It was a collective effort from the Kansas City protection, with a concentrate on stopping the Seahawks’ passing sport. Up entrance, Chris Jones led a pass-rushing onslaught that garnered two sacks of Smith and 7 quarterback hits. Rookie defensive finish George Karlaftis popped for his largest second of the season, incomes a well-timed third-down sack deep in Seahawks territory after beating Seattle rookie deal with Abraham Lucas round the edge. Smith was underneath duress all day and was not getting the pockets he had been used to.
Kansas City’s physicality and number of zone coverages performed properly towards the Seahawks’ receivers. Metcalf nonetheless produced a strong seven catches for 81 yards, however it wasn’t sufficient to hold the offense. Smith appeared rattled by the heavy stress and mixture of coverages, main him to take extra checkdowns and brief throws than he might need in any other case. Kansas City’s second- and third-level defenders did a wonderful job rallying to deal with on these brief throws, leaving the Seahawks with a nickel-and-dime method that didn’t produce sufficient cash to pay for a win.
It should be mentioned that the Seahawks had been with out broad receiver Tyler Lockett, who absolutely would have made this sport harder for Kansas City. But this was nonetheless Kansas City’s most convincing defensive efficiency, and it couldn’t have come at a greater time. If its protection can inch nearer to common, versus the below-average unit it has been for many of the season, Kansas City would possibly once more be the workforce to look at in January.
Around the N.F.L.
Bengals 22, Patriots 18: Each workforce scored in just one half, the Bengals dominating the first earlier than the Patriots rallied in the second. Joe Burrow diced up the Patriots for the first two quarters, leaning closely on the big-bodied broad receiver Tee Higgins to dunk on the Patriots’ small cornerback group. But a few key errors — two interceptions thrown by Burrow and a Ja’Marr Chase fumble — made it robust for the Bengals to drag away, and the Patriots clawed their method again, narrowing the lead earlier than fumbling inside the Bengals’ 10-yard line on what may have been a game-winning drive.
Kansas City 24, Seahawks 10: Geno Smith was in hell all day. Kansas City’s cross rush swarmed him for 4 quarters, producing a ton of inside stress led by Chris Jones. When paired with the bodily, tight-window type of protection performed by Kansas City, it was robust sledding for a Seahawks’ passing offense that has in any other case carried the workforce. For Kansas City, the ever-reliable Patrick Mahomes-to-Travis Kelce connection did its magic. Kelce snagged six catches for 113 yards, incomes simply over half of the workforce’s complete receiving yards on the day.
Bills 35, Bears 13: Not many groups throw two interceptions and are available away with a 22-point win anyway. The Bills aren’t most groups. Josh Allen was largely good outdoors of some numbskull performs, the type of efficiency he could be liable to when nothing is admittedly on the line. The Bills’ protection was the actual cause for the workforce’s success, although. Bears quarterback Justin Fields had simply seven carries for 11 yards, the first time he’s been held to underneath 50 yards since early October.
Ravens 17, Falcons 9: A surging Ravens’ protection held its personal towards a tricky Falcons’ run sport. The Falcons slammed their working backs ahead 33 occasions however netted simply 115 yards, roughly 3.5 yards per carry. The Ravens ran the ball a lot better, incomes 5.4 yards per carry, and had been in a position to management the tempo of the sport. Atlanta’s rookie quarterback, (*16*) Ridder, led the offense into the pink zone twice in the fourth quarter, however the first drive ended on downs and the second ended in a area objective that was too little, too late.
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