One of the simplest NFL assignments will be in focus for the Kansas City Chiefs during Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.
Traditionally speaking, tackling is always a point of emphasis for Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo and his defenses early on in the regular season. Why is that the case? There's only so much you can gain from wrap-and-release, thud periods in training camp practices, and tackling against backups in the preseason. It's very easy for a defense to come out flat in Week 1 after not playing a meaningful game in 29 weeks.
Last year against the Detroit Lions, the team missed nine tackles in the 21-20 loss. In 2022 against the Arizona Cardinals, they only missed four tackles collectively. But in their 2021 Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns, they missed a staggering 12 tackles.
Which is it going to be this year? Defenders on the 53-man roster who played in the preseason missed 11 tackles in 605 qualifying defensive snaps throughout three games.
Why tackling could be a nightmare task for the Chiefs in Week 1 vs. the Ravens
It's no secret that Baltimore likes to run the ball, even if they didn't do it much against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game last year. They still averaged 156.5 rushing yards per game last season, the most in the NFL by over 15 yards.
Consider the fact that they added former Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry, who is one of the toughest players in the NFL to tackle at 6-foot-2 and 247 pounds. He leads the NFL in forced missed tackles since 2022 with over 126 and finished with 1,167 rushing yards, and 12 touchdowns on 280 attempts just a season ago in Tennessee.
Henry even feels things would have gone differently in the AFC title game had he been a part of the Ravens last season.
"Hell yeah," Henry told reporters. "I wish I could suit up that day watching the game. But now it's my turn, so got to take advantage of it. It's going to be a hell of a game. The Chiefs are always tough, they're solid on all three teams. Got to be locked in this week to be able to execute on Thursday."
The Chiefs have shut Henry down a few times in the postseason with Tennesse, but they've also never seen him with a dynamic threat like Lamar Jackson at quarterback. It feels like that could be an entirely different beast for Kansas City. Even Steve Spagnuolo recognizes that challenge.
"Well, as you would expect, right? I mean, it's an All-Pro running back, All-Pro quarterback," Spagnuolo said on Monday. "Who's got the ball? And you know, when the quarterback puts it in the belly, is the running back keeping it, I hope they have a little fight over who's going to take it. It's a tremendous challenge, although I think this offense by nature is and who they are and what they're about, no matter who's back there. Now, this guy's a great one, Derrick Henry, but even last year, we had a great deal of respect for what they did in the run game, and we still do."
It's not just about wrapping up in the run game, though. The Chiefs have to be sound tackling in the open field, to not allow explosive plays in all aspects of the game. It's easier said than done, and execution in this area could be a major difference in the game. The Chiefs will have to hope that, despite missing some time during training camp and the preseason, star players like Chris Jones, Nick Bolton, and Justin Reid are sharp as can be. They'll also have to hope that the work they put in on the fundamentals set them up for early physicality and success as tacklers.
