Just like the offensive post earlier today, this article will focus on a few key defensive plays from the Chiefs on Sunday.
1. Justin Houston's 17th sack of the season
This first play is one that everyone will remember. Linebacker Justin Houston beat the Raiders' right tackle and picked up his 17th sack of the season, which has Houston tied for the NFL lead with the Baltimore Ravens' Elvis Dumervil.
It often happens so fast but you're able to see Houston's hands quickly knock away the offensive lineman's attempt to slow him down upon initial contact. It's one of the things that makes Houston so good and something he practices every day.
Once Houston gets to the top of his rush and doesn't have the edge, he uses his right arm to push the lineman up the field and allows him a lane to the quarterback.
Speed, finesse and strength were all on display here from Houston, who has become one of the elite defensive players in the NFL because of plays just like this.
2. Chiefs defensive front doesn't move
There has been a lot of talk about the Chiefs defense and its inability to stop the run over the previous few games.
In the four games before Sunday, the Chiefs defense had allowed 738 yards rushing combined in those games against the Seahawks, Raiders, Broncos and Cardinals.
The Chiefs defense allowed just 78 yards rushing on Sunday to the Raiders, who seemed more interested in throwing the ball with 60 passing plays called to just 17 rushes.
But on this particular play in the second quarter, the Chiefs defense stuffed the second-and-8 rushing attempt from Latavius Murray, who ran the ball for times for 112 yards in the first meeting between these two teams.
The Chiefs have Dontari Poe and Vance Walker as the two down defensive linemen on this play, and both of them are tasked with anchoring against double teams.
Poe gets the center and right guard while Walker gets the left guard and left tackle.
Tamba Hali sheds his block and comes down the line of scrimmage to make the tackle for just a short gain.
It was a stout showing by the two Chiefs defensive linemen and also a good job by Husain Abdullah, who didn't allow for a cutback lane once Murray saw the middle was congested.
3. Jamell Fleming in coverage
This third and final play is a good example of complete team defense. Everyone played a part in this failed third-down attempt by the Raiders offense.
This was the Raiders' offensive drive just after Chiefs kicker Cairo Santos missed the 44-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
It was third-and-8 with the Chiefs leading 7-0 and Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton brought the blitz.
Both safety Kelcie McCray and cornerback Chris Owens (nickel) came in for the play, and combined with the immediate penetration by Houston, they forced Raiders quarterback Derek Carr to leave the pocket early.
Once a quarterback leaves the pocket early, then it's up to the defensive backs to stay "plastered to their receivers," a phrased used by Sutton himself.
Fleming does a fantastic job of staying with his receiver and then making a play on the ball as he knocks it down with his inside hand.
It was actually a fantastic throw from Carr, but it was just better defense by Fleming, who happened to play the most snaps of any Chiefs defensive player in the game on Sunday.
