The AFC 2023 Wildcard-Chiefs Defensive game plan Vs the Dolphins Offense

Steve Spagnuolo is one of the best defensive minds in football. He is so good at what he does and is often able to change his game plan on a weekly basis to take away what teams do best. He has shut down some of the top top offenses in the NFL and this year has been no different.

Let’s look at the 3 playoff games leading up to the super bowl and some key statistics.

They are allowing 13.8 points per game in the playoffs, held 2 good passing attacks to under 200 yards and teams are 11/37 on 3rd down. 30% efficiency from the offense is excellent from his pass defense.

Ravens

20/37 for 292 yards(stats are deceiving as many yards came late.
10 Points allowed
Ravens  RB 6 carries for 23 yards
Sacked Lamar 4 times.
3/11 on 3rd down
Brought pressure on 20 snaps
Only 22 minutes time of possession

Bills
24 points allowed
held  Josh Allen to under 200 passing yards
Held Diggs to 3 catches for 21 yards

Dolphins
7 points allowed
Only 13 first downs
1/12 3rd down conversions
Held RB to 3 yards per carry 14/42
Tua 20/39 for 199 yards 1 TD/1 Int

These were just some of the stats.

But what makes him unique is he had a different game plan for each QB and offense. Let’s look at the game plans more closely.

Dolphins

The Chiefs defeated the Dolphins 26-7 and part of it was the great defensive game plan.The best thing about this game plan is he wasn’t going to allow the Dolphins to run the ball on the perimeter. He was in a front that was 3-4 or 6-1 with 2 solid edge defenders their to make sure the ball was forced back inside. They also played disciplined football and took away the RPO game on early downs. Then in passing downs they played a ton of cover 2 and really took away the middle of the field. They held the Dolphins to 1/12 on 3rd down.

Here are some examples on setting the edge in the run game.

Whether nickel or base they liked to get into their 3-4 scheme from 4-3 personnel.

The 1st example is out of base personnel. They play a 3-4 with their LB walked up and widen their DE #56 Karalaftis. They have 2 hard defenders setting the edge. They were committed to taking away the Dolphins perimeter run game. They walk 54 into the b gap and have the DE #51 standing up on the weakside.

The 2nd example is out of base vs 21 personnel. Still 3-4 but 23 LB walks down weak. They still have a 2 deep secondary and do a nice job defending it.

When the Dolphins tried to run it inside, they boxed everything and did an excellent job with their safeties.

The other front you saw from them was a 6-1 front. They played this with their nickel personnel.

They brought some edge pressure on 1 occasion opposite the back, while still playing cover 2.

Here are 2 other clips of them in their 6-1 front from their nickel personnel.

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Some more run game footage of the 6-1 look.

Pass Defense

In the passing game, they held the Dolphins to 1/12 on 3rd down. They had a great plan in place and played a few excellent concepts. They played a ton of defenses with 2 safeties, both cover 2, some 4 and cover 2 man. They also sprinkled in some double coverages and other concepts.

The first one they did was play cover 2 man and force Tua to be an accurate passer. They play 2 man but are playing combo on the outside wr and #3. The point man on #2 has him no matter where he goes.

They run tear motion and the Mike goes with it.

Tua wants to go to the single wr first but it is covered so he works back to the 3x1 side

Now they play inside leverage on Hill to the one wr side.

Another scheme he used was to double team Hill. They rush only 2 players and have a spy on Tua.

On a key 3r down the double and take Waddle and Hill away. Tua tries to get the ball to Hill late as he has no chance on the scramble as he is spied.

2 double teams and Hill still manages to beat it. Balls out late but love the concept.

film

Here are some of the cover 2 looks they played. Some hole looks, some cover 2 rotations with a sim pressure mixed in there.

Overall, Spags had a tremendous game plan vs the Dolphins and took away some of the traits that make the Dolphins successful. He didn’t allow the run game on the perimeter and also forced Tua into some difficult throws. Staying 2 high on early downs while playing a 6-1 and 3-4 front was a very effective strategy.