..stop the run.

Maybe they just figure we're gonna score a lot of points may as well let the other team score fast to get the ball back quicker?

Long time? What?

Chief fans were complaining about that very thing in 2016 and 2017.

This 2018 pass rush was a huge surprise

We’ve lost our last three playoff games at Arrowhead by (in large part) surrendering 170+ yards on the ground 3 times on average.

If we had an average run defense in those games, and we win them all. It is a HUGE need

Did you see how the Patriots won their playoff games?

It wasn’t the passing game. Their power run game was dominant.

Yeah, the Pats won those games with a dominant running game and the best QB and HC to ever play. Just stop using them as a measuring stick for anything. They've won SB"s throwing it, passing it, defense.

Just stop. No more "the Pats did this, they did that" bullshit. We aren't reproducing that, that's not how we're gonna win.

The last 3 losses in Arrowhead also had a half in which the offense didn't score a point, one in which they scored 3 points, and one in which they didn't give up a TD and still lost.

For **** sake guys.

This.

I’m not using them as a measuring stick. For better or worse, we kind of have to build a defense tailored to stopping the Pats. They’re still our biggest obstacle.

Regardless, the death of the running game in football is greatly exaggerated. Having a good run defense is just as important as having a good pass defense, even nowadays. Even a high flying team like the Rams has their offense built around the running game.

Except it's not.

Look at the efficiency of scoring throwing it vs running it etc

Funny, if 2016 Pittsburgh had ran the ball more in the Divisional, the game probably would’ve been a blowout.

Our pass rush won’t be as good this year so it’s important to be better everywhere else...our back end. And be stronger vs the run. If they are all those things (I’m skeptical yet optimistic)...Superbowl