Patrick Mahomes just made NFL history, matching none other than Tom Brady by securing his 115th victory in his 150th NFL start. That’s a ridiculous level of winning, regular season and postseason combined, and it happened after a hard-fought 24-10 win against the Miami Dolphins. The Chiefs might be 3-0, but that score doesn’t tell the whole story, especially when it comes to the defense’s rollercoaster start.
Spagnuolo Dropped a “Heart Check” on the Defense After One Drive
Yeah, Mahomes is out there tying GOATs, but it wasn’t all sunshine and touchdowns. Miami’s first drive against the Chiefs defense was a grueling 17 plays, eating up nearly 9.5 minutes and racking up a shocking 101 net yards. You know defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo wasn’t about to let that slide. He had to pull his players aside for what he called a “heart check” right there on the sideline. Defensive end George Karlaftis confirmed it after the game, saying Spags told them they had “to tighten up on our details to a man and just finish and play to the best of our abilities and execute our responsibilities and our assignment on each play.” Chris Jones backed him up, explaining Spags could see them letting one bad play snowball into the next. “It’s all about the next play,” Jones said, emphasizing the need to not let any play, good or bad, dictate the next one. It was a “very up and down” first quarter for the defense, and Spags wasn’t having it.
Left Tackle Woes Could Be a Real Problem
While the defense got its much-needed talking-to, there’s another major area of concern emerging for this 3-0 squad: left tackle. Undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson has been filling in for the injured Josh Simmons, and while he’s done an admirable job through three weeks, the Miami edge rushers found their rhythm in the second half. Benson was beaten often, giving up quick pressure on Mahomes. That’s the last thing you want to see when you’re trying to stay among the AFC’s elite. Benson knows it too, telling The Athletic he has “a lot of things I can clean up” and that he’s going to hit the film room. He’s listening to his vets and coaches, aiming to “play better next week.”
It’s great to be 3-0, especially with Mahomes making history, but those defensive struggles and the vulnerability at left tackle are real issues that need to be buttoned up. They’re going to need to clean up those details fast if they want to keep this winning streak going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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