Nov 29, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) is tackled by Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 30-22. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Shut Down Kansas City’s Running Game
Who would have thought that whenJamaal Charleswent down, we’d be talking about the Chiefs having a top ten running game in the league. But that’s exactly what happened. With Charles lost for the season, the Chiefs’ other running backs have stepped it up and have produced the NFL’s sixth ranked rushing attack.
Led byCharcandrick West(98 rushes for 373 yards) andSpencer Ware(36 rushes for 234 yards), the Chiefs are averaging 125 yards a game and have one of the league’s better ground games – which is good since their passing attack is ranked just twenty-fourth in the league.
The Raider at one time, had the league’s second ranked rush defense. Nobody could run on them. Until the wheels fell off in Pittsburgh. After allowingDeAngelo Williamsto go off for 170 andAdrian Petersonto gash them for 203 yards, the Raiders have seen their run defense ranking plummet. Statistically, they seemed to be bouncing back against the Lions and the Titans – until you realize that those two teams have two of the worst running games in the league.
Oakland is going to need to summon the kind of effort they had through the first eight weeks of the eight weeks of the season when their run defense was one of the stoutest in the league. And against two backs in West and Ware – both with vastly different running styles – they are going to have their hands full.
But if they can take away the run and put the entire game on Alex Smith’s shoulders, they’re going to put themselves in a good position to win this ballgame.
Next: Take Away Both Options
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