Headed into the Week 15 contest, Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis had five sacks on the season and was behind pace to match the 10.5 sacks he recorded during the 2023 season. On Sunday, Karlaftis matched up against former All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin.
As one of the better right tackles in football, Karlaftis would have a tough matchup, but he showed off an arsenal of edge-rushing moves and hustle that make him a cornerstone of the Chiefs' defense.
Working from wide around the arc, Karlaftis uses a rip move against Conklin to pressure the pocket and force Winston to scramble. Winston avoids Chris Jones, who used a bull rush from the left side, but Karlafits uses a great second burst to run him down for the sack.
It was a good initial move from Karlaftis to apply pressure and a better effort to finish the play. Even after the good start to the game, Karlaftis wasn't finished.
Karlaftis again rushes wide while his pass rush partner Jones blasts through the right guard. This -- along with pressure from Charles Omenihu on the left side -- forces Jameis Winston to scramble. Karlaftis once again gets on his horse and chases down Winston from behind for the sack.
Karlaftis looked fast off the edge, and seeing his transitional quickness to run down the quarterback was a great sign of how well he has progressed as a player during his time in Kansas City.
While the Chiefs' most dominant defensive player didn't record a sack on Sunday, he did record seven pressures and create plays for his teammates throughout the game.
Jones put on a clinic against a multi-time All-Pro Wyatt Teller, powering his way into the pocket and forcing Winston to scramble.
On the snap, Jones blasts off out of his stance, and with superior leverage and inside hands, he bullies Teller into the backfield. Jones even gets a hand on Winston but cannot finish the play, and this is where Tershawn Wharton enters the picture.
Wharton was initially double-teamed, but with Winston scrambling around the pocket, he shakes free of the double team and finds himself closing in on Winston for the sack.
Wharton's athletic ability and tenacity have helped him to a career season, and with 5.5 sacks, he has been a key cog on the defensive line.
The Wharton sack was a perfect example of Chris Jones' ability to blow up a single block and open up a play for his teammates when the quarterback starts to scramble in the pocket.
There were also several examples in which Jones received all the attention, which opened up plays for his fellow pass rushers.
On the snap, Jones receives a chip from the slot receiver, a tight end, a running back and Conklin. With four players committed to stopping Jones, the rest of the Browns' offensive line is left one-on-one with their collective matchups, and this is where Omenihu takes advantage.
Omenihu returned to action just a few weeks ago, and he appears to be picking up where he left off. He cleanly beat the left tackle around the edge, and with perfect timing, he hit Winston and stripped the ball free in one smooth motion.
The Chiefs have been missing his combination of power, strength, length and flexibility all season, and he is a mismatch nightmare for opposing offensive lines. With Jones receiving so much attention, Omenihu will have plenty of chances to reap the benefits as the playoffs draw near.
It had been a few weeks since the Chiefs' defense showed signs of life with the blitz, but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo used a few nice looks to get after Winston.
Pre-snap, all eyes are on Drue Tranquill, who is lined up as a stand-up edge rusher on the left side. Nick Bolton is roaming the middle of the field, but he appears to be preoccupied with the pass coverage in the flat and starts to cheat that way just before the ball is snapped.
As soon as the snap hits Winston's hands, Bolton quickly changes his path and blows through the B-gap untouched. The Browns' pass protection was confused, allowing Traquill to come free off the edge. Both players blow up the quarterback and shut down the play before it even had a chance.
The Chiefs' blitz game is meant to create chaos and leave offenses second-guessing the rules that they abide by for scheme. When executed well, it is one of the most effective deterrents. When opposing offenses start over-analyzing situations, it can open things back up for the Chiefs' defensive line.
Pre-snap, the Chiefs line up six players on the line of scrimmage, with Bolton and Justin Reid both showing blitz. Karlaftis and Mike Danna are both on the edges, while Jones and Omenihu are lined up over the guards.
On the snap, Reid drops, as does Karlaftis. Bolton slowly rushes and draws the attention of the middle while Omenihu and Danna work to the outside. The Browns move their protection to slide to the right and leave a tight end to help against Danna, but they forget to leave someone to block Jones. Untouched, Jones quickly bursts into the backfield, forcing a throw away from the quarterback and narrowly missing a sack.
The Chiefs' blitz look created confusion among the Browns' front, ultimately leading to Jones getting a free rush on the quarterback. It is fitting that Jones got this rush late since he opened up so many plays for his teammates throughout the course of the game.
Spagnuolo returned the favor, and this likely won't be the last time the team sees Jones breaking free this season.