Chiefs Defense 2011 Improving

Well hello Kansas City, I do believe that we have a defense! This Sunday's Chiefs Raiders game only solidified the proof that the Chiefs can hold their own in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball. Although the Chiefs have historically been regarded as a tough defensive team, especially at home, it has been over a decade since the defense has been anything over average. The last good Chiefs defense was during the Derrick Thomas + Neil Smith era back in the late 90's, when opposing quarterbacks ran for their lives from the Chiefs defensive line and the spider bite attack of Derrick Thomas from the right and Neil Smith from the left. After Sunday's slaughter over the Chiefs rival Oakland Raiders it is becoming clear that the Chiefs are turning once more into a defensive team.

The most important thing about the Chiefs defense right now is that they are playing like a unit. At the end of last year and at the beginning of this year it was like "hey, look how good Tamba Hali is, and look how great Eric Barry is" - but now it is clear that other members of the defense are stepping up. Brandon Flowers had an incredible game vs the Raiders on Sunday with two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown (talking smack to quarterback Carson Palmer the whole way into the endzone). Derrick Johnson continues to be a force at linebacker, seemingly involved in every play and tackle, and was personally responsible for the Chiefs goal line stop against the Raiders, who used all 4 downs trying to penetrate the end zone, and Derrick Johnson personally stopped 3 of those attempts. "Law Dog" Jon McGraw is playing out of his mind lately and had a great heads up interception on a tipped pass in the 2nd half, sealing the Raiders fate.

The Chiefs defense is going to be crucial next Monday night vs the Chargers at Arrowhead, when the Chiefs will be playing to land a 3-way tie for first place in the AFC West.