Chiefs Defense - This year vs. Last Year

[*SHRacerX*]

(12-01-2022, 12:23 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: I feel like this isn't being talked about enough.

The Chiefs' defense was pretty damn bad last year, but how do they compare this year? Are they about the same, worse, or improved? Let's look at a couple metrics to compare 2021 to 2022:

2021
Yards per play: 5.9 (2nd last in NFL)
Net passing yards per passing attempt: 6.7 (6th last in NFL)
Rushing yard per attempt: 4.8 (2nd last in NFL)
Points per game: 21.4 (8th best in NFL)

2022
Yards per play: 5.3 (20th in the NFL)
Net passing yards per parring attempt: 5.9 (21st in NFL)
Rushing yard per attempt: 4.3 (22nd in NFL)
Points per game: 22 (17th best in NFL)

So based on these simple stats, it would seem like the Chiefs defense has improved - pretty drastically if we are going to be honest. I do find it interesting that all of their per attempt metrics are better this year while their points per game are worse. That's relative to the scoring in the rest of the NFL, though.

Obviously, they played different teams last year compared to this year which will have an effect on the data.

If anyone with PFF wants to list their overall PFF grades from this year compared to last year that will give us an even better picture along with EPA if anyone has that data. This is just meant to hopefully be a starting point.

Good stuff, but this misses a key component:  Who have they played?  

I don't have last year's, but looking at this year, here is a list of who they played and the result:  

Sep 11, 2022 @ Arizona

W 44-21

Sep 15, 2022
vs L.A. Chargers

W 27-24 Sep 25, 2020 @ Indianapolis

L 20-17

Oct 2, 2022 @Tampa Bay

W 41-31

Oct 10, 2022
vs Las Vegas

W 30-29

Oct 16, 2022
vs Buffalo

L 24-20

Oct 23, 2022
@ San Francisco

W 44-23

BYE



Nov 6, 2022
vs Tennessee

W 20-17 / OT

Nov 13, 2022
vs Jacksonville

W 27-17

Nov 20, 2022 @ L.A. Chargers

W 30-27

Nov 27, 2022
vs  L.A. Rams

W 26-10




Of all those wins, the SF game was their most impressive offensive outing.  The most impressive defensive outing had to be holding the Bills, who were still pretty healthy, to 24 points at home, but it was a loss.  Who was the next toughest offense they faced?  The Chargers?  The rest was like all the ingredients of turd soup:  Rams, Jags, Tennessee, Raiders, Bucs, and Colts.  I know their offense is lethal, but I am not so scared of their defense.