After starting their 2021 campaign with a disappointing 3-4 record, the Kansas City Chiefs have surged to eight straight wins. They control their destiny in the AFC playoff picture with just two games remaining in the regular season.
As much as the talent of the roster couldn’t be denied heading into Week 1, Kansas City opened up the season struggling, especially on the defensive side of the ball. They’ve transformed over the course of the season into an indomitable force that looks primed to lead the charge into the postseason.
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke to the media on Thursday about what spurred the team’s turnaround after such a flat start, telling reporters that it begins and ends with the elite leadership Kansas City can fall back on in hard times. Asked specifically how the Chiefs went from being under .500 to where they are now, Spagnuolo gave a lengthy response that was exceptionally insightful.
“The first thing that jumps in my mind is tremendous leadership at the top, and that begins with Andy [Reid],” He said. “We talked about this before that there’s no panic in Andy and it filters right on through, and the next thing is tremendous trust. Andy trusts in us. We trust him. The players trust each other. We trust the players. To me, the trust factor, when you’re going through that, is huge. Believing in what you do, I think our guys did that.
“I mean, I know I had talks with the defensive unit about it when we were struggling, both as a team and defensive unit, and I just felt like the guys bought into that and embraced it and just kept on grinding away. I said this before, I believe assistant coaches, the staff that I have, made a huge difference in what we were able to do in a turnaround. I’m hoping we’re still turning because I want to keep going forward and getting better.”
Spagnuolo’s comments come ahead of a matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals that could result in Kansas City clinching the AFC’s No. 1 seed should they win and the Tennessee Titans lose to the Miami Dolphins. The attributes he remarked on during Thursday’s press conference have been known strengths in the Chiefs’ race to build the next NFL dynasty, but have really turned a corner toward becoming an unbeatable advantage Kansas City has over the rest of the league.
While their ticket to another championship is far from punched at this juncture, the team is well on its way to being in a unique position to do what would’ve been unthinkable just a few short years ago. If Spagnuolo’s thoughts on the matter are any indication, the Chiefs have to be considered favorites to thrive in the playoffs, and go on a tear through the best football teams during upcoming win-or-go-home situations.