Chiefs Defense at Fault? Are you kidding me? – OMG. I have read too many times all over the place, the Kansas City Chiefs defense lost the game with the Indianapolis Colts. Sorry sports fans. The defense kept the game close. The offense lost the game! Plain and simple. However, in case you don’t believe me, I will put it to the numbers and prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Statistical Pudding
Based upon 2018 averages per various matrices, we should have scored:
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- Average points per game – 35
- Average points per drive – 33
- Average TDs per drive – 28
- Average TDs and FGs per drive – 31
- Lowest point output – 26
If any one of those events occur, we would be talking about another great win!
What About K.C.’s Anemic Time of Possession?
The Time of Possession (ToP) in this game did not matter, despite the clamoring. The Chiefs ToP per drive vs Colts = 2:24. The Chiefs 2018 average for ToP per drive was 2:30. Wow… a difference of 6 whole seconds!
6 seconds x 10 drives equals 60 seconds or 1 minute
The Chiefs had the ball for 1 minute less (based upon ToP per drive) than our 2018 average, despite the Colts running all over the place. So that reasoning is destroyed.
What About Rushing Yards?
Sure we gave up 180 gazillion yards on the ground but, it took 4,000 carries to do it. Okay, it was only 45 carries, but that gave them an average of 4.0 yards per carry. Nothing to write home about. The Chiefs 2018 average yards per carry was 5.0!
The Defense was improved 20% vs. 2018 (yes for only this one game)
Note: anytime an offense runs or passes an inordinate amount of times, the total yardage figure is bound to be high (or when numerous long runs/receptions occur). That is why statisticians created Yards per Carry and Yards per Attempt. It was an attempt to add perspective to crazy-like numbers.
So, what are the top reasons K.C. lost?
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- 10% of K.C.’s drives resulted in a TD vs. the 41% average in 2018
- Average points per drive 1.3 vs. the 3.3 average in 2018
Interpretation: We did not score enough points when we touched the ball
I know. I know. That is an oversimplification of the obvious, in this complex world. However, that’s it in a nutshell… and… some days, the world is simple. We just like to complicate matters on occasion.
The Chiefs Defense?
In 2018 the defense gave up 26 points per game. Chiefs fans and Chiefs coaches alike, talked about improving the defense all off-season, and if it could improve ever so slightly, it would result in a Super Bowl. Well, over the past 6 years, the 12 Super Bowl team defenses gave up an average of 20 points per game in the regular season (see future article, coming to your favorite Chiefs blog –ArrowheadOne — soon).
By that matrix alone, the Chiefs played Super Bowl caliber defense against the Colts! The one statistic that matters most at then end of the game is – points scored vs. points allowed. Plsu, the Chiefs Defense did it despite injuries, the ineptitude of the offense, penalties, poor play-calling, dropped passes, a fumble, and an untimely ankle sprain.
The defense showed up against the odds!
Remember the Rams Game?
According to the record books, the final score was 54 to 51, and the Chiefs defense was tarred and feathered online for giving up 54 points. Think again my friends. The Rams defense scored 2 touchdowns directly off a fumble return and an interception return. The defense never had a chance to “defense” those points. In reality, the Chiefs defense won that game 51 to 40!
Hmmm. A point to ponder heading into the Texans game (pun intended)
Applaud them. They deserved it against the Colts. Please, do not vilify them
(unless of course they deserve it, then pull out the tar and feathers).
Think Abundance!
David Perkins — ArrowheadOne
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