Weeks 1-10::
Rushing TDs Allowed: 30th - 12 TDs
Rushing Yds Allowed per Attempt: 30th - 5.1yds
1st Down Conversions Allowed by Rushing: 32nd - 84 1st downs
Weeks 11-17::
Rushing TDs Allowed: 28th - 9 TDs
Rushing Yds Allowed per Attempt: 12th - 4.1yds
1st Down Conversions Allowed by Rushing: 15th - 42 1st downs
Who the Chiefs were playing when they were a bad rush defense (Weeks 1-10): Jaguars (17th), Ravens (1st), Colts (7th), Texans (9th), Packers (15th), Vikings (6th), Titans (3rd)
Since the Titans game, this has been the offenses they played:
Chargers: 28th rushing offense
Raiders: 13th rushing offense
Pats: 18th rushing offense
Broncos: 20th rushing offense
Bears: 27th rushing offense
Chargers: 28th rushing offense
So, they've played 0 top-ten rushers and they have only played 1 rushing offense ranked in the top half of the lead.
All of the analysts I've seen have us getting our doors blown off, because "they aren't the same defense" that gave up nearly 200 to Henry in week 10. The raw numbers say they have improved ... but who have they improved against? They have been playing bottom-10 rushing offenses and they have still been allowing over 4 yards per carry.
Is ESPN serious? I'm supposed to be frightened by the fact that they held Royce Freeman down? I hope the Chiefs come in listening to that hype and believing they are a good run defense. Fact of the matter is that they haven't improved ... their level of competition went down. But guess what ... that level of competition is about to go waaaaaaaaaaay up this Sunday.