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Inside the Chiefs’ top 10 postseason blitzes unleashed by Steve Spagnuolo

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The Athletic has reside protection of Chiefs vs Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LIX, and Kendrick Lamar’s halftime efficiency.

NEW ORLEANS — Chiefs All-Professional cornerback Trent McDuffie is likely one of the NFL’s greatest protection defenders, a participant who can keep step-for-step with the most effective receivers. More often than not, although, McDuffie’s favourite second in a sport comes when he doesn’t begin the play backpedaling.

Because the linebacker with the inexperienced dot on his helmet, Nick Bolton will get the play calls from defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo transmitted in his ear and relays them to his teammates. Bolton loves when he realizes — earlier than his teammates know — that the Chiefs protection is about to go on the offensive.

Justin Reid, the Chiefs’ all-everything security, reminds himself of a brief message simply earlier than the protection blitzes the opposing quarterback.

“The one thought is, ‘Don’t be late,’” Reid mentioned, smiling. “You don’t need to cling these guys overlaying out to dry.”

A sequence of particulars within the last minute of the Chiefs’ most up-to-date sport, a win over the Buffalo Payments, is a part of why the group will play in Tremendous Bowl LIX on Sunday. The Chiefs protection, led by Spagnuolo, is most identified for its daring, unique blitzes — particularly within the greatest moments of postseason video games. The Chiefs, who’re aiming to beat the Philadelphia Eagles to turn out to be the primary NFL group to seize an unprecedented third straight Tremendous Bowl victory, have received 9 consecutive playoff video games. Every of these 9 wins featured a profitable Chiefs blitz at a vital time.

“All through the entire sport, he performs the chess match with the offense,” safeties coach Donald D’Alesio mentioned of Spagnuolo. “I’m displaying this (play) to arrange this (blitz) later within the sport. Or I’m displaying this to hope later within the sport they slide (the move safety) that means and we get the blitz coming the opposite means.”

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That’s precisely what occurred with two minutes left within the AFC Championship Recreation towards the Payments. The Chiefs protection, making an attempt to guard a three-point lead, put the Payments offense in a pressurized fourth-and-5 snap.

Spagnuolo poured over his play sheet in the course of the two-minute warning to search out simply the suitable blitz, one he hoped would shock quarterback Josh Allen.

“I mentioned to myself, ‘We haven’t run it but, so let’s run one thing we haven’t run but,’” Spagnuolo mentioned of his boldest blitz this season. “It was on the checklist. It may’ve been on a third-down name. It was one among three or 4 (play calls).”

McDuffie blitzed from the perimeter, resulting in speedy strain on Allen, who was pressured right into a rushed deep passing try.

“I all the time inform folks I’ve the most important smile on my face after I’m blitzing,” McDuffie mentioned, smiling.

Allen’s move fell incomplete when tight finish Dalton Kincaid did not make a diving catch, surrounded by defenders. It was the Payments’ final offensive play of the season.

“I’ve received confidence in Spags,” coach Andy Reid mentioned. “In sure conditions, I don’t must run over to him and go, ‘Hey, let’s not do this or this.’ I’ve sufficient confidence in him and been round him lengthy sufficient to know he’s going to make the suitable name for the suitable time.”

Earlier than the unit unveils its subsequent assault, one the Chiefs hope to make use of to frustrate Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, right here’s a recap of the ten most necessary blitzes Spagnuolo and his gamers have unleashed to outwit their opponents to assist Kansas Metropolis turn out to be the NFL’s latest dynasty.

Jacksonville (2022 divisional spherical)

The scenario: Chiefs main 27-17, fourth quarter, 3:55 left, second-and-6 from midfield

The blitzers: Reid and security Bryan Prepare dinner

Unsung hero: move rusher Chris Jones

Though it was Bolton’s fourth profession postseason sport, he was nonetheless typically nervous or anxious with Spagnuolo calling a blitz for a big second within the fourth quarter. Bolton knew the Chiefs may surrender a protracted completion to the Jaguars if Reid or Prepare dinner didn’t hit Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

“There’s a few blitzes the place you’re like, ‘Uh, I don’t know…’” Bolton mentioned, laughing. “You have a look at the formation they usually may block it or they’ve folks to dam it — or possibly they will get the ball out fast, like a display screen alert. You don’t actually know till you see the results of the play.”

Bolton was technically right about this blitz: The Jaguars had sufficient blockers (six) to dam every of the Chiefs’ six blitzers. However the Jaguars nonetheless had two inside linemen assigned to Jones, the Chiefs’ greatest defensive participant. Jones occupied two linemen in the midst of the sphere, which allowed Reid to dash untouched by means of the B hole, main him to hit Lawrence as he launched an intermediate move.

The strain influenced Lawrence’s move, which was intercepted by cornerback Jaylen Watson, who made a one-handed catch.

Cincinnati (2022 AFC Championship Recreation)

The scenario: Tied 20-20, fourth quarter, 7:08 left, second-and-3 from the Bengals’ 36

The blitzers: McDuffie and linebacker Darius Harris

Unsung hero: cornerback Joshua Williams

The Bengals started the drive trying to take their first lead of the sport.

The Chiefs gave the impression to be in zone protection pre-snap, however Spagnuolo examined the Bengals’ offensive line and operating again Samaje Perine to see if they may win every of the six one-on-one blocks. Certainly, the Bengals — in a rarity that evening — succeeded and gave quarterback Joe Burrow sufficient time to discover a favorable one-on-one matchup: receiver Ja’Marr Chase operating a 15-yard nook route towards Williams.

The play led to an incompletion as a result of Williams stayed shut sufficient to Chase that the ball fell to the turf down close to the Chiefs’ sideline.

“There’s lots of shifting items,” Spagnuolo mentioned. “Everyone will get centered on the fellows which might be really coming. However the guys on the again finish which might be taking issues away so the quarterback can’t get (the ball) out of his palms (shortly) are simply as necessary.”

On the subsequent play, Burrow tried a deep move to receiver Tee Higgins, who was double-covered by Prepare dinner and Williams. Prepare dinner situated the ball and deflected the move up and away from Higgins. The ball landed in Williams’ palms for a well timed interception.

Philadelphia (2022 Tremendous Bowl)

The scenario: Chiefs main 28-27, fourth quarter, 10:40 left, third-and-3 from Eagles’ 32

The blitzers: McDuffie and linebacker Willie Homosexual

Unsung hero: Jones

With the Chiefs clinging to a one-point lead, Spagnuolo wished to drive the Eagles to punt after a three-and-out. He referred to as a blitz he felt would work towards a run or a move. He was proper. Hurts did a run-pass possibility pretend, which gave McDuffie and Homosexual loads of time to generate speedy strain from each side of the Eagles’ formation.

Jones pressured Hurts to flee the pocket, too, beating a double group towards two inside linemen. With none of his three receivers open, Hurts threw the ball out of bounds.

On the subsequent play, Kadarius Toney returned the Eagles’ punt a Tremendous Bowl-record 65 yards to arrange a landing.

Miami (2023 wild-card spherical)

The scenario: Chiefs main 26-7, fourth quarter, 7:27 left, first-and-1o from the Chiefs’ 25

The blitzers: Reid and Homosexual

Unsung hero: cornerback L’Jarius Sneed

Though the Chiefs had been up 19 factors, Spagnuolo wished to cease the Dolphins from constructing any momentum with a landing. He hadn’t blitzed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa a lot to that time in a sport that began with a temperature of minus-4, the fourth-coldest sport in NFL historical past.

The Dolphins didn’t rating as a result of Spagnuolo referred to as one among Reid’s favourite blitzes.

“There’s one the place I get to blitz the A niche and we disguise it like I’m not even coming in any respect or like I’m (extra) coming off the sting,” Reid mentioned. “On the final second, we get to run over the middle and we’ve received some twist (with defensive linemen) taking place and you’ve got a nook coming, too. Often, any person will get house.”

When the Dolphins confirmed their formation earlier than the snap, Tagovailoa had three receivers on the suitable aspect. Tyreek Hill was the closest to the offensive line. Throughout from Hill was Reid, giving the impression that he can be the defender in man protection. However simply earlier than the snap, Reid timed his blitz towards the A niche with McDuffie shifting to cowl Hill.

Tagovailoa then made an ill-advised determination: He focused Hill, who was double-covered, on a deep move. Sneed broke up the move in the long run zone.

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Buffalo (2023 divisional spherical)

The scenario: Chiefs main 27-24, fourth quarter, 13:38 left, second-and-2 from the Payments’ 33

The blitzer: linebacker Drue Tranquill

Unsung hero: Reid

Spagnuolo not often blitzed Allen on this one, the Chiefs’ first street playoff sport within the Patrick Mahomes period.

The Payments had been hoping to retake the lead when the Chiefs employed one among their greatest run blitzes. Earlier than the snap, Reid moved ahead, suggesting to the offensive line that he may blitz. Reid wished the Payments to see that. The Payments responded by having their left deal with take duty for blocking Reid. The Payments, although, didn’t know that Tranquill, in the midst of the sphere, was going to blitz from the A niche. Unaccounted for, Tranquill tackled operating again James Prepare dinner for a 3-yard loss.

Two performs later, the Payments turned the ball over to the Chiefs on a failed pretend punt.

“The gamers believe of their (assistant) coaches and Spags,” Andy Reid mentioned. “They need to study the system, that’s a troublesome system. You need to actually keep centered in the course of the conferences, it’s important to element it at follow, it’s important to element the walkthroughs that you simply do. Then, most of all, it’s important to execute it on sport day.”

Baltimore (2023 AFC Championship Recreation)

The scenario: Chiefs main 17-7, fourth quarter, 15:00 left, second-and-8 from the Chiefs’ 9

The blitzers: Tranquill, Bolton and Reid

Unsung hero: Sneed

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson made the suitable determination within the purple zone when he seen the Chiefs’ Cowl 0 blitz: he recognized that receiver Zay Flowers was open on a slant route for a straightforward, brief completion.

“It goes again to Coach Spags simply trusting us,” McDuffie mentioned. “While you blitz, there’s some holes within the protection and a few guys could also be put in awkward conditions.”

Flowers made the reception in entrance of Sneed, who was trailing in protection. However as Flowers sprinted towards the top zone, he dived, extending the ball towards the purpose line. Sneed, with excellent timing, knocked the ball out of Flowers’ palms. The ball bounced into the top zone, the place McDuffie recovered it.

Sneed’s momentum-halting spotlight dropped the Ravens’ win likelihood from 28.3 % to 13.5 %, based on Subsequent Gen Stats.

“I’m simply grateful, man,” Sneed mentioned. “I simply punched the ball out. We follow that each week.”

San Francisco (2023 Tremendous Bowl)

The scenario: Tied 16-16, fourth quarter, 2:00 left, third-and-5 from the Chiefs’ 35

The blitzers: McDuffie and security Chamarri Conner

Unsung hero: move rusher Chris Jones

Each Friday in follow, the Chiefs undergo end-of-game situations — reminiscent of 5 seconds and the opposing offense has one timeout or 20 seconds left and is making an attempt to get a number of extra yards to get into area purpose vary to win the sport.

“It might not come up that Sunday within the sport, however it’s going to return up (possibly) three weeks down the street,” D’Alesio mentioned. “We’re simply all the time sort of ready for that second.”

After the two-minute warning in final 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl, Spagnuolo referred to as one among his favourite six-man blitzes. McDuffie, who lined up within the slot, gave the impression to be in a matchup with receiver Brandon Aiyuk earlier than the ball was snapped.

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When quarterback Brock Purdy dropped his eyes to obtain the shotgun snap, McDuffie sprinted towards him, his physique instantly within the passing lane the place Purdy wished to throw a brief move to Aiyuk, who ran a slant route.

McDuffie received a hand on the move, which fell incomplete.

Purdy couldn’t even attempt passing to tight finish George Kittle, who lined up within the backfield, as a result of Connor’s blitz pressured Kittle to dam in move safety

“Trent has an excellent really feel and it’s so onerous to educate,” D’Alesio mentioned. “You attempt to coach folks to time it up the suitable means, not giving it away too early or along with your physique language. Trent is simply such a clean man. He has that really feel.”

The scenario: Tied 19-19, additional time, 7:29 left, third-and-4 from the Chiefs’ 9

The blitzers: Bolton and Reid

Unsung hero: Jones

Coach Kyle Shanahan made an attention-grabbing determination when the 49ers received the coin toss earlier than the beginning of additional time. He determined to have the 49ers take the ball first. The mission for the Chiefs protection was easy: Simply don’t give up a landing.

For his or her last defensive play of the season, Spagnuolo broke his play-calling tendency: The Chiefs stunned Purdy with a Cowl 0 blitz.

Earlier than the ball was snapped on third-and-5, Spagnuolo matched his greatest cornerbacks, McDuffie and Sneed, on Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, the 49ers’ greatest receivers. Shanahan made a small concession: He had operating again Christian McCaffrey movement from proper to left throughout the formation earlier than chip-blocking for Purdy.

The secondary — together with McDuffie, Conner and security Mike Edwards — coated the 49ers’ skill-position gamers simply lengthy sufficient for Jones to get to Purdy, who threw an incompletion.

After the play, two of the 49ers linemen argued as to which ones ought to’ve blocked Jones.

“Often, it’s dictated by what we’ve seen on tape protection-wise,” Spagnuolo mentioned of his blitzes. “Once I first received on this league, there weren’t that many (move) protections — and you could possibly sort of dictate it even higher. Now offensive coaches do job of taking issues away.

“Generally you assume they’re going to guard (the quarterback) a sure means they usually don’t. After they do and also you get a free runner (on the quarterback), that’s what we’re all the time on the lookout for.”


Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is at his greatest in essentially the most vital moments, and so is his protection. (David Eulitt / Getty Photographs)

Houston (2024 divisional spherical)

The scenario: Chiefs main 20-12, fourth quarter, 10:05 left, fourth-and-10 from the Chiefs’ 40

The blitzers: Bolton and rookie security Jaden Hicks

Unsung hero: Prepare dinner

Defending an eight-point lead, Spagnuolo anticipated that quarterback C.J. Stroud would want not less than three seconds earlier than throwing a move to permit his receiver to get previous the road to achieve. He blitzed six defenders, which pressured a good finish to dam George Karlaftis one-on-one. Karlaftis received his matchup with ease and sacked Stroud.

Stroud couldn’t even attempt a deep move as a result of Prepare dinner didn’t let any of the Texans’ receivers get behind him for a possible completion.

“Everyone is a chunk to a much bigger puzzle and all people has to work collectively for the puzzle to do what it must do,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “One thing that may appear small issues. If I’m within the publish, even when I’m not getting motion, (my protection) nonetheless is significant for the (blitz).

“Though I’m not within the limelight, I by no means requested to be, too. I got here right here to play ball and get respect. The coaches recognize that. That’s all I care about. I’m blessed and appreciative of what now we have. I simply do my job as greatest I can.”

Buffalo (2024 AFC Championship Recreation)

The scenario: Chiefs main 32-29, fourth quarter, 2:00 left, fourth-and-5 from the Payments’ 47

The blitzers: McDuffie and Reid

Unsung heroes: Jones and Prepare dinner

When he referred to as his game-winning blitz, Spagnuolo knew it will go away a gap on the suitable aspect of the Chiefs’ protection, the world McDuffie attacked from. Allen seen the Chiefs’ blitz and appeared to 2 receivers, every operating a crossing route. However Prepare dinner was in the midst of the sphere, prepared to interrupt up a move or make a deal with to cease the Payments from gaining a primary down.

“He will get us in the suitable place to win video games,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “He dials them up in vital conditions. When the play comes into the huddle, we’re absolutely assured in what we are able to do.”

McDuffie and Reid had been capable of generate speedy strain on Allen as a result of the offensive line was most involved with blocking Jones, who lined up throughout the left deal with.

“Actually, at any time when Coach Spags calls a blitz, I’m often fairly assured, particularly late within the sport,” McDuffie mentioned. “You by no means know what aspect (of the protection) the blitz is coming from. Guys could say, ‘They’re going to blitz,’ however you don’t know which means it’s coming.

“I heard the O-lineman really examine the safety the opposite means. Proper after that, I used to be like, ‘We received them.’ It was feeling.”

(High photograph of Trent McDuffie blitzing Brock Purdy in Tremendous Bowl LVIII: Michael Reaves / Getty Photographs)



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