“Get that number down”: Nick Bolton sounds alarm on Chiefs' defensive collapse as playoff pressure intensifies
The Kansas City Chiefs are discovering the hard way that even the league’s most explosive offenses can’t outrun a defensive leak that keeps widening by the week. As the playoff race tightens, linebacker Nick Bolton has stepped into a leadership role, fueled by urgency. The Chiefs are to have their Week 14 showdown with the surging Houston Texans.
Bolton recently sat down with Mitch Holthus and Matt McMullen, using the moment to send a clear message to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo . He warned that third-down failures are dragging the team out of contention. His push for immediate correction comes at a time when Kansas City’s postseason hopes have never looked more fragile in the Patrick Mahomes era .
Chiefs’ third-down woes exposed as Bolton calls for accountabilityBolton didn’t hold back when assessing the defense’s most pressing flaw. He said, “I think they (Texans) were seven for nine on third down. So we got to find a way to get that number down. We want around 30% or less,” emphasizing the need for coordinated rush-and-coverage execution and more disruptive early-down play.
Kansas City’s Thanksgiving loss to the Dallas Cowboys painted the reality in brutal detail. The Cowboys converted 9 of 16 third downs, extending drives that bled momentum and exposed a defense struggling to finish. Meanwhile, the Chiefs managed only 5 of 13 third-down conversions, a stagger that undercut even Mahomes’ late-game magic.
Bolton’s sense of urgency resonates because Houston thrives precisely where Kansas City falters. The Texans hit 6 of 13 third downs against the Colts and shut Indianapolis down to just 30%, a formula that fuels their four-game win streak and keeps them in striking distance of the AFC South lead.
With 100 tackles in 12 games, Bolton has become the Chiefs’ most reliable defender, but he can’t fix the problem alone. Chris Jones’ uneven season, along with inconsistencies from Leo Chenal and Jaylen Watson, has stretched Spagnuolo’s unit thin at the worst possible time.
At 37% playoff odds and trailing a dominant Denver squad, the Chiefs are entering must-win territory. Anything less than a defensive turnaround risks ending the Mahomes postseason streak and shattering the expectations of Chiefs Kingdom.
Also read: Tyreek Hill reignites Super Bowl chemistry with Willie Gay Jr. after Chiefs snub LB for Nick Bolton deal
Bolton recently sat down with Mitch Holthus and Matt McMullen, using the moment to send a clear message to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo . He warned that third-down failures are dragging the team out of contention. His push for immediate correction comes at a time when Kansas City’s postseason hopes have never looked more fragile in the Patrick Mahomes era .
Kansas City’s Thanksgiving loss to the Dallas Cowboys painted the reality in brutal detail. The Cowboys converted 9 of 16 third downs, extending drives that bled momentum and exposed a defense struggling to finish. Meanwhile, the Chiefs managed only 5 of 13 third-down conversions, a stagger that undercut even Mahomes’ late-game magic.
Bolton’s sense of urgency resonates because Houston thrives precisely where Kansas City falters. The Texans hit 6 of 13 third downs against the Colts and shut Indianapolis down to just 30%, a formula that fuels their four-game win streak and keeps them in striking distance of the AFC South lead.
With 100 tackles in 12 games, Bolton has become the Chiefs’ most reliable defender, but he can’t fix the problem alone. Chris Jones’ uneven season, along with inconsistencies from Leo Chenal and Jaylen Watson, has stretched Spagnuolo’s unit thin at the worst possible time.
At 37% playoff odds and trailing a dominant Denver squad, the Chiefs are entering must-win territory. Anything less than a defensive turnaround risks ending the Mahomes postseason streak and shattering the expectations of Chiefs Kingdom.
Also read: Tyreek Hill reignites Super Bowl chemistry with Willie Gay Jr. after Chiefs snub LB for Nick Bolton deal
Next Story