The Kansas City Chiefs defense put on a clinic in Week 3 and ran away with our Dominating Defense Award.
Had some DOMINATING defensive showings. Which Week 3 defensive performance was most impressive? #ChiefsKingdom #FlyEaglesFly #Patriots #SKOL
— Best NFL Polls (@Best_NFL_Polls) September 27, 2016
Despite having just made two interceptions against the Texans in Week 2, the Jets tested Marcus Peters. And he made them pay. Peters led the charge against the Jets, picking off two Ryan Fitzpatrick passes, but Derrick Johnson, Eric Berry, Daniel Sorensen and D.J. White made sure they didn’t miss out on the fun:
The KC defense had a pick party on Sunday.
FIVE @Chiefs players accounted for SIX INTs.
Here's all of 'em. #NYJvsKChttps://t.co/KH29DrbDFd— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) September 26, 2016
The Chiefs defense absolutely smothered Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets all day. They not only forced SIX interceptions, they also recovered two Jets fumbles, including this one that got returned for a touchdown:
Jets cough up the 🏈 on the kickoff.@Chiefs recover and take it to the HOUSE. #ChiefsKingdom #NYJvsKC
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) September 25, 2016
Technically, that last one was a special teams play, but you get the point. The Chiefs squashed the Jets early and didn’t let up. The Chiefs defense has always been a big-play defense, but this was a particularly impressive performance. 14 of the Chiefs’ 24 points for the day were scored on interception/fumble returns. The 14 points scored on those returns were more than the Chiefs’ AND Jets’ offenses scored combined.
Marcus Peters, the 2015 Defensive Rookie of the Year, made quarterbacks pay for challenging him last year by picking off eight passes and returning two of those for touchdowns. Although quarterbacks and offensive coordinators will most likely wise up and just avoid throwing it his way altogether, Peters is currently on pace for 16 interceptions, which would break Dick “Night Train” Lane’s record of 14 interceptions set in 1952. Antonio Cromartie was the last player to break the double-digit single-season interception mark (10 INTs in 2007), but Peters could very well get to 10+ interceptions if quarterbacks keep trying to throw his way.
The Chiefs’ Week 3 defensive performance was straight out of Madden. I mean, they had twice as many interceptions as points allowed! For any defense-loving fan like myself, this was a blast to watch. And for any defense-loving fan with the Kansas City defense on their fantasy team, this was like manna from heaven.
(Photo Credit: Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports)
(Photo Credit: Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports)