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Chris Jones and the Kansas City Chiefs are on the cusp of history. The NFL is the only sports league that has never witnessed a three-peat champion. Jones and the Chiefs are one victory away from becoming the first ahead of Super Bowl 59.
The veteran defensive lineman is one of the harder players to game plan for. Jones brings a deadly mix of power, leverage, snap explosion and versatility up and down the Chiefs’ line. He’s proven to change the phase of a game, all while leading a stout Chiefs defense. Jones will now face an Eagles team whose fatal flaw is the passing game.
Jones, though, plays a position that’s never produced a solo Most Valuable Player for the big game. Ten defenders have claimed the MVP honor for the Super Bowl. Randy White earned MVP honors in Super Bowl XII as a defensive tackle, but he shared the award with defensive end teammate Harvey Martin.
Is Jones capable of claiming this year’s honor? And how will he impact the game on Feb. 9? Here are bold predictions for Jones.
Jones is facing an Eagles offensive line that allowed 49 sacks of Jalen Hurts. That includes the 11 they allowed during the playoffs.
Blocking Jones sets itself up as a recipe for disaster for Philly. There’s two reasons along the Eagles offensive line behind this projection.
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo gets Jones to attack the “B” gap. That area has guard Mekhi Becton and center Cam Jurgens — who’ve given up 11 sacks combined according to Pro Football Focus. Jones lines up at the gap the most (368 total plays per PFF).
We’re going with two sacks as the over/under for Jones. Spagnuolo will likely take samples from the Los Angeles Rams on how they attacked Hurts. The QB endured seven sacks against the Rams, with L.A. applying the most pressure along the interior. Jones performs his most damage inside for K.C.
Philadelphia wore down defenses with Saquon Barkley — gashing units with a 2,000-yard regular season followed by three 100-yard postseason games.
Barkley’s done his most damage going up the right side, also the “B” gap. But that’s where Jones resides.
Jones will get enough of a push to disrupt the Eagles’ ground attack. The NFC champion’s offensive coordinator Kellen Moore likely has to settle for more misdirection or outside runs with Barkley.
Barkley, Moore and the Eagles are still facing one of the league’s best against the run. Jones is more than capable of throwing off the Eagles’ rushing plans.
Becton and Jurgens will need some reinforcements for Jones. Same is the case for left guard Landon Dickerson.
Jones is not the kind of defender you leave with a solo blocker. The Eagles will call on two reinforcements already in the trenches.
Expect the tackle tandem of...
