Justin Houston and Tamba Hali Hold Key to Victory in Last 2 Games for Chiefs

Going into Week 15, the Kansas City Chiefs needed to win in order to have control of their own destiny and make the playoffs. So far, the Chiefs have passed the first test of their playoff push by capturing a win and keeping control of their fate.

The Chiefs snapped their three-game losing streak on Sunday when they blew out the Oakland Raiders 31-13. If the Chiefs win out, they make the playoffs as a wild-card team, regardless of the outcome in other games.

Despite being one game behind in the wild-card race, the Chiefs have the luxury of controlling their own destiny since they play the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers, two teams that went into Week 15 with possession of the two wild-card spots. The Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are currently in position to take the wild-card spots in the AFC.

When the Chiefs visit the Steelers this week and return to Arrowhead Stadium the following week to play host to the Chargers, they will go up against two elite quarterbacks in Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers.

Roethlisberger and Rivers are both in the top 10 this year in the league in passing yards, completion percentage, passing touchdowns and quarterback passer rating. But the Chiefs have gone up against some of the top-tier quarterbacks this year and have done a good job.

In addition to already playing Rivers, Kansas City’s defense was vital in helping the team when facing Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson. Brady had one of the worst games of his career against the Chiefs on Monday Night Football in Week 5, while Manning did not lead his offense to a touchdown drive in the second half in both meetings against the Chiefs. As for Wilson, he suffered nine quarterback hits and was sacked twice by Kansas City’s dominant front seven.

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Although not every game has resulted in a win for the Chiefs, Kansas City’s pass rush, prominently led by outside linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, has done its job to put the Chiefs in position to win. The Chiefs defense has recorded 74 quarterback hits and collected 38 sacks in 2014 through 14 games.

Houston is currently tied for first in the league in sacks, while he and Hali lead the team in sacks and quarterback hits. According to Sporting Charts, both players also lead the team in defensive hurries.

Although the Chiefs have struggled against the rushing game in the past five weeks, the defense overall has stood strong. The duo of Houston and Hali have had a big hand on defense, thanks to their ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks. The pressure has translated into the defense allowing just 18.1 points per game, tying for first in the AFC and fourth best in the league.

Since the Chiefs drafted Houston in 2011 and had him team up with Hali, Kansas City has had the most dominant pass-rushing duo in the NFL.

Houston and Hali have had a big hand in limiting opposing offenses in scoring while helping the Chiefs rank second against the pass.

As they get ready to go up against the Steelers and Chargers, Houston and Hali must continue to lead the front seven by applying pressure on Roethlisberger and Rivers.

Kansas City has terrorized opposing quarterbacks throughout the season, and it will be imperative for the defense to do it in the final two games in order to win and come away with a playoff appearance.

Although the Steelers have the most prolific wide receiver and Rivers has one of the best tight ends to throw to in the league today, wide receiver Antonio Brown and tight end Antonio Gates both will become non-factors against the Chiefs if Houston and Hali give Roethlisberger and Rivers little time to throw.

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To give Chiefs fans a reason to feel optimistic, the defense has played well this year on third down, allowing opposing offenses to convert just 36.9 percent of the time.

If Kansas City’s defense can put pressure on Roethlisberger and Rivers and force them to throw ill-advised passes, it is likely the Chiefs hold the Steelers and Chargers to fewer than 20 points. In all eight of Kansas City’s wins, the Chiefs held their opponents to 20 points or less. The Chiefs failed to come away victorious just once while holding another team below 20 points, which came against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14.

With Kansas City’s defense expected to continue its supremacy, all the Chiefs need is consistency from the offense, and to come away with at least 20 points. At that point, the Chiefs will be in great position to win both games and will reach the playoffs.

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