After losing to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game, the Kansas City Chiefs fired long-time defensive coordinator Bob Sutton.
The Chiefs had one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They allowed 26.3 points per game in the regular season, which ranked them #24 in the NFL. The defense allowed the second-most yardage in the league. Over the last two seasons, the Chiefs were ranked #26 and #30 in DVOA.
The Chiefs allowed 30 or more points five times in the regular season and once in the postseason. The porous defense allowed 27 or more points in half of their games.
Great O, Bad D
The Chiefs boasted one of the greatest offenses in the history of the NFL. They generated 35.3 points per game and won 12 regular season games. The Chiefs were the personification of the adage, “A great defense is an awesome offense.”
The Chiefs relied on Patrick Mahomes (50 touchdowns) and company to help them win shootouts because the defense was not about to win a game for them in the fourth quarter.
With the fifth-worst run defense in the NFL, the Chiefs allowed 132.1 rushing yards per game. Their pass D was even worse. The Chiefs were the second-worst team in the NFL allowing 273.4 yards per game.
“Bob is a good football coach and a great person,” said head coach Andy Reid via statement. “He played an integral role in the success of our team over the last six seasons. I’ve said before that change can be a good thing, for both parties, and I believe that is the case here for the Chiefs and Bob. This was not an easy decision, but one I feel is in the best interest of the Kansas City Chiefs moving forward.”
You had a feeling that even if the Chiefs went to the Super Bowl, that Bob Sutton would not be with the team next year. The only thing that would have saved his job would have been a Super Bowl victory for the Chiefs. Sutton’s six-year stint with the Chiefs has officially come to an end.
Torched by the Pats
Tom Brady and the Patriots cranked out 524 yards of offense in the AFC Championship game. The Chief allowed 31 points in regulation.
Belichick took advantage of the Chiefs poor run D and the Pats took a run-first scheme into the AFC title game. When the dust was settled, Sony Michel and Rex Burkhead combined for 155 yards and 4 touchdowns. Plus, James White added 72 combined yards from scrimmage.
In overtime, the Patriots won the coin toss and they could not stop Brady, who marched the Pats downfield 75 yards for a touchdown. The Chiefs allowed three consecutive touchdown drives to end the game.
Future for KC
Rex Ryan’s name has been coming up in conversations as a possible replacement for Sutton. The former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach has been working as a broadcaster. Ryan is eager to get back to coaching. He struggled as a head coach, yet he has a 4-2 record in the playoffs and guided the Jets to an AFC Championship game and their last playoff berth. Ryan has a career head coaching record of 61-66.
A defensive coordinator position might be more suited for Ryan at this point in his career. Ryan won Super Bowl XXXV when he was the defensive coordinator of the 2008 Baltimore Ravens.
Rex is the son of the legendary coach, Buddy Ryan. As the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears in the 1980s, Buddy Ryan assembled one of the greatest defenses in NFL history. The 1985 Bears went on to win the Super Bowl.
