FO: Chiefs have 8th Worst Defense Ever Through 5 Games

[KC_Connection]

The flip side of the Buffalo defense is the Kansas City defense, which has been horrendous through the first five games. The Chiefs now are the eighth-worst defense ever tracked by DVOA through five games.

Worst Defensive DVOA
Through 5 Games, 1983-2021
Year Team W-L DVOA
2019 MIA 0-5 35.8%
1998 WAS 0-5 35.7%
2006 HOU 1-4 32.4%
1998 PHI 0-5 31.3%
1992 NE 0-5 31.2%
2001 ARI 2-3 30.1%
1985 BUF 0-5 29.5%
2021 KC 2-3 29.3%
2017 NE 3-2 28.2%
2010 BUF 0-5 27.8%
2012 BUF 2-3 27.8%
2018 TB 2-3 27.7%

And yet, I think the idea that the Chiefs are no longer a good team has been overstated. The Chiefs are still 14th in DVOA despite a losing record. Even after a poor game against the Bills, their offense still ranks No. 1 on the year, ahead of the Buccaneers and Rams. Some of the issue here is one of schedule strength early. Kansas City has played the hardest schedule so far according to average DVOA of opponent. It's also the No. 4 schedule of opposing defenses and the No. 2 schedule of opposing offenses. So both sides of the ball don't look as good as they really are because of the level of competition. The Chiefs, for example, rank only fifth in unadjusted offensive VOA -- it's when we add the adjustments for schedule and fumble recovery luck that they move into the top spot.

There's never been a team like the Chiefs that was so good on offense and so bad on defense this early in the season, but I did go looking for similar teams that were not as extreme. I started by looking for other teams that had offensive and defensive DVOA both over 25% after five games. There's one such team: the 2013 San Diego Chargers, who ranked third in offense and last in defense after five games. The Chargers started 2-3, like the Chiefs. They went on to finish 9-7 and made the playoffs, upsetting the Bengals in the wild-card round and then losing to Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in the divisional round. The Chargers finished that season second in offensive DVOA and last in defensive DVOA, although their defensive rating improved from 27.3% after Week 5 to 19.3% at the end of the year.

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/dv...cent-greatness

So the Chiefs unsurprisingly have one of the worst defenses ever tracked by DVOA, but there may be hope as the offense is still as elite as ever. Can they ever get a stop, though?

[KC_Connection]

Also worth noting that the 2017 Patriots team on that list made the SB (before losing hilariously to Nick Foles).

[Hammock Parties]

Gonna be honest, the defense gave me a lot of hope in the second half of that game before that stupid ****ing Cheffers play.

We're going to turn this around.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Gonna be honest, the defense gave me a lot of hope in the second half of that game.

We're going to turn this around.

Spags finally stopped playing that bend but dont break bullshit.

We talked about it before the Bills game.

Much like the '19 season, you're gonna break anyway so ****ing pressure the mother****ers and see if you can force some mistakes.

[Red Dawg]

We know they suck on defense. New at 11.

[Red Dawg]

I didn't see any hope. Looked like the Bill's took mercy on us and got conservative.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Spags finally stopped playing that bend but dont break bullshit.

We talked about it before the Bills game.

Much like the '19 season, you're gonna break anyway so ****ing pressure the mother****ers and see if you can force some mistakes.

Yep. Go down swinging and ya may knock somebody out.

[notorious]

I'm surprised it's that good to be honest.

[HC_Chief]

Originally Posted by Red Dawg

I didn't see any hope. Looked like the Bill's took mercy on us and got conservative.

They definitely pulled their foot off of the accelerator. It could have been much worse. I think they didn't want to give KC any additional fodder/fuel for a possible playoff matchup. Stomping a mud hole into a team that ran it up on you is sahweet justice/catharsis

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Red Dawg

I didn't see any hope. Looked like the Bill's took mercy on us and got conservative.

It was 24-13. They weren't just trying to run out the clock.

We played excellent defense in that third quarter.

[Rasputin]

I'm tired of hearing how quarterbacks are out playing Mahomes. No mother ****ers they are out playing our putrid defense but Mahomes leads the league in touchdowns.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Rasputin

I'm tired of hearing how quarterbacks are out playing Mahomes. No mother ****ers they are out playing our putrid defense but Mahomes leads the league in touchdowns.

If we're talking about the season to this point, no other QB has outplayed Mahomes at all. You wouldn't know it from the media narratives though.

[KCTitus]

Originally Posted by Rasputin

I'm tired of hearing how quarterbacks are out playing Mahomes. No mother ****ers they are out playing our putrid defense but Mahomes leads the league in touchdowns.

Touchdowns is impressive, does he lead the league in Wins?

[Gary Cooper]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Also worth noting that the 2017 Patriots team on that list made the SB (before losing hilariously to Nick Foles).

At least we have something to look forward to.

[Molitoth]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

If we're talking about the season to this point, no other QB has outplayed Mahomes at all. You wouldn't know it from the media narratives though.

And all of the INT that are on Pat's stat sheet and people get upset about.

Yes, he has had a few stinkers... but a few also of tipped passed by the WR's being shitbags, WR's running wrong routes, and a few on 3rd and long... so basically a punt.