The Jacksonville Jaguars offense didn’t cross the 50-yard line until the fourth quarter, a testament to how dominant the Kansas City Chiefs defense was at EverBank Field on Sunday.
And if not for the Jaguars scoring two points following a safety on a blocked punt, the Chiefs defense basically pitched a shutout during a 28-2 win.
Sep 8, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Derrick Johnson (56) celebrates with outside linebacker Tamba Hali (91) after Hali ran an interception back for a touchdown during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports
Forget for a moment the opponent.
What the Chiefs did to the Jaguars is what teams who want to be good are supposed to do to bad teams.
From the team’s six sacks, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown on an interception by linebacker Tamba Hali, his first career return touchdown, Sunday’s swarming performance was impressive.
Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton called a phenomenal game.
Sutton’s unit allowed the Jaguars 178 total net yards of offense, marking the fewest total net yards allowed by a Chiefs defense since holding the Oakland Raiders to 166 yards of total offense on Sept. 20, 2009.
Additionally, Kansas City controlled the line of scrimmage, holding Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew, a three-time Pro Bowler, to 45 yards on 15 carries.
In games where Jones-Drew recorded at least 15 carries, Sunday marked the second-lowest rushing total of his career, according to postgame notes released by the Chiefs.
Linebacker Derrick Johnson led the charge with seven tackles, but third-year linebacker Justin Houston is arguably on the verge of super stardom.
Houston totaled five solo tackles and three sacks, the third time in his young career he’s notched three sacks in a single game. He now has 18.5 career sacks, which currently ranks 12th in team history.
Second-year defensive tackle Dontari Poe had a breakout game with six tackles (five solo), 1.5 sacks and a pass defensed.
Defensive end Tyson Jackson also chipped in with a sack and safety Eric Berry split a sack with Poe.
Still, for all the havoc the Chiefs caused on defense, they were kind in another way.
They allowed the Jaguars to set a new team record of 11 punts in a single game.
