Defense steps up in Kansas City Chiefs’ win over Jacksonville Jaguars

Tristan Allen, Editor-in-Chief

The Kansas City Chiefs keep on rolling after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-14 at home on Sunday, Oct. 7 thanks to an elevated defensive effort by the Chiefs.

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs quarterback, got Kansas City on the board first with a four-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter.

Harrison Butker, Chiefs kicker, made a 22-yard field goal and a 42-yard field goal in the second quarter. Later in the same quarter, Chris Jones, Chiefs defensive end, intercepted Blake Bortles, Jaguars quarterback, and scored a 20-yard touchdown.

Butker made a 38-yard field goal later in the third quarter, and T.J Yeldon, Jaguars running back, scored a 14-yard touchdown off a pass from Bortles.

Kareem Hunt, Chiefs running back, ran the ball for a four-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Bortles ran for a 21-yard touchdown, which was the last score in the game.

Leading up to the game, Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey, Chiefs wide receiver and Jaguars cornerback, engaged in trash talk during press conferences. Hill said he would beat Ramsey in the matchup, and Ramsey referred to Hill as more of a return specialist than a wide receiver.

Ramsey matched up against Hill often during the game. Hill caught four of seven passes to him for 61 yards. He had a 36-yard reception late in the third quarter, but Ramsey jammed one of Hill’s routes earlier in the game. Later in the game, Ramsey appeared exhausted, probably from trying to keep up with Hill, but still shut him out. He was able to minimize Hill’s impact on the offense, but one of the Chiefs’ strengths is the firepower they have on offense, so Ramsey’s effort was not enough to win the game.

Kansas City got other receivers involved in the offense, such as Sammy Watkins, Chiefs wide receiver, who was relatively quiet so far in the season. He was targeted eight times and caught six passes for 78 yards. Travis Kelce, Chiefs tight end, caught five of his eight passes for 100 yards, leading the game in yards received.

Mahomes recorded his first and second interceptions of the season against Jacksonville. The first interception was in the second quarter by Tashaun Gipson, Jaguars safety, and the second was in the fourth quarter by A.J Bouye, Jaguars cornerback.

Other than his two interceptions, Mahomes connected on 22 of his 38 passes for 313 yards. This is the first game this season he did not make a touchdown pass, but he still leads the league in passing touchdowns with 14.

The Kansas City rushing offense was led by Hunt with 87 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Mahomes rushed four times for 13 yards and a touchdown. Hill got involved with 26 yards on two carries. Spencer Ware and Damien Williams, running backs, recorded nothing on one carry each. Kansas City altogether tallied 126 rushing yards, which was 25 yards more than the Jaguars.

The Chiefs’ defense looked significantly better against the Jaguars, even when Jones, and Dee Ford, linebacker, were ejected after punching a Jaguar in the thigh and taunting Bortles, respectively.

They recorded four interceptions: the first one returned for a touchdown by Jones and another one in the Chiefs’ end zone by Steven Nelson, cornerback, both in the second quarter. In the fourth quarter, Jordan Lucas, cornerback, picked the ball off at the Kansas City 1-yard line and returned it for 49 yards, and Orlando Scandrick, cornerback, picked the ball in the end zone, stopping a late game Jacksonville touchdown.

The defense also got four sacks. On one of those sacks, Ford forced a fumble which was recovered by Breeland Speaks, linebacker.