So how have the Chiefs been defending short, quick WR throws? The Chiefs have been a top-10 pressure-rate team all season long, but unlike the Bills, they didn’t drop off at all. In fact, since Week 12, the Chiefs are recording pressure at the NFL’s sixth-highest rate despite blitzing at the NFL’s 10th-lowest rate.Īnd down that stretch, out of six defenses with a pressure rate above 38%, the Chiefs are the only defense to record that pressure rate despite blitzing on less than 23% of dropbacks (they blitz on just 21.6% of dropbacks). Prior to Von Miller’s loss, Buffalo ranked fourth in pressure rate while blitzing at the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL. Since his loss, the Bills ranked 24th in pressure rate despite blitzing at the 13th-highest rate. And they ranked 30th in pressure rate since Week 15.
Two things I really was down on regarding the Bills' defense, which I thought would provide an opportunity for the Bengals' offense, was the Bills lack of pressure and their performance against short, quick passing.įirst, the pressure. They held the Bills to 24, 49ers to 23, Jaguars to 17 and then 20, and Seahawks to 10. The Chiefs have played five games against offenses that ranked top 15 this season. While they went 3-2 in those games, what was more impressive was what their defense could do.
