Chiefs-Raiders: Chris Jones, Nick Bolton focus on greatest Kansas Metropolis efficiency of the yr

After 16 video games of ups and downs, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs turned of their greatest defensive efficiency of the season in Saturday’s regular-season finale 31-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Chiefs defensive sort out Chris Jones turned in a monster recreation, registering 2.5 sacks on Raiders quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Jones tied a career-high with 15.5 sacks on the season.

The Chiefs totaled 6.0 sacks on Stidham and compelled two turnovers. Greater than half of the fourth quarter had expired earlier than the Raiders discovered the tip zone, making the ultimate rating seem nearer than the sport really was.

Talking after the sport, the face of the Chiefs protection credited his teammates who do the soiled work opening lanes for him — and he continued to reward what line of defense coach Joe Cullen completed in his first season in Kansas Metropolis.

“My supporting forged — what these guys have been in a position to do for me liberating me open,” credited Jones. “And Joe Cullen — bringing him in for me as a mentor for me and a D-line coach — has utterly remodeled my recreation, whether or not it’s the run or the go rush. I’m very grateful.”

Jones’ dominant season has been a tide that raises all ships. The Chiefs completed the common season with 55 complete sacks — after solely registering 31 in 2021.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid joined his star go rusher in appreciation for what Cullen has introduced whereas noting Jones’ spectacular strategy final offseason.

“He labored tremendously exhausting within the offseason, and never that he hasn’t been, however it actually labored exhausting at it,” Reid claimed of Jones. “I believe he and Joe Cullen hit it off — and that’s they’ve a pleasant little factor happening there, chemistry-wise. I believe that was a plus.

“Joe’s a grasp technician, particularly within the go rush recreation… I’m positive Chris would inform you that he gave him a few little issues he may use, and Chris did the remainder.”

Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton’s 16 tackles on Saturday introduced him to 180 on the season — narrowly edging legend Derrick Johnson’s 179 in 2011 for a crew report. The second-year professional is aware of that he and fellow linebacker Willie Homosexual Jr. have simpler jobs for the eye the celebrity instructions.

“[Jones] is aware of who he’s,” Bolton declared. “He is available in each single day and tries to present his greatest — and that’s the one factor we will ask for. He performs three-tech, performs finish, performs the go, holds off double groups, [and] he retains the linebackers clear.

“It’s been a profit for me for positive — and likewise for Willie and the opposite guys and likewise the [defensive] linemen. We all the time know that Chris goes to get the slide, so our again aspect often can get one-on-ones. It helps the again aspect generate stress — that’s good for our protection as nicely.”

Whereas the Chiefs (lastly) turned in a dominant defensive efficiency, the actual work begins in two weeks when Kansas Metropolis will host a Divisional Spherical playoff recreation. The defensive leaders stay unhappy with Saturday’s effort.

“We dropped a number of interceptions,” Jones noticed. “We let two to 3 quarterback runs get out previous six to eight yards — we could be higher in that space. However I believe we performed fairly good [for] the final week of the season.”

Bolton is aware of that his aspect should play even stronger if matched towards the Buffalo Payments or Cincinnati Bengals — prime groups who handed the Chiefs two of the three losses this season.

“These video games we didn’t sort out very nicely,” Bolton recalled. “And I didn’t sort out that good in the present day. So simply cleansing that up. I really feel like these yards after catch from the playmakers on these two groups, particularly — these can catch the ball and get vertical and make performs. So we’ve simply obtained to sort out nicely within the playoffs to have an opportunity.”

When the Bengals upset the Chiefs within the AFC Championship final season, Jones missed a number of key alternatives towards quarterback Joe Burrow. He is able to start a brand new postseason chapter.

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“Final yr caught with me,” Jones admitted. “I had two essential performs that I ought to have made that I missed. And we all know how the sport went. This yr, we’re desirous to get after it — after the bye week, in fact.”

Regardless of much-criticized video games earlier within the recreation, Jones expects the defensive momentum to proceed — notably for his line of defense room.

“Main into the playoffs,” he defined, “it’s not about the way you begin — it’s the way you end. I believe we completed in a very good thoughts body — [a] good place as a D-line general.”