Kansas City Chiefs Defense Enters Super Bowl On Tremendous Streak

The Kansas City Chiefs defense finalizes its preparations for Super Bowl LIX on a historic streak. They have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in their last 18 playoff games. That streak dates back to 2019 when the Kansas City Chiefs were at the beginning of their dynastic run. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was not yet hired and Patrick Mahomes had no Super Bowls to his name.

New England Patriots Running Back Sony Michel had 113 rushing yards in the 2019 AFC Championship Game. That was the last time Kansas City’s defense surrendered 100+ yards to a player in the postseason. This streak is all the more impressive when considering the great running backs they held down.

A few marquee names are Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, and Nick Chubb. The Chiefs defense will arguably face its toughest test yet when they have to stop Philadelphia Eagles Running Back Saquon Barkley in a few days. Will the Kansas City Chiefs be able to hold down Barkley, something few could do this season?

Kansas City Chiefs Defense Faces An Uphill Battle

Barkley is in the midst of one of the best seasons for a running back in league history. He finished the regular season with the eighth-most rushing yards in regular season history. He could have tried to set the all-time rushing record set by Eric Dickerson in 1984, but the team rested him in the final week of the season. That looked like a sound decision as Barkley has been even better during the NFL Playoffs.

He has 442 yards this postseason with 5 rushing touchdowns. Barkley is 169 rushing yards away from passing Washington Redskins Running Back John Riggins(1982) for the most rushing in a single postseason. Kansas City’s plan in the Super Bowl will be to stack the box to stifle Barkley. That will put the game on the right arm of Quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Kansas City Chiefs will try and force him to beat them instead of Barkley.

Philadelphia has arguably the best receiving duo in the league with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. That dynamic duo will look to take advantage of the Chiefs defense. The Eagles offense is solid at all levels, but Hurts is the weak link. He has struggled at times this season to pass the ball, and Kansas City’s defense will look to exploit his mediocrity in throwing the ball.

Final Thoughts

Kansas City has a tough task upcoming when it comes to stopping Barkley. They will look to make it 19 consecutive games not allowing a 100-yard rusher. If they can limit Barkley’s production it will bode well for them completing the first three-peat in the Super Bowl era.