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In Steve Spagnuolo the Kansas City Chiefs trust. With good reason.

Published

11 months ago

February 1, 2024

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In Steve Spagnuolo the Kansas City Chiefs trust. With good reason.

Like most football coaches, Steve Spagnuolo has lived a nomadic existence.

Five seasons at Connecticut. Two in Maine. One with the Frankfurt Galaxy. Two with the Baltimore Ravens. In 40-plus years as a coach, he’s worked for 15 different teams. The closest he’s come to permanence is when he’s worked with Andy Reid, spending eight years with the Philadelphia Eagles and the last five years with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Given what he’s done with the Chiefs, it’s a good bet the defensive coordinator has a place in Kansas City for as long as he likes.

“I still think ‘Spags’ should be up for assistant coach of the year,” defensive tackle Chris Jones said after the Chiefs harassed Lamar Jackson, the NFL’s likely MVP, into one of his worst-ever performances in last weekend’s AFC championship.

“What he’s been able to do with this defense from last year to this year, how we were able to overcome a lot of humps, how we were able to force a lot of guys to grow,” Jones added. “Last year, we gave up a lot of big plays. This year, L’Jarius Sneed had an All-Pro year, should have been All-Pro. (Trent McDuffie) had an All-Pro year. You could go down the list.”

It’s understandable for Patrick Mahomes and the offense to command most of the attention on the Chiefs, who are verging on New England Patriots-like dynasty territory with their fourth Super Bowl appearance in five seasons. Mahomes is a generational quarterback, capable of making plays even the Madden creators can’t imagine. His connection with Travis Kelce is particularly potent, with the two bumping the likes of Jerry Rice, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski down a notch in the record books.

But the Chiefs aren’t playing the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl next weekend without their defense.

While the offense was a work in progress for much of the season, the defense carried the load, finishing second in the NFL in both points and yards allowed. Despite facing both Jackson and Josh Allen, Kansas City is giving up less than 14 points a game in the playoffs. Jackson finished with his lowest completion rate of the season while Allen had to dink rather than dunk, finishing with his fewest yards gained per pass attempt of the year.

No wonder Kansas City players broke out “In Spags We Trust” T-shirts after beating Baltimore.

“We believe in him wholeheartedly; he believes in us and we believe in each other,” said safety Justin Reid, who organized the T-shirts. “Nobody goes out there and tries to play hero ball. We just play the defense, play our responsibility with intensity and a little bit of violence, and good things happen.”

Spagnuolo’s success as a defensive coordinator is not new. He is, after all, the same guy who designed the game plan the New York Giants used to humble Brady and the previously unbeaten Patriots in Super Bowl 42 to conclude the 2007 season. Brady was under constant pressure and sacked a season-high five times in that game, which he later called “one of my least favorite football memories.”

But what Spagnuolo has done in Kansas City, this year in particular, might be his best work yet.

To say Spagnuolo inherited a defense that needed work is putting it nicely. The Chiefs ranked 24^th in the 32-team league in points allowed in 2018, and were second-to-last in yards allowed. Kansas City also was going through a generational change, with players like Allen Bailey, Justin Houston and Steven Nelson giving way to Frank Clark, Derrick Nnadi and Charvarius Ward − who will see his old team in the Super Bowl.

In the five years since Spagnuolo arrived in Kansas City, the Chiefs have been in the top 10 in fewest points allowed all but one year.

“That was important. We have a history together, so I knew what to expect and where he would go with things,” Andy Reid said when asked of the impact hiring Spagnuolo in 2019 had. “What he did with (the younger players) I thought was great, of teaching. All of his guys did that, they did a great job of teaching. The kids were receptive to it, and you’re seeing the rewards of it now.”

Spagnuolo’s strength is fitting his schemes to his players, rather than the other way around. He’s also one of the best at making adjustments, particularly in the second half. In the last eight games, the Chiefs have allowed seven points or less in the last 30 minutes.

In the three playoff games, it’s been a total of 10. That’s right. In the second half against Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins; Allen and the Bills; and Jackson and the Ravens; Kansas City allowed a touchdown and a field goal.

“When the games get bigger, the challenges get higher, (Spagnuolo) performs even better,” Mahomes said after the AFC championship.

Spagnuolo will have to against San Francisco, which ranked second in the NFL in yards this season and third in scoring. Christian McCaffrey is a colossal headache for the entire defense, but he’s far from the only problem. There’s also Deebo Samuel. And Brandon Aiyuk. And George Kittle. Shall I continue?

Even Brock Purdy, who has been dismissed by many as a game manager, showed last week against the Detroit Lions that he’s not to be taken lightly.

But if there’s anyone up for the challenge, it’s Spagnuolo.

“Is it one of the better defenses? Yeah, I’d say it’s one of the better defenses that I’ve been around,” Reid said Monday.

In Spagnuolo the Chiefs trust. With good reason.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

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Kansas State Has Another Second-Half Collapse In Loss To Wichita State

Published

6 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Kansas State Has Another Second-Half Collapse In Loss To Wichita State

The Kansas State Wildcats looked like a strong basketball team for one half.

And then the second half happened.

The Wildcats were outscored by 23 in the final 20 minutes in an 84-65 loss to Wichita State Saturday night on the road.

“They were better than us, especially in the second half,” K-State coach Jerome Tang said. “I thought their staff did a great job of putting a game plan together of how they wanted to attack us.”

It was the second time the Wildcats had a second-half collapse. The same thing happened in a blowout loss at St. John’s earlier this month.

“The other coaches did a better job of making adjustments than our staff did,” Tang said.

Xavier Bell led the Shockers with a season-high 24 points. Macaleab Rich led the Wildcats with 20 points.

WILDCATS SIGN RECEIVER

Kansas State is making moves within the transfer portal. Their most recent acquisition former Boston College wide receiver Jerand Bradley.

Bradley had just six receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns last season with the Eagles. However, he compiled 92 receptions for 1,274 yards and 10 touchdowns with Texas Tech, illustrating his ability to produce. He will have many opportunities to replicate this in Manhattan, with the Wildcats reeling after losing their top two receivers.

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS HAVE NEW UNIFORMS FOR RATE BOWL AGAINST RUTGERS

As Kansas State gears up for the Rutgers Scarlet Knight, storylines have been flying around regarding the transfer portal, new recruits, and possible breakout performances.

But a more light-hearted note was the Wildcats getting to unveil their new uniforms in the Rate Bowl.

Wildcats veteran Taylor Poitier said it was “really cool” to be able to suit up in these newer designs.

“We rarely get to wear those types of uniform combos, so I’m really excited to wear them,” Poitier said. “They’ll look pretty cool out there.”

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Kansas State Wildcats On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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Taylor Swift shares group hug with mom Andrea and Donna Kelce after Chiefs’ big win against Texans

Published

13 hours ago

December 21, 2024

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Taylor Swift shares group hug with mom Andrea and Donna Kelce after Chiefs’ big win against Texans

‘Tis the damn season for Taylor Swift to watch her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, play football!

The Grammy winner was spotted sharing a group hug with her mom, Andrea Swift, and Travis’s mom, Donna Kelce, after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday.

In a video shared on X, the “Cruel Summer” singer — who wore a red Charlotte Simone coat ($404) and black Chanel bucket hat — could be seen hugging Andrea as Donna stood and clapped alongside them. Then, as Donna turned toward them, the ladies pulled her in to join their warm embrace.

When they eventually pulled away from the group hug, Taylor, Andrea and Donna turned back toward the field and continued clapping.

This weekend’s victory was a special one for the Chiefs as it marked their first undefeated season at home since 2003.

The last time the Chiefs went 8-0 at Arrowhead was 2003. And now that they’re 14-1 overall, they have matched their most victories in the regular season — also accomplished in 2020 and 2022.

The pop star’s attendance at the game came a week after she and Kelce — who began dating in summer 2023 — celebrated her 35th birthday together on Dec. 13.

Although the Super Bowl champion, 35, had a “mandatory” team Christmas party to attend, he made sure to “leave early to go be with Taylor for her birthday.”

A source told Page Six that the pro athlete showered Swift with a “a ton of gifts” for her special day.

We also learned that they had an intimate gathering “just them two,” with a separate source telling us that Kelce wanted to make her birthday “extra special.”

Prior to her private birthday festivities, Swift gushed about Kelce during her visit to a children’s hospital in Kansas City.

The “Anti-Hero” singer chatted with a young patient who said, “I like Travis now,” to which Swift replied, “Yes, me too!”

“That’s an absolute yes on that one,” she added.

The billionaire musician had skipped Kelce’s previous away game against the Cleveland Browns, which the Chiefs won 21-7.

The pop songstress has only attended home games this season due to security reasons.

Swift also did not attend the team’s Dec. 8 match-up versus the Los Angeles Chargers as she was wrapping up her record-breaking Eras Tour in Vancouver.

However, the singer paid tribute to her beau during her final concert with a shout-out to the “guy on the Chiefs” while performing her hit song “Karma.”

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Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs prediction, odds, best bets for NFL on Saturday

Published

21 hours ago

December 21, 2024

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Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs prediction, odds, best bets for NFL on Saturday

The Houston Texans will square off with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16 of the NFL season at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have yet to score 30 points in a game this season, and with a predicted score of 23-20, our data model thinks that streak will remain intact. However, our experts believe the oddsmaker have gotten overly aggressive with the total: our best bet for today is Over 41.5 points (-115).

In anticipation of this late-season AFC clash, the data analysts at Dimers.com have simulated the game 10,000 times, and then compared these results to current NFL betting odds to inform the data-driven betting preview provided to you below.

This preview includes Dimers’ best bets and predicted scoreline for Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs. To unlock Dimers’ full suite of data-driven betting insights, which includes daily props, trends, and parlays, sign up for Dimers Pro with promo code SYRACUSE10, which will save you 10% off your first subscription payment.

Bet365 is now legal in Pennsylvania, making this the perfect chance for Steelers fans to claim huge betting bonuses with our brand new exclusive bet365 bonus code “SYRACUSE”, while sports fans in New York State can take full advantage of our NBA League Pass FanDuel promo code. Additionally, bettors are encouraged to check out this exclusive promo offer from DraftKings and BetMGM.

Texans vs. Chiefs betting preview

Utilize the interactive widget below to discover the current spread, over/under, and moneyline betting odds and probabilities for the Texans-Chiefs game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

This prediction and best bet for Saturday’s NFL matchup between the Texans and Chiefs is from Dimers.com, a trusted source for sports betting predictions.

Check out all the important details on today’s game, as well as the best odds sourced from the top sportsbooks in the country.

Game details

Key information on the Texans vs. Chiefs matchup, including where the game is and what time it kicks off.

Teams: Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Date: Saturday, December 21, 2024
Kickoff: 1 p.m. EST
Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
NFL standings: Current NFL division standings
NFL injuries: Check the latest updates to the official NFL injury report

Odds

The latest and best odds for the NFL battle between the Texans and Chiefs.

Spread: Texans +3.5 (-115), Chiefs -3.5 (-102)
Moneyline: Texans +160, Chiefs -180
Total: Over/Under 41.5 (-115/-105)

The odds and lines presented here are the best available from selected sports betting sites at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Expert prediction: Texans vs. Chiefs

Utilizing state-of-the-art data analysis and advanced algorithms, the experts at Dimers have performed 10,000 simulations of Saturday’s Texans vs. Chiefs game.

According to Dimers’ famous predictive analytics model, the Chiefs are more likely to beat the Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. This prediction is based on the model giving the Chiefs a 63% chance of winning the game.

Elsewhere on the betting board, Dimers predicts that the bookies have gotten it right and the Texans and Chiefs each have a 50% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 41.5 points has a 56% chance of going over.

As always, these predictions and probabilities are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.

Texans vs. Chiefs best bet

Our top pick for the Texans vs. Chiefs Week 16 NFL game is to bet on Over 41.5 points (-115).

This betting advice is formulated through detailed simulations and valuable wagering intelligence, designed to deliver you the best possible plays.

Score prediction for Texans vs. Chiefs

Dimers’ projected final score for the Houston vs. Kansas City game on Saturday has the Chiefs winning 23-20.

This expert prediction is based on each team’s average score following 10,000 game simulations, offering a glimpse into the potential outcome.

NFL player props: Saturday

NFL player props are an exciting way to wager on Saturday’s game without necessarily betting on its outcome.

This article features the most likely first and anytime touchdown scorers for the Texans and Chiefs, along with projected player stats.

Houston Texans

First touchdown scorer predictions

Joe Mixon: 14.4% probability
Nico Collins: 10.6% probability
Tank Dell: 6.6% probability

Anytime touchdown predictions

Joe Mixon: 53.3% probability
Nico Collins: 41.6% probability
Tank Dell: 28.4% probability

Projected box score leaders

QB passing yards: C.J. Stroud, 270 yards
Receiving yards: Nico Collins, 86 yards
Rushing yards: Joe Mixon, 73 yards

Kansas City Chiefs

First touchdown scorer predictions

Isiah Pacheco: 8.2% probability
DeAndre Hopkins: 7.3% probability
Xavier Worthy: 6.7% probability

Anytime touchdown predictions

Isiah Pacheco: 34.1% probability
DeAndre Hopkins: 30.0% probability
Travis Kelce: 28.7% probability

Projected box score leaders

QB passing yards: Patrick Mahomes, 274 yards
Receiving yards: Travis Kelce, 64 yards
Rushing yards: Isiah Pacheco, 51 yards

NFL Week 16: Texans vs. Chiefs

Get ready for Saturday’s matchup between the Texans and Chiefs in Week 16 of the NFL season at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, which is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. EST. We emphasize that all of the NFL best bets and NFL predictions on this page are based on 10,000 data-driven simulations of the Texans vs. Chiefs matchup, and they are accurate at the time of publication. They aim to assist you make more informed choices when placing bets at online sportsbooks.

Please note that when engaging in online betting, it is important to exercise responsible gambling practices and consult reputable sources for the latest and most accurate information.

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