December 12, 2024 • 35 mins
Voice of the Chiefs, Mitch Holthus and senior team reporter, Matt McMullen welcome cornerback, Trent McDuffie to the show to preview the upcoming Week 15 matchup featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Every year when the NFL year begins, and I mean
all the way back in March, all thirty two teams
have boxes to check. One win the division, first priority,
that gets you a home game and into the playoffs.
But another box to check, try to get the one
by available in the AFC of the NFC. For the
(00:21):
Kansas City Chiefs, chasing history, they have checked two boxes.
They're in the playoffs, they've won the division, and now
it's the next box to check. And it's all brought
to you by Ticketmaster. Placement is down, rights, kick is out,
and the kick is God, God, God, How everyone. Mitchelda's
(00:45):
voice of the Chiefs along with senior team reporter. And
by the way, we have one of our Kingdom defenders,
and I would say one of more more mature Kingdom defenders.
He's retired. He loves watching everything we do. And he said,
you've got to tell matter, introduce mat a different way
than senior team reporter. I go, well, how am I
supposed to do it? His name is Paul Hanson. He's
a huge Chiefs fan, goes all the way back to
(01:05):
he attended games in Municipal Stadium. He watches everything he goes.
I don't know, something like Grand Pooba of things. But anyway, Paul,
you know, and I think he might be the Paul
the magic hat on the on the Hamewark movie. Wow, okay,
he might be the actual figure that the movie was
made of, the Ed Bigley junior character. Yeah, that might
be Paul Hanson himself in the flesh. And you met him,
(01:28):
Oh yeah, I've met him. And he's a big fan
of Matt McMullen. Because say hi to Matt.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I'm with him, though I'm not huge into titles, you know,
and with the senior team reporter always begs the question
who is the junior team reporter? So I don't sure
what he's saying.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
But you would agree with him. You want a bigger,
better title, then.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
I mean, you can call me whatever you want. Awesome,
Matt's dad, professional fan. I feel sometimes.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Really good, dude, let's just do that. Really good smart dude,
really good, smart, passionate dude, all good trait. The next
box to check in the Kansas City Chiefs now with,
Let's just start with nine consecutive AFC West championships. I
don't care if you are a new fan defending Kingdom
Defender Club in Cambodia, or you love us in the Philippines,
(02:16):
where we've now located you geographically, or if you're in Lebanon, Kansas, Lebanon, Missouri,
or Lebanon, Indiana. Never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever
ever take for granted winning your division, and the Chiefs
now second NFL history with nine consecutive division titles, and
you have brought it all to life with your collection,
(02:37):
sure have.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
So this is the hat collection we always talk about.
There are nine division title hats in front of us now,
four conference champion hats, and three Super Bowl champion hats.
And you might think we're bragging by doing this or not.
This is meant for perspective. So when I was an
intern with the Chiefs back in twenty sixteen, I grew
up in Kansas City, I could not believe I was
interning with my favorite football team. And I didn't really
(02:58):
do anything glamorous, was just transcribing hours on end. But
after the Chiefs won the division in twenty sixteen, when
the streak began, every staff member, including all interns and seasonals,
get gear. And I got this hat back in twenty sixteen,
and I was so happy about it. Thought it was
so cool. The Chiefs won the division and I got
a free hat from my favorite football team, and I
(03:20):
hung on to it and I thought, I'm never going
to get rid of this. This is so cool that
they gave me this. Well, I got hired full time
by the Chiefs the following year, and of course he
won the division in twenty seventeen. That hats up here
somewhere probably down there.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Yeah, where is that one? Because that one's got special.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Mean, I think it's underneath this first super Bowl on
this is it?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Is that it? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
So that's the twenty seventeen hat, and I was like,
this is cool. Now I have a collection. I have
two right. Well, the next year, in twenty eighteen, got
a third hat, and I started taking a photo of
it and like posting it on Twitter. So in twenty
seventeen or twenty eighteen, posted a photo of my three
division championship hats and I'll never forget this. A fan
(03:59):
of another team who I will not say what team
it is, but they thought my collection was silly and
posted a photo of their team's Lombardi trophies, which there
were three of them, and they said, cute hat collection.
Here's a real collection talking about Lombardi trophies for their team.
Well to you, I raise you sixteen hats now that
(04:20):
the hack collection has grown into and well we're averaging
one point seven hats per year, with two more hats
hopefully to get this year.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
And for Lombardi trophies.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
For Lombardi trophies more yep, so we now have more
Lombardi's than the original poster. So just saying here is
our what we've done in the time since. Again, though
not meant to brag, this is meant for a perspective.
Many sports fans will go their whole life and never
see anything like this, and it's so important for us,
and we're right there with everyone, like at the end
of these stressful games, like I wish we won by more. Well,
(04:51):
remember that our team in our lifetime when we can
appreciate it, is doing this and we're not stopping. So
got to enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Have you heard from that poster?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Have not heard from them, Not sure what happened to them,
but anyway.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Way to go? Or hey, you now have four Lombardies
to our three, and you have all these hats that
we don't have.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
These hats, you know they were really eager to go
after me when I had only three hats, and when
you have sixteen, they don't seem to post anymore. I
don't know what happened.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
You're back to back to back post there because we
were thinking it was so cool to win back to
back to back, but this one the first ever back
to back. This team lost six out of seven games. Yeah,
they had to win four straight at the end to
win the division. I remember it was a cold day
against Miami and Tom Holly just went into the Chief
(05:37):
Ring of Honor. He only played several games that year.
He came back from an injury to play in that
game and help wrap up that back to back division championship.
So this hat, I mean, all of these hats have
special meetings, but this one to win those the first
one back to back was something else. And I remember
(05:57):
that day beating Miami doing our Chiefs rewind show and
thinking this is really cool.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
It's easy to look back at all this and to think, Okay,
we have nine in a row and the Super Bowls
and everything and think that it's been easy. But every
single one of these seasons had its own dose of
adversity of things that happened, and think about all the
different players that have come through. Here a trivia question
for you while we're talking about it. Do you know
the three guys that have been on every single one
(06:25):
of these.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Teams on all the sixteen, all the way back, all
nine teams.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
All nine teams. Yeah, three guys. Chris Jones yep. Travis
Kelcey yep. This is a fun one.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
The sixteen on the still in the team. It wasn't,
but he came in seventeen close to James Winchester.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
James Winchester. So James Winchester, Yeah, James Winchester, Chris Jones
and Travis Kelcey have been a part of all of these,
but every other player has come and gone and it's
been a matter of sustaining the success. It's the hardest
thing to do. And speaking of that, when I was
walking down to the studio with all these hats, which
you look very ridiculous when you're carrying sixteen hats, I
(07:04):
guess who I ran into? Brett Veach is he Brett
And He's like, what are you carrying? And I'm like,
these are our sixteen championship hats over the last nine years.
And his expression was hilarious. He's like, oh cool. And
I looked at him and I was like, you're the
reason we have these, thank you. And he's like, but yeah, yeah,
just no big deal. Always looking forward to the next thing.
But yeah, just God of enjoy it, everybody. I mean,
(07:26):
how cool is this? I thought it was so awesome
when the Chiefs had one of these and that we
won the division and to have all these now, I
don't take it for granted. So nobody should you know?
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Who else has all these? Who is my dad? He's
got one, but he likes to put on Now, he's
gonna get the canw I gotta get him the new one.
But he'll put on the side eight consecutive, seven consecutives
six awesome. So he's gonna put nine consecutive on it.
Where's it around my ninety two year old dad? So
he can't wait to get the new division championship hat
and put nine consecutive on it.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
So it's right here, that's what it is.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
We're going to get it to you as you have
it for the holidays and for Christmas. But I feel
like Coach Reid would be over my shoulder and you
just said that, Hey, Brett Veach is looking on moving
on to the next thing, and the next thing is
to check the box. That's the theme of this episode
of Defending the Kingdom checked check the next box. And
by the way, in just a few minutes, we are
(08:22):
going to hear from the Chiefs All Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie.
He gives us some really interesting perspective, not just on
all this, but where the Chiefs are right now with
this defense, especially going into a game against the Cleveland Browns,
which have been one of the most explosive offensive teams,
even defensively in some ways, but offensively one of the
(08:44):
more explosive teams in the NFL over the past five
to six weeks. So we're going to hear from Deuce
Deuce here very shortly. But before we do all that,
we are moving on try to check the next box,
which is get the buy in the AFC twenty twenty
one changed everything we've said it all along. When twenty
twenty one happened, they said seven teams will be in
(09:04):
the playoffs. That means one team will get a bye,
not two one, and that has made every game feel
like a playoff game since the beginning of the twenty
twenty one season. But to get us in the right mood,
let's jump in our space station and travel around the
world with our nine consecutive AFC West titles.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
And before we fully move on, kind of hit you
with one more division title trivia factoid. Yeah, so this
is kind of interesting. This is the earliest that we've
clinched the division during this run. And we've clinched it
during Week fourteen a couple times in twenty nineteen and
twenty twenty. But you just mentioned the onset of the
seventeenth game. So in twenty nineteen and twenty twenty clinched
(09:44):
it in Week fourteen. Both of those years only three
games were left in the regular season. To clench it
with four games left in the regular season is pretty crazy.
So in twenty sixteen took all the way into the
final week of the year. Twouse in seventeen was Week sixteen,
because in eighteen final week of the year I mentioned two.
In nineteen and twenty twenty, we're both in week fourteen.
Twenty twenty one was Week sixteen, twenty twenty two Week
(10:06):
fifteen with that crazy game against the Texans. Won't forget
that one twenty twenty three was the final, or was
Week seventeen and then last or this year is Week
fourteen with four games left, so pretty crazy. Normally these
things have come down to the wire. I don't know
if we remember it that way. Because you went all
these division titles in a row, you figure out we
probably just had it wrapped up in week twelve. Not
(10:27):
the case. It's usually gone down to the wire. This
year we do it with four games left, So that's
a big deal. Ready to go around the world. Let's go,
all right, I got six a box six today for
no particular reason. Maybe Brian Cook picking off Jameis Winston
this weekend. Yeah, yeah, that's my plan for a couple.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Pick sixes because our guests very soon, we're all predicting
we'll get his first interception. It'll be a pick six
this weekend. It's happening this Sunday. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
So I met Grant at the stadium on Sunday. I
was walking out of the elevator on the first floor.
He was walking into the elevator and flagged me down.
Thanks for saying hi, Grant. I'm sure I'll see you again.
I can figure out where you're from. I also met
Taylor and his daughter Ava from Gerard, Illinois at the game.
You ever been there?
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Never have?
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Okay? Well, they were on the front row, near the
end zone and near the tunnel, so they probably had
a great view of that final third down conversion, which
was awesome. By the way, We should talk about that later.
Grandma Penny is in Windsor, Missouri. Have you ever been
to Windsor?
Speaker 1 (11:21):
I have not, but I want to someday. Well, I'll
be there, Okay, I'm always coming to your house in Windsor.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
We have a listener in Colorado. We have a listener
who wrote that their mom was from West Mineral, Kansas.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
West Mineral Southeast Kansas. Yeah, small town, trying to think
Cherokee County, maybe right in there. Okay, so yeah, West Mineral.
Let's there's all these mines and stuff down there. You've
been to Big Brutus, yo. Yeah. When I was a kid,
we went to see Big Brutus.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
I have thought about Big Brutish in a long time.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
That's the area. What's in those mines?
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Uh? And then George is in South Florida. Shout out
to you, George. That's all I've got for today.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Perfect, Well, this week the Chiefs. The next step is
try to check the next box, which is try to
win the AFC single buy that's available. We know what
it means. Last year did not win the bye, but
there was a pseudo buy with the fact that guys
could rest during Week eighteen. We saw what it meant
in twenty twenty two. You remember the game against the Raiders.
(12:22):
When I walked on the field, I had tears in
my eyes because we're getting ready to do field pass.
But I knew what that game meant if we could
win that game and seal the buy because it gave
First of all, half the field gets eliminated while you watch,
but secondly you get this recharge. And I think right
now for this team, this specific twenty twenty four Chiefs team,
(12:42):
because they have played most of them, a lot of
them seven years and six six in five, five and four.
We're going to have our guest on soon. Trent McDuffie.
He's played seven extra games in his career in his
first two NFL seasons. You think of Pat playing eighteen games,
Travis Kelce playing ten thousand, almost eight hundred snaps in
(13:07):
this run. A buy would be humongous for this team one,
Mental rest, physical res too. Three would almost be like
another training camp because you're gonna get some troops back
and further integrate guys that weren't in training camp, like
the Sama JP Ryans and the DeAndre Hopkins.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
You know what I will never forget about you is
in twenty twenty two, that Raiders game you're talking about,
I was in the booth with you because I was
spotting you know that Jack Nicholson meme where he's just
smiling and like, yeah, since going closer to his face.
So right when the Chiefs won that game, Mitch and
I are kind of getting our stuff ready and then
he looks at me with that expression goes, We've got
(13:46):
a chance at the whole enchilada and starts not in
his head, And what do you know? He won the
super Bowl that year and the following year as well. Yeah,
I'm with you. Only thirteen teams have ever won the
Super Bowl playing four games. Think about that. So if
you play on wild Card weekend, your chances of winning
the Super Bowl are low just because you have to
go through a whole other game against a good team.
(14:07):
You have the risk of injury. All this stuff, the
Chiefs are one of those teams doing it last year.
But it's difficult. I mean, I don't think any of
us look at last year's Super Bowl run and think, wow,
that was easy. I mean it was one of the
toughest runs of all time. The Chiefs accomplished it, but
it doesn't mean the road has to be that difficult
this year. So yeah, getting the buy is a huge deal.
Situation is very simple. If we win three o our
(14:27):
next four, no matter what else happens, we get that buy.
Now there's a possibility we could have it before the
Christmas Game if we get some help. So if the
Bills lose once and the Steelers lose once, only need
to win two of four. That means beat Cleveland, beat Houston,
don't have to worry about the final two weeks of
the season. And it's possible. I mean, the Bill's good
at Detroit this weekend and the Steelers play at Philadelphia
(14:50):
this Sunday and then at Baltimore next week, So the
possibility is there. But we got to take care of
our own business. And I think Kachrie would be the
first to say doesn't really matter when any one else does.
If we just win three or four. We get that
by so let's just do that and.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
You got to take what's in front of you. It
is the maturity that I've seen in this football team
for the last several years. It's for sure since the
beginning of twenty twenty two. And it is the hallmark
of the twenty twenty two draft class that you and
I have talked about for years. So mature mentally and emotionally.
They will take what's right in front of them and
(15:25):
deal with it with the immediacy and do it very well.
Exhibit A. And ironically number twenty two from the class
of twenty two is the Chiefs All Pro corner Trent McDuffie.
We had a chance to talk to him. The most
prestigious team award you can get is to be an
All Pro in the National Football League and our Pro
(15:47):
All our Pro first team corner, Trent McDuffie is with us. Now,
what a crazy year? Yeah, to win these games the
way we're winning them. Give me your perspective on this
and why we're able to beat twelve and one was
crazy wins?
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Yeah, I mean, I think this is just a testament
to the team we have. You know, the locker room,
the group of guys that continue to just come in
each week and strive to get better, you know, and
when we go out to these games, we have a
standard that we've set being back to back champions, and
a lot of times we haven't lived up to it.
So coming out of these games, you know, even though
we're winning and we're twelve and one, like, it hasn't
(16:24):
been the best feeling.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
You know.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
It's always been like dang, Like we didn't hit that
mark exactly like we wanted. We didn't play exactly how
we wanted it, and that kind of fuels you. You know,
it kind of feels you going into the next week
like Okay, yeah we won that, but let's do better.
Like that's always a mindset I feel like coming into
work is how are we going to get better?
Speaker 4 (16:40):
How are we gonna get better? How are we going
to get better?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
And that mentality is kind of just continue to allow
us to propel through these tight games. You know, when
Pat Mahome is to go down the last drive last
week and kill four and a half minutes off the
clock and win the game with the kick, like we
won in ways that I've never seen block punts. I mean,
walk off punt, like and the game crazy plays like
(17:02):
you can't make it up. But each and every week,
guys come in and no one's hanging their head down,
no one's talking back to each other. It's just all
love and all like, let's just continue to get better.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
And I love that.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
So seven of our twelve wins this year have been
kind of in a walk off fashion. Yeah, I'm counting
the Raiders win as a walk off, even though there
was a few seconds left. It basically was yep, what's
your favorite of the walk off wins this year?
Speaker 3 (17:24):
If you Leo's block, Yeah, that was like to this.
I mean people ask me like, oh, how was it.
I was on the sideline and he blocked it, and
I think I stood there for like twenty seconds and
just didn't move.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
I was just like looking around like everybody celebrated. I'm like,
did this just happen?
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Like it didn't hit me, And when it finally did,
I was just like wow, Like that's a lot to say.
I mean, you block a punt or a block of
field goal to win the game, something good on your side.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
I was just looking for flags. I was like, surely
that isn't how I was gonna end.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
Like I heard the crowd, I didn't even want to watch.
I heard the crowd erupt like I saw to play,
and I'm just like, there's no way I'm never seeing
a team win in this fashion. And man, shout out
them boys. I mean, that's just playing four quarters, tough, hard,
and never quitting.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
I've told Matt this before. My favorite sound in football
is that thud of a block kick. And to get
it to be walk off was you know that sound
that wolf irreplaceable. There are guys that have played in
this league their whole career, Pro Football Hall of famers
that never won a playoff game. DJ Humphreys is on
this team now. He's played in one. D Hop has
(18:34):
won two and they're both wildcard. You're part of one
of the favorite classes I have of all time, the
twenty two draft class that are seven and zero in
the playoffs. And I said, as a precursor, because it
doesn't seem like there's any panic on either offense or
defense in any situation. Why is that? And is that
(18:55):
the case? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (18:56):
Yeah, honestly, that is the case.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
I think goes back to just the game that we've
been in, you know, going back to two three years ago,
even before I was here, Like, guys have been in
these situations before, and one thing that we've done is
learn from it. You know, we know what to expect,
We know how teams are gonna try to come at
us and attack us. And when you have that kind
of mindset and knowledge of what's gonna come at you
(19:21):
in those situations, it gives you confidence and you know
that you don't have to stress, you don't have to
do anything out of the ordinary, like you can just
do you play the call and you should be good.
And man, since I've been here, just knowing who we
have at quarterback on the defense perspective.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
Like why do I ever have to be nervous?
Speaker 3 (19:40):
You know, like if we hold you to a field goal,
to be honest, like, man, y'all might have just lost
the game. Because I've seen Patrick Mahomes before I was
a Chief. While I was a Chief walk down that
field on multiple occasions bail the defense out and win games.
So when those situations come about, like the attitude around
the defense is just like get this ball back to patchrimme.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
My favorite part of that, though, is when you mentioned
like the offense the defense bailing each other out. Yeah,
last week at the end, you guys worked in tandem
where the defense held the Chargers to a field goal
at the end, giving Patrick an opportunity to set up
the game winning field goal on our end. When you
have a game that ends like that against a divisional opponent,
a really good one that wins the division, what's the
(20:22):
feeling like in the locker room, knowing like we just
beat a really good team and it was a full
team effort.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
Man, the energy was high, you know.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
That was that was one of my favorite wins this
year because there's a lot of hugs.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
You know.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
It was a hat T shirt game, of course, but
just a genuine energy and the love that we shared
with each other during that moment was special for me,
you know.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
And I've been, of course part of a lot of special.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Moments, but I think this is one of those games
I'm gonna remember, just because a lot of things happened,
like different dbs had to come to the game, different
receivers had to go in the game, Like we had
to stop I mean, we shut them out in the
first half. Second half, things fell apart. Offense came and
helped us out. Like so many things are happening, and
to come out and win the game like we did
and just be confident, everybody smiling and being like okay,
(21:06):
like we stamp that, like that's the first block that
we had to do.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Now we continue to stack more. It was just a
great feeling.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
That'd being sad. I want to ask you now, because
after that first half, it was like, all right, that's
the twenty three chiefs stefense ye, but now to put
four quarters together? And I asked that under a precursor.
You're playing now a team that has the ability to
attack the deep third, especially Jerry Judy. I mean, he's
having a heck of a year. So how do you
get four quarters, protect the deep third and stay away
from the explosive deep play, especially to Judy.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Yep, Honestly, I think it comes back to practice, you know.
Big shout out to Carson Wentz. I think I I'm
a huge fan of what he's been able to do
for us this year. Man, during practice he makes all
throws like there's been games where I'm like, man, Carson Wentz,
the Loki like was a lot harder in practice than
it has been in the game, just based on the
(21:57):
athlete that he is, but yeah, putting together a great
week of practice where we know Carson's gonna give us
balls that James would probably give us, working on the
deep shots, and just going back to the fundamentals of football.
You know, I think December is a great time where
you can only just hone in on the little techniques
that playing the long season and you're hurting stuff kind
(22:17):
of can slip away with your tackling or just certain
things like that. Being able to just come back and
just play fundamental football and simplifying the things and saying, okay,
as long as we do this, do your job, like,
go out.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
There and we'll be fine. I think it's the biggest
thing we can do. And on behalf of all of us.
Can you make sure Spag sends you on at least
two or three Sunday. You're the best blitzing corner in
the NFL.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
I loved it. I always tell j Reid.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
I laugh all the time, Like when I blitz from
a quarterback's perspective. Every time they see me, like usually
they don't realize I'm coming, so it's always like a
big shock, you know, I see their eyes light up.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
But like when I'm blitzing. I have the biggest smile.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
As I'm running, like the biggest smile, and like I've
always wanted to get that picture, Like how crazy you
do I look chasing you.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
Just smiling like crazy.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Man.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Yeah, I joke with j Read all the time, like
you will know I'm blitzing because I'm just cheese and
like I'm so excited.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
I want to see you smiling. And then Jamis squinting
at you. The a dB coming at me right now.
That's all I love it.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
We don't have Super Bowl rings without your blootz. Man,
I've been super Bowl fifty eight. It's the most maybe
the most forgotten play that game.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Yeah, you know, that's one of those plays looking back now,
probably my favorite play of my career because the moment,
the timing, the fact that he called the blitz there,
Like people don't realize we called a time out before,
changed the whole defense because Nick Bolton wanted to call
that play and just how things went about, you know,
and during that year, coach Bags was always talking about
(23:43):
get your hands up, get your hands up like their space,
get your hands up. Never know you can knock it down,
and those one of those moments where just quick reaction
like he was in the back of my head. Throw
your hands up, Trent, You're not gonna You're not gonna tackle.
Just throw your hands up, try to do anything you can.
And we blocked the ball. And yeah, that was just
a confidence boost for me. Like okay, like you here,
you reacted and you went out.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
And execute it.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Think about the legendary things that happened after that, like
Pat hit and Kelsey for the big game. Instead of
the field goal, obviously, the game winning drive, the fourth
thousand Nicoles catch, none of that happens if you don't
knock that ball down. We're just counting on Moody to
miss the kick basically, if you don't knock that ball down.
So thanks for doing that.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
I got y'all always, I thank you my whole fan
the Old Kingdom. And you bet final question is getting
the swag back? Getting the swag back? Yeah, because let's
just be honest. Ten giveaways, But how does this defense
get it swagged back? Starting this week with Cleveland?
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Yeah, you know what I think it is one. I
think it's turnovers, You know what I mean. I think
we've gone a few weeks where we having a turnovers
and turnovers is huge. You know, it's a momentum thing.
But also I think guys just need to let loose
and have fun, like I think we're doing being so
dominant in that first charge is half after every play,
there's energy. You guys are hype, Guys are having fun.
(24:58):
Guys were running over to each other across the sideline
and shout out Nico Roumisio, you know, first time playing
getting some punts and even if it was five yards
or ten yards, he was getting up turnt and the
whole sideline was jumping on him and all this. Like
when we're at a best I can just see the
energy of the team.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
It's infectious.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
We go out there as one and we're just a
whole unit, so not worrying so much about like the score,
but just worrying about just being us and having fun
doing it. I think, is it gonna be the best
best way we can get our swag back, because the
swag is just us being dogs out there and just
flying around having fun.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Aren't you glad he's on our side? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (25:36):
Sure?
Speaker 1 (25:37):
All Pro, First Team, All Pro corner Trent McDuffie. There's
a lot of guys on this team. Just like I
said at the end of the interview, I'm really glad
they're on our side, aren't you really glad Trent McDuffie
is on our team.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I've told the story so many times, but we do
our live stream for the first round of the draft
every year and I make all these notes and one
shooters and guys that we could potentially take and back
into the twenty two. He's the very last one shooter
I made, and that was just because I had time
to kill because there was no way we were getting him.
He was going to be a top fifteen pick. There's
no way Trent McDuffie falls all the way to us.
(26:11):
And what do you know, Trent McDuffie's a Chief. He's
a two time Super Bowl champion and going for a
third this year. That whole draft class was transcendent. I mean,
who knows what happens if we don't get those players
in that draft, But it's pretty cool when you're thinking
about the story of the Chiefs in this dynasty, that
draft class is right in the middle of it.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Sure are seven to zero in the playoffs those guys
collectively and McDuffie, strangely looking for his first interception. Why
do I feel how he'll get it this week and
it may be a pick six. With all due respect
to Jamis Winston, who has made this game dangerous for
the Chiefs. He has fourteen career pick sixes. Fourteen career
(26:51):
pick sixes, so we saw it kind of the epitome
was the game against Denver where he threw for nearly
five hundred yards and yet there were two pick sixes
in that game. But let's just talk about where Cleveland
is dangerous and the Chiefs to check the next box
to try to get to the by. And you laid
it out with the scenario the Chiefs, if they can
win these next two games and if there's one more
(27:13):
loss for the Bills and the Steelers, the Chiefs could
go to a Christmas Day game in Pittsburgh in a
short week with the bye. That would be the choice
I think of most Kingdom defenders. But let's just get
into where Cleveland is dangerous, and we talked about it
with Trent that is the back third. Jerry Judy is
having a heck of a two months here. Ever since
(27:36):
Jameis Winston became quarterback, they have become outstanding of the
top fifty pass catchers in the league in twenty twenty four,
his yards per catch is the best in the league.
He and if you look at even next gen stats,
there are several categories where there are three guys that
are listed justin Jefferson King, Jamar Chase Ding and Jerry
(28:00):
Jerry Judy and Jamar Chase. So the only two players
in the league that have two seventy yard touchdowns. That's it.
Jerry Judy is super dangerous, especially with Jamis Winston at quarterback.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
When looking at the Browns you probably kind of dealt
with this too. It's they're a difficult like study because
everything before week eight is totally different than week eight
to now, because the difference between Deshaun Watson and Jamis
Winston in terms of how the offense is operated is gigantic.
So since week eight, and you talked about this a
(28:33):
little bit already, they've piled up more than four hundred
yards of offense three times. They had five hundred and
fifty two total yards against the Broncos and that crazy
game that Denver ended up winning. They're averaging three hundred
and eighty two yards per game since Week eight. That's
third best in the NFL, and Judy since Week eight
has six hundred and seventy eight receiving yards, second to
(28:54):
only Jamar Chase in the league. Now he had two
hundred and thirty five against Denver. That'll certainly help, but
Dill he has been really, really good since Winston took over.
The odd thing, though, is they're nineteenth in the league
in scoring in that time and the reason is turnovers.
They're very up and down because of the turnovers. They
have thirteen turnovers since Jamis took over, most in the NFL,
(29:15):
and they have at least three turnovers and four of
his six games. So the key with the Browns is
they are going to fire the football. They're going to
throw it downfield. They throw it the second most of
any team in the league since Week eight, forty three
times per game. Only the Bengals have more. But they're
going to give you opportunities to turn them over. That's
just kind of the game that they play. And the
(29:36):
Chiefs defense doesn't have a lot of takeaways this year,
so it's good opportunity going against an offense that is
going to throw the ball a lot, maybe make some
contested throws, take the football away let's get out of
Cleveland with a win.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Chiefs only ten takeaways. It's really kind of mysterious because
you look at who's the only three teams below them,
the Raiders, Jets, and Giants that have fewer takeaways. So
it'd be nice to get some in this game. But
let me tell you where else this team is dangerous.
They have gone for it on fourth down thirty four times,
six more than the next closest team. Why do I
(30:11):
say it's dangerous because they've converted twenty three of those
thirty four fourth down attempts. Those attempts aren't necessarily Nick
Chubb plunges into the line, they're the throws that you're
talking about. The Chiefs defense has to come into this
game looking for takeaways, but also thinking you're going to
have to defend the deep third of the field more
(30:31):
than any team maybe we played this season, and you're
going to have to play four down defense the entire day.
That's the way that you're going to have to have
the mentality coming into this game, because that's the way
Cleveland will come in with guns blazing in that regard.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
In Cleveland's three and ten, but they have a much
different vibe around them than a three and ten team
because of Jamis. So look at their wins this year.
They beat the Ravens in Week eight with Winston, beat
the Steelers in week twelve, and that Snokelae game, nearly
beat the Broncos in the game we talked about, and almost,
I mean they were with the Steelers until the very
end last week. So they're three to ten, but with Winston,
(31:09):
they don't give up and they just keep firing. They
technically are eliminated from playoff contention now after losing to
the Steelers last week. They got nothing to lose, and Winston,
as far as he's concerned, is trying to show that
he could be a starter in the NFL. So this
is a game for the Chiefs. You got to be
ready for now. I'm glad that we won last week
against the Chargers because things would have gotten really weird
(31:29):
with all the scenarios and permutations of the division and
the one seed and all that if we'd lost that game.
For the Chiefs, go into this game, play loose, you
won the division, Go take care of business against a
feisty team. But you can't overlook these guys because of
their record. And the good news with our guys is
I don't think they will. I think this is a
locker room that is focused on the task at hand,
(31:50):
and they know the importance of the one seed and
they know the Buffalo's right there, So keep taking care
of business. Every single week. The biggest game of the
season is this week's game. That's the mental every single week.
And this week it's Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Not only is Buffalo right there, so is Pittsburgh. Yeah,
sneakily so here they are they Yep, here comes Mike
Tomlin once again. Another area well more, Jameis Winston. He
is fourth best in the NFL in past rating of
twenty one plus air yards. It's one twelve point one.
Those are passes at twenty one plus yards. So the
(32:23):
deep third is huge priority this week. Now let's go
to the other side. Let me tell you another steaky
snat steaky sneaky stat that I look for that goes beyeah,
that goes beyond the obvious ones. We talk about the
twenty one giveaways. Right, there's only think two three teams
that have more giveaways than the Browns. But but, but,
but this is where they're dangerous. In those twenty one giveaways.
(32:47):
They have only given up fifty four giveaway points. That's unusual.
So this defense, although they've given up big plays, is
a defense capable of taking a game or keeping a
game within striking distance where then they can get big plays.
Just like the games. You talked about snow Globe play
(33:07):
being one of them, so snow Globe game being one
of them. But and then Miles Garrett. We know about
him the fact that he is tied for second in
the NFL with eleven sacks another place where their dangerous Defensively,
They've only given up seven points this year on first
possessions of the opponent. That's thirteen games, seven points in
(33:29):
thirteen opportunities for the opposing team to score in the
first possession. All of that tells me that this is
a dangerous team on both sides of.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
The ball, and Miles Garrett is the key talking about
him fifty eight pressures this year as well, that's fifth
most in the NFL. The Browns have the top pressure
rate of any team in the league at twenty seven
point seven percent. We're shooting this on Tuesday. Not sure
who the left tackle is going to be in this
game for us, but you got to protect against these guys. Honestly,
in a lot of ways, I think the quick passing
(33:58):
game that we showed at the end into the first
half and through the second half against the Chargers last
week could be a good formula in this game. Don't
allow the Browns to direct the game plan with their
pass rush. Kind Of an interesting ying and yang thing
though in this game that I found is the Browns
have allowed fifty two runs of ten or more yards,
that's fourth most in the NFL, and on those the
(34:20):
average distance is nineteen yards. But they've also forced a
league best seventy one negative runs. So they're kind of
like a boom or bus defense where they're gonna get sacks,
they're gonna get negative plays, but then you can also
break off big plays against these guys. They've allowed sixty
four total plays of twenty or more yards, second most
of any team in the NFL. They've also allowed seven
(34:41):
scoring drives of four or fewer plays, third most in
the league. So Cleveland is interesting. They're talented, they have
good players, they can force negative plays, negative runs, they
can sack the quarterback, and they have a great pressure rate.
But you can also get these guys for big plays
as well. So for the Chiefs in this game, we'll
love to see the explosive passing game, maybe get going.
Patrick Mahomes has talked about how he feels like it's
(35:03):
this close weekend and week out. Could be a good
opportunity for that. And also Kareem Hunt returning back to Cleveland.
Maybe a few big runs for Kareem.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
The other thing, Cleveland has the most offensive possessions in
the league. They have one hundred and fifty three offensive possessions.
It's weird. There's a lot of stuff here to try
to take in with the Cleveland Browns, but just know this,
they're a dangerous opponent. But you have heard from Trent McDuffie.
Take the ball away. Those are big. That's the reason
they're three and ten. We just laid all that out.
(35:32):
But Matt, the Chiefs try to take care of business
in this game. It'll be tougher than I think fans think,
but for the Chiefs, it's a chance for the next
step to check the next box.
Every year when the NFL year begins, and I mean
all the way back in March, all thirty two teams
have boxes to check. One win the division, first priority,
that gets you a home game and into the playoffs.
But another box to check, try to get the one
by available in the AFC of the NFC. For the
(00:21):
Kansas City Chiefs, chasing history, they have checked two boxes.
They're in the playoffs, they've won the division, and now
it's the next box to check. And it's all brought
to you by Ticketmaster. Placement is down, rights, kick is out,
and the kick is God, God, God, How everyone. Mitchelda's
(00:45):
voice of the Chiefs along with senior team reporter. And
by the way, we have one of our Kingdom defenders,
and I would say one of more more mature Kingdom defenders.
He's retired. He loves watching everything we do. And he said,
you've got to tell matter, introduce mat a different way
than senior team reporter. I go, well, how am I
supposed to do it? His name is Paul Hanson. He's
a huge Chiefs fan, goes all the way back to
(01:05):
he attended games in Municipal Stadium. He watches everything he goes.
I don't know, something like Grand Pooba of things. But anyway, Paul,
you know, and I think he might be the Paul
the magic hat on the on the Hamewark movie. Wow, okay,
he might be the actual figure that the movie was
made of, the Ed Bigley junior character. Yeah, that might
be Paul Hanson himself in the flesh. And you met him,
(01:28):
Oh yeah, I've met him. And he's a big fan
of Matt McMullen. Because say hi to Matt.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I'm with him, though I'm not huge into titles, you know,
and with the senior team reporter always begs the question
who is the junior team reporter? So I don't sure
what he's saying.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
But you would agree with him. You want a bigger,
better title, then.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
I mean, you can call me whatever you want. Awesome,
Matt's dad, professional fan. I feel sometimes.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Really good, dude, let's just do that. Really good smart dude,
really good, smart, passionate dude, all good trait. The next
box to check in the Kansas City Chiefs now with,
Let's just start with nine consecutive AFC West championships. I
don't care if you are a new fan defending Kingdom
Defender Club in Cambodia, or you love us in the Philippines,
(02:16):
where we've now located you geographically, or if you're in Lebanon, Kansas, Lebanon, Missouri,
or Lebanon, Indiana. Never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever
ever take for granted winning your division, and the Chiefs
now second NFL history with nine consecutive division titles, and
you have brought it all to life with your collection,
(02:37):
sure have.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
So this is the hat collection we always talk about.
There are nine division title hats in front of us now,
four conference champion hats, and three Super Bowl champion hats.
And you might think we're bragging by doing this or not.
This is meant for perspective. So when I was an
intern with the Chiefs back in twenty sixteen, I grew
up in Kansas City, I could not believe I was
interning with my favorite football team. And I didn't really
(02:58):
do anything glamorous, was just transcribing hours on end. But
after the Chiefs won the division in twenty sixteen, when
the streak began, every staff member, including all interns and seasonals,
get gear. And I got this hat back in twenty sixteen,
and I was so happy about it. Thought it was
so cool. The Chiefs won the division and I got
a free hat from my favorite football team, and I
(03:20):
hung on to it and I thought, I'm never going
to get rid of this. This is so cool that
they gave me this. Well, I got hired full time
by the Chiefs the following year, and of course he
won the division in twenty seventeen. That hats up here
somewhere probably down there.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Yeah, where is that one? Because that one's got special.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Mean, I think it's underneath this first super Bowl on
this is it?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Is that it? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
So that's the twenty seventeen hat, and I was like,
this is cool. Now I have a collection. I have
two right. Well, the next year, in twenty eighteen, got
a third hat, and I started taking a photo of
it and like posting it on Twitter. So in twenty
seventeen or twenty eighteen, posted a photo of my three
division championship hats and I'll never forget this. A fan
(03:59):
of another team who I will not say what team
it is, but they thought my collection was silly and
posted a photo of their team's Lombardi trophies, which there
were three of them, and they said, cute hat collection.
Here's a real collection talking about Lombardi trophies for their team.
Well to you, I raise you sixteen hats now that
(04:20):
the hack collection has grown into and well we're averaging
one point seven hats per year, with two more hats
hopefully to get this year.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
And for Lombardi trophies.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
For Lombardi trophies more yep, so we now have more
Lombardi's than the original poster. So just saying here is
our what we've done in the time since. Again, though
not meant to brag, this is meant for a perspective.
Many sports fans will go their whole life and never
see anything like this, and it's so important for us,
and we're right there with everyone, like at the end
of these stressful games, like I wish we won by more. Well,
(04:51):
remember that our team in our lifetime when we can
appreciate it, is doing this and we're not stopping. So
got to enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Have you heard from that poster?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Have not heard from them, Not sure what happened to them,
but anyway.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Way to go? Or hey, you now have four Lombardies
to our three, and you have all these hats that
we don't have.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
These hats, you know they were really eager to go
after me when I had only three hats, and when
you have sixteen, they don't seem to post anymore. I
don't know what happened.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
You're back to back to back post there because we
were thinking it was so cool to win back to
back to back, but this one the first ever back
to back. This team lost six out of seven games. Yeah,
they had to win four straight at the end to
win the division. I remember it was a cold day
against Miami and Tom Holly just went into the Chief
(05:37):
Ring of Honor. He only played several games that year.
He came back from an injury to play in that
game and help wrap up that back to back division championship.
So this hat, I mean, all of these hats have
special meetings, but this one to win those the first
one back to back was something else. And I remember
(05:57):
that day beating Miami doing our Chiefs rewind show and
thinking this is really cool.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
It's easy to look back at all this and to think, Okay,
we have nine in a row and the Super Bowls
and everything and think that it's been easy. But every
single one of these seasons had its own dose of
adversity of things that happened, and think about all the
different players that have come through. Here a trivia question
for you while we're talking about it. Do you know
the three guys that have been on every single one
(06:25):
of these.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Teams on all the sixteen, all the way back, all
nine teams.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
All nine teams. Yeah, three guys. Chris Jones yep. Travis
Kelcey yep. This is a fun one.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
The sixteen on the still in the team. It wasn't,
but he came in seventeen close to James Winchester.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
James Winchester. So James Winchester, Yeah, James Winchester, Chris Jones
and Travis Kelcey have been a part of all of these,
but every other player has come and gone and it's
been a matter of sustaining the success. It's the hardest
thing to do. And speaking of that, when I was
walking down to the studio with all these hats, which
you look very ridiculous when you're carrying sixteen hats, I
(07:04):
guess who I ran into? Brett Veach is he Brett
And He's like, what are you carrying? And I'm like,
these are our sixteen championship hats over the last nine years.
And his expression was hilarious. He's like, oh cool. And
I looked at him and I was like, you're the
reason we have these, thank you. And he's like, but yeah, yeah,
just no big deal. Always looking forward to the next thing.
But yeah, just God of enjoy it, everybody. I mean,
(07:26):
how cool is this? I thought it was so awesome
when the Chiefs had one of these and that we
won the division and to have all these now, I
don't take it for granted. So nobody should you know?
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Who else has all these? Who is my dad? He's
got one, but he likes to put on Now, he's
gonna get the canw I gotta get him the new one.
But he'll put on the side eight consecutive, seven consecutives
six awesome. So he's gonna put nine consecutive on it.
Where's it around my ninety two year old dad? So
he can't wait to get the new division championship hat
and put nine consecutive on it.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
So it's right here, that's what it is.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
We're going to get it to you as you have
it for the holidays and for Christmas. But I feel
like Coach Reid would be over my shoulder and you
just said that, Hey, Brett Veach is looking on moving
on to the next thing, and the next thing is
to check the box. That's the theme of this episode
of Defending the Kingdom checked check the next box. And
by the way, in just a few minutes, we are
(08:22):
going to hear from the Chiefs All Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie.
He gives us some really interesting perspective, not just on
all this, but where the Chiefs are right now with
this defense, especially going into a game against the Cleveland Browns,
which have been one of the most explosive offensive teams,
even defensively in some ways, but offensively one of the
(08:44):
more explosive teams in the NFL over the past five
to six weeks. So we're going to hear from Deuce
Deuce here very shortly. But before we do all that,
we are moving on try to check the next box,
which is get the buy in the AFC twenty twenty
one changed everything we've said it all along. When twenty
twenty one happened, they said seven teams will be in
(09:04):
the playoffs. That means one team will get a bye,
not two one, and that has made every game feel
like a playoff game since the beginning of the twenty
twenty one season. But to get us in the right mood,
let's jump in our space station and travel around the
world with our nine consecutive AFC West titles.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
And before we fully move on, kind of hit you
with one more division title trivia factoid. Yeah, so this
is kind of interesting. This is the earliest that we've
clinched the division during this run. And we've clinched it
during Week fourteen a couple times in twenty nineteen and
twenty twenty. But you just mentioned the onset of the
seventeenth game. So in twenty nineteen and twenty twenty clinched
(09:44):
it in Week fourteen. Both of those years only three
games were left in the regular season. To clench it
with four games left in the regular season is pretty crazy.
So in twenty sixteen took all the way into the
final week of the year. Twouse in seventeen was Week sixteen,
because in eighteen final week of the year I mentioned two.
In nineteen and twenty twenty, we're both in week fourteen.
Twenty twenty one was Week sixteen, twenty twenty two Week
(10:06):
fifteen with that crazy game against the Texans. Won't forget
that one twenty twenty three was the final, or was
Week seventeen and then last or this year is Week
fourteen with four games left, so pretty crazy. Normally these
things have come down to the wire. I don't know
if we remember it that way. Because you went all
these division titles in a row, you figure out we
probably just had it wrapped up in week twelve. Not
(10:27):
the case. It's usually gone down to the wire. This
year we do it with four games left, So that's
a big deal. Ready to go around the world. Let's go,
all right, I got six a box six today for
no particular reason. Maybe Brian Cook picking off Jameis Winston
this weekend. Yeah, yeah, that's my plan for a couple.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Pick sixes because our guests very soon, we're all predicting
we'll get his first interception. It'll be a pick six
this weekend. It's happening this Sunday. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
So I met Grant at the stadium on Sunday. I
was walking out of the elevator on the first floor.
He was walking into the elevator and flagged me down.
Thanks for saying hi, Grant. I'm sure I'll see you again.
I can figure out where you're from. I also met
Taylor and his daughter Ava from Gerard, Illinois at the game.
You ever been there?
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Never have?
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Okay? Well, they were on the front row, near the
end zone and near the tunnel, so they probably had
a great view of that final third down conversion, which
was awesome. By the way, We should talk about that later.
Grandma Penny is in Windsor, Missouri. Have you ever been
to Windsor?
Speaker 1 (11:21):
I have not, but I want to someday. Well, I'll
be there, Okay, I'm always coming to your house in Windsor.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
We have a listener in Colorado. We have a listener
who wrote that their mom was from West Mineral, Kansas.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
West Mineral Southeast Kansas. Yeah, small town, trying to think
Cherokee County, maybe right in there. Okay, so yeah, West Mineral.
Let's there's all these mines and stuff down there. You've
been to Big Brutus, yo. Yeah. When I was a kid,
we went to see Big Brutus.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
I have thought about Big Brutish in a long time.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
That's the area. What's in those mines?
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Uh? And then George is in South Florida. Shout out
to you, George. That's all I've got for today.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Perfect, Well, this week the Chiefs. The next step is
try to check the next box, which is try to
win the AFC single buy that's available. We know what
it means. Last year did not win the bye, but
there was a pseudo buy with the fact that guys
could rest during Week eighteen. We saw what it meant
in twenty twenty two. You remember the game against the Raiders.
(12:22):
When I walked on the field, I had tears in
my eyes because we're getting ready to do field pass.
But I knew what that game meant if we could
win that game and seal the buy because it gave
First of all, half the field gets eliminated while you watch,
but secondly you get this recharge. And I think right
now for this team, this specific twenty twenty four Chiefs team,
(12:42):
because they have played most of them, a lot of
them seven years and six six in five, five and four.
We're going to have our guest on soon. Trent McDuffie.
He's played seven extra games in his career in his
first two NFL seasons. You think of Pat playing eighteen games,
Travis Kelce playing ten thousand, almost eight hundred snaps in
(13:07):
this run. A buy would be humongous for this team one,
Mental rest, physical res too. Three would almost be like
another training camp because you're gonna get some troops back
and further integrate guys that weren't in training camp, like
the Sama JP Ryans and the DeAndre Hopkins.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
You know what I will never forget about you is
in twenty twenty two, that Raiders game you're talking about,
I was in the booth with you because I was
spotting you know that Jack Nicholson meme where he's just
smiling and like, yeah, since going closer to his face.
So right when the Chiefs won that game, Mitch and
I are kind of getting our stuff ready and then
he looks at me with that expression goes, We've got
(13:46):
a chance at the whole enchilada and starts not in
his head, And what do you know? He won the
super Bowl that year and the following year as well. Yeah,
I'm with you. Only thirteen teams have ever won the
Super Bowl playing four games. Think about that. So if
you play on wild Card weekend, your chances of winning
the Super Bowl are low just because you have to
go through a whole other game against a good team.
(14:07):
You have the risk of injury. All this stuff, the
Chiefs are one of those teams doing it last year.
But it's difficult. I mean, I don't think any of
us look at last year's Super Bowl run and think, wow,
that was easy. I mean it was one of the
toughest runs of all time. The Chiefs accomplished it, but
it doesn't mean the road has to be that difficult
this year. So yeah, getting the buy is a huge deal.
Situation is very simple. If we win three o our
(14:27):
next four, no matter what else happens, we get that buy.
Now there's a possibility we could have it before the
Christmas Game if we get some help. So if the
Bills lose once and the Steelers lose once, only need
to win two of four. That means beat Cleveland, beat Houston,
don't have to worry about the final two weeks of
the season. And it's possible. I mean, the Bill's good
at Detroit this weekend and the Steelers play at Philadelphia
(14:50):
this Sunday and then at Baltimore next week, So the
possibility is there. But we got to take care of
our own business. And I think Kachrie would be the
first to say doesn't really matter when any one else does.
If we just win three or four. We get that
by so let's just do that and.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
You got to take what's in front of you. It
is the maturity that I've seen in this football team
for the last several years. It's for sure since the
beginning of twenty twenty two. And it is the hallmark
of the twenty twenty two draft class that you and
I have talked about for years. So mature mentally and emotionally.
They will take what's right in front of them and
(15:25):
deal with it with the immediacy and do it very well.
Exhibit A. And ironically number twenty two from the class
of twenty two is the Chiefs All Pro corner Trent McDuffie.
We had a chance to talk to him. The most
prestigious team award you can get is to be an
All Pro in the National Football League and our Pro
(15:47):
All our Pro first team corner, Trent McDuffie is with us. Now,
what a crazy year? Yeah, to win these games the
way we're winning them. Give me your perspective on this
and why we're able to beat twelve and one was
crazy wins?
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Yeah, I mean, I think this is just a testament
to the team we have. You know, the locker room,
the group of guys that continue to just come in
each week and strive to get better, you know, and
when we go out to these games, we have a
standard that we've set being back to back champions, and
a lot of times we haven't lived up to it.
So coming out of these games, you know, even though
we're winning and we're twelve and one, like, it hasn't
(16:24):
been the best feeling.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
You know.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
It's always been like dang, Like we didn't hit that
mark exactly like we wanted. We didn't play exactly how
we wanted it, and that kind of fuels you. You know,
it kind of feels you going into the next week
like Okay, yeah we won that, but let's do better.
Like that's always a mindset I feel like coming into
work is how are we going to get better?
Speaker 4 (16:40):
How are we gonna get better? How are we going
to get better?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
And that mentality is kind of just continue to allow
us to propel through these tight games. You know, when
Pat Mahome is to go down the last drive last
week and kill four and a half minutes off the
clock and win the game with the kick, like we
won in ways that I've never seen block punts. I mean,
walk off punt, like and the game crazy plays like
(17:02):
you can't make it up. But each and every week,
guys come in and no one's hanging their head down,
no one's talking back to each other. It's just all
love and all like, let's just continue to get better.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
And I love that.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
So seven of our twelve wins this year have been
kind of in a walk off fashion. Yeah, I'm counting
the Raiders win as a walk off, even though there
was a few seconds left. It basically was yep, what's
your favorite of the walk off wins this year?
Speaker 3 (17:24):
If you Leo's block, Yeah, that was like to this.
I mean people ask me like, oh, how was it.
I was on the sideline and he blocked it, and
I think I stood there for like twenty seconds and
just didn't move.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
I was just like looking around like everybody celebrated. I'm like,
did this just happen?
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Like it didn't hit me, And when it finally did,
I was just like wow, Like that's a lot to say.
I mean, you block a punt or a block of
field goal to win the game, something good on your side.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
I was just looking for flags. I was like, surely
that isn't how I was gonna end.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
Like I heard the crowd, I didn't even want to watch.
I heard the crowd erupt like I saw to play,
and I'm just like, there's no way I'm never seeing
a team win in this fashion. And man, shout out
them boys. I mean, that's just playing four quarters, tough, hard,
and never quitting.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
I've told Matt this before. My favorite sound in football
is that thud of a block kick. And to get
it to be walk off was you know that sound
that wolf irreplaceable. There are guys that have played in
this league their whole career, Pro Football Hall of famers
that never won a playoff game. DJ Humphreys is on
this team now. He's played in one. D Hop has
(18:34):
won two and they're both wildcard. You're part of one
of the favorite classes I have of all time, the
twenty two draft class that are seven and zero in
the playoffs. And I said, as a precursor, because it
doesn't seem like there's any panic on either offense or
defense in any situation. Why is that? And is that
(18:55):
the case? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (18:56):
Yeah, honestly, that is the case.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
I think goes back to just the game that we've
been in, you know, going back to two three years ago,
even before I was here, Like, guys have been in
these situations before, and one thing that we've done is
learn from it. You know, we know what to expect,
We know how teams are gonna try to come at
us and attack us. And when you have that kind
of mindset and knowledge of what's gonna come at you
(19:21):
in those situations, it gives you confidence and you know
that you don't have to stress, you don't have to
do anything out of the ordinary, like you can just
do you play the call and you should be good.
And man, since I've been here, just knowing who we
have at quarterback on the defense perspective.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
Like why do I ever have to be nervous?
Speaker 3 (19:40):
You know, like if we hold you to a field goal,
to be honest, like, man, y'all might have just lost
the game. Because I've seen Patrick Mahomes before I was
a Chief. While I was a Chief walk down that
field on multiple occasions bail the defense out and win games.
So when those situations come about, like the attitude around
the defense is just like get this ball back to patchrimme.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
My favorite part of that, though, is when you mentioned
like the offense the defense bailing each other out. Yeah,
last week at the end, you guys worked in tandem
where the defense held the Chargers to a field goal
at the end, giving Patrick an opportunity to set up
the game winning field goal on our end. When you
have a game that ends like that against a divisional opponent,
a really good one that wins the division, what's the
(20:22):
feeling like in the locker room, knowing like we just
beat a really good team and it was a full
team effort.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
Man, the energy was high, you know.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
That was that was one of my favorite wins this
year because there's a lot of hugs.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
You know.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
It was a hat T shirt game, of course, but
just a genuine energy and the love that we shared
with each other during that moment was special for me,
you know.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
And I've been, of course part of a lot of special.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Moments, but I think this is one of those games
I'm gonna remember, just because a lot of things happened,
like different dbs had to come to the game, different
receivers had to go in the game, Like we had
to stop I mean, we shut them out in the
first half. Second half, things fell apart. Offense came and
helped us out. Like so many things are happening, and
to come out and win the game like we did
and just be confident, everybody smiling and being like okay,
(21:06):
like we stamp that, like that's the first block that
we had to do.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Now we continue to stack more. It was just a
great feeling.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
That'd being sad. I want to ask you now, because
after that first half, it was like, all right, that's
the twenty three chiefs stefense ye, but now to put
four quarters together? And I asked that under a precursor.
You're playing now a team that has the ability to
attack the deep third, especially Jerry Judy. I mean, he's
having a heck of a year. So how do you
get four quarters, protect the deep third and stay away
from the explosive deep play, especially to Judy.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Yep, Honestly, I think it comes back to practice, you know.
Big shout out to Carson Wentz. I think I I'm
a huge fan of what he's been able to do
for us this year. Man, during practice he makes all
throws like there's been games where I'm like, man, Carson Wentz,
the Loki like was a lot harder in practice than
it has been in the game, just based on the
(21:57):
athlete that he is, but yeah, putting together a great
week of practice where we know Carson's gonna give us
balls that James would probably give us, working on the
deep shots, and just going back to the fundamentals of football.
You know, I think December is a great time where
you can only just hone in on the little techniques
that playing the long season and you're hurting stuff kind
(22:17):
of can slip away with your tackling or just certain
things like that. Being able to just come back and
just play fundamental football and simplifying the things and saying, okay,
as long as we do this, do your job, like,
go out.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
There and we'll be fine. I think it's the biggest
thing we can do. And on behalf of all of us.
Can you make sure Spag sends you on at least
two or three Sunday. You're the best blitzing corner in
the NFL.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
I loved it. I always tell j Reid.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
I laugh all the time, Like when I blitz from
a quarterback's perspective. Every time they see me, like usually
they don't realize I'm coming, so it's always like a
big shock, you know, I see their eyes light up.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
But like when I'm blitzing. I have the biggest smile.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
As I'm running, like the biggest smile, and like I've
always wanted to get that picture, Like how crazy you
do I look chasing you.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
Just smiling like crazy.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Man.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Yeah, I joke with j Read all the time, like
you will know I'm blitzing because I'm just cheese and
like I'm so excited.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
I want to see you smiling. And then Jamis squinting
at you. The a dB coming at me right now.
That's all I love it.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
We don't have Super Bowl rings without your blootz. Man,
I've been super Bowl fifty eight. It's the most maybe
the most forgotten play that game.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Yeah, you know, that's one of those plays looking back now,
probably my favorite play of my career because the moment,
the timing, the fact that he called the blitz there,
Like people don't realize we called a time out before,
changed the whole defense because Nick Bolton wanted to call
that play and just how things went about, you know,
and during that year, coach Bags was always talking about
(23:43):
get your hands up, get your hands up like their space,
get your hands up. Never know you can knock it down,
and those one of those moments where just quick reaction
like he was in the back of my head. Throw
your hands up, Trent, You're not gonna You're not gonna tackle.
Just throw your hands up, try to do anything you can.
And we blocked the ball. And yeah, that was just
a confidence boost for me. Like okay, like you here,
you reacted and you went out.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
And execute it.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Think about the legendary things that happened after that, like
Pat hit and Kelsey for the big game. Instead of
the field goal, obviously, the game winning drive, the fourth
thousand Nicoles catch, none of that happens if you don't
knock that ball down. We're just counting on Moody to
miss the kick basically, if you don't knock that ball down.
So thanks for doing that.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
I got y'all always, I thank you my whole fan
the Old Kingdom. And you bet final question is getting
the swag back? Getting the swag back? Yeah, because let's
just be honest. Ten giveaways, But how does this defense
get it swagged back? Starting this week with Cleveland?
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Yeah, you know what I think it is one. I
think it's turnovers, You know what I mean. I think
we've gone a few weeks where we having a turnovers
and turnovers is huge. You know, it's a momentum thing.
But also I think guys just need to let loose
and have fun, like I think we're doing being so
dominant in that first charge is half after every play,
there's energy. You guys are hype, Guys are having fun.
(24:58):
Guys were running over to each other across the sideline
and shout out Nico Roumisio, you know, first time playing
getting some punts and even if it was five yards
or ten yards, he was getting up turnt and the
whole sideline was jumping on him and all this. Like
when we're at a best I can just see the
energy of the team.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
It's infectious.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
We go out there as one and we're just a
whole unit, so not worrying so much about like the score,
but just worrying about just being us and having fun
doing it. I think, is it gonna be the best
best way we can get our swag back, because the
swag is just us being dogs out there and just
flying around having fun.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Aren't you glad he's on our side? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (25:36):
Sure?
Speaker 1 (25:37):
All Pro, First Team, All Pro corner Trent McDuffie. There's
a lot of guys on this team. Just like I
said at the end of the interview, I'm really glad
they're on our side, aren't you really glad Trent McDuffie
is on our team.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I've told the story so many times, but we do
our live stream for the first round of the draft
every year and I make all these notes and one
shooters and guys that we could potentially take and back
into the twenty two. He's the very last one shooter
I made, and that was just because I had time
to kill because there was no way we were getting him.
He was going to be a top fifteen pick. There's
no way Trent McDuffie falls all the way to us.
(26:11):
And what do you know, Trent McDuffie's a Chief. He's
a two time Super Bowl champion and going for a
third this year. That whole draft class was transcendent. I mean,
who knows what happens if we don't get those players
in that draft, But it's pretty cool when you're thinking
about the story of the Chiefs in this dynasty, that
draft class is right in the middle of it.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Sure are seven to zero in the playoffs those guys
collectively and McDuffie, strangely looking for his first interception. Why
do I feel how he'll get it this week and
it may be a pick six. With all due respect
to Jamis Winston, who has made this game dangerous for
the Chiefs. He has fourteen career pick sixes. Fourteen career
(26:51):
pick sixes, so we saw it kind of the epitome
was the game against Denver where he threw for nearly
five hundred yards and yet there were two pick sixes
in that game. But let's just talk about where Cleveland
is dangerous and the Chiefs to check the next box
to try to get to the by. And you laid
it out with the scenario the Chiefs, if they can
win these next two games and if there's one more
(27:13):
loss for the Bills and the Steelers, the Chiefs could
go to a Christmas Day game in Pittsburgh in a
short week with the bye. That would be the choice
I think of most Kingdom defenders. But let's just get
into where Cleveland is dangerous, and we talked about it
with Trent that is the back third. Jerry Judy is
having a heck of a two months here. Ever since
(27:36):
Jameis Winston became quarterback, they have become outstanding of the
top fifty pass catchers in the league in twenty twenty four,
his yards per catch is the best in the league.
He and if you look at even next gen stats,
there are several categories where there are three guys that
are listed justin Jefferson King, Jamar Chase Ding and Jerry
(28:00):
Jerry Judy and Jamar Chase. So the only two players
in the league that have two seventy yard touchdowns. That's it.
Jerry Judy is super dangerous, especially with Jamis Winston at quarterback.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
When looking at the Browns you probably kind of dealt
with this too. It's they're a difficult like study because
everything before week eight is totally different than week eight
to now, because the difference between Deshaun Watson and Jamis
Winston in terms of how the offense is operated is gigantic.
So since week eight, and you talked about this a
(28:33):
little bit already, they've piled up more than four hundred
yards of offense three times. They had five hundred and
fifty two total yards against the Broncos and that crazy
game that Denver ended up winning. They're averaging three hundred
and eighty two yards per game since Week eight. That's
third best in the NFL, and Judy since Week eight
has six hundred and seventy eight receiving yards, second to
(28:54):
only Jamar Chase in the league. Now he had two
hundred and thirty five against Denver. That'll certainly help, but
Dill he has been really, really good since Winston took over.
The odd thing, though, is they're nineteenth in the league
in scoring in that time and the reason is turnovers.
They're very up and down because of the turnovers. They
have thirteen turnovers since Jamis took over, most in the NFL,
(29:15):
and they have at least three turnovers and four of
his six games. So the key with the Browns is
they are going to fire the football. They're going to
throw it downfield. They throw it the second most of
any team in the league since Week eight, forty three
times per game. Only the Bengals have more. But they're
going to give you opportunities to turn them over. That's
just kind of the game that they play. And the
(29:36):
Chiefs defense doesn't have a lot of takeaways this year,
so it's good opportunity going against an offense that is
going to throw the ball a lot, maybe make some
contested throws, take the football away let's get out of
Cleveland with a win.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Chiefs only ten takeaways. It's really kind of mysterious because
you look at who's the only three teams below them,
the Raiders, Jets, and Giants that have fewer takeaways. So
it'd be nice to get some in this game. But
let me tell you where else this team is dangerous.
They have gone for it on fourth down thirty four times,
six more than the next closest team. Why do I
(30:11):
say it's dangerous because they've converted twenty three of those
thirty four fourth down attempts. Those attempts aren't necessarily Nick
Chubb plunges into the line, they're the throws that you're
talking about. The Chiefs defense has to come into this
game looking for takeaways, but also thinking you're going to
have to defend the deep third of the field more
(30:31):
than any team maybe we played this season, and you're
going to have to play four down defense the entire day.
That's the way that you're going to have to have
the mentality coming into this game, because that's the way
Cleveland will come in with guns blazing in that regard.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
In Cleveland's three and ten, but they have a much
different vibe around them than a three and ten team
because of Jamis. So look at their wins this year.
They beat the Ravens in Week eight with Winston, beat
the Steelers in week twelve, and that Snokelae game, nearly
beat the Broncos in the game we talked about, and almost,
I mean they were with the Steelers until the very
end last week. So they're three to ten, but with Winston,
(31:09):
they don't give up and they just keep firing. They
technically are eliminated from playoff contention now after losing to
the Steelers last week. They got nothing to lose, and Winston,
as far as he's concerned, is trying to show that
he could be a starter in the NFL. So this
is a game for the Chiefs. You got to be
ready for now. I'm glad that we won last week
against the Chargers because things would have gotten really weird
(31:29):
with all the scenarios and permutations of the division and
the one seed and all that if we'd lost that game.
For the Chiefs, go into this game, play loose, you
won the division, Go take care of business against a
feisty team. But you can't overlook these guys because of
their record. And the good news with our guys is
I don't think they will. I think this is a
locker room that is focused on the task at hand,
(31:50):
and they know the importance of the one seed and
they know the Buffalo's right there, So keep taking care
of business. Every single week. The biggest game of the
season is this week's game. That's the mental every single week.
And this week it's Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Not only is Buffalo right there, so is Pittsburgh. Yeah,
sneakily so here they are they Yep, here comes Mike
Tomlin once again. Another area well more, Jameis Winston. He
is fourth best in the NFL in past rating of
twenty one plus air yards. It's one twelve point one.
Those are passes at twenty one plus yards. So the
(32:23):
deep third is huge priority this week. Now let's go
to the other side. Let me tell you another steaky
snat steaky sneaky stat that I look for that goes beyeah,
that goes beyond the obvious ones. We talk about the
twenty one giveaways. Right, there's only think two three teams
that have more giveaways than the Browns. But but, but,
but this is where they're dangerous. In those twenty one giveaways.
(32:47):
They have only given up fifty four giveaway points. That's unusual.
So this defense, although they've given up big plays, is
a defense capable of taking a game or keeping a
game within striking distance where then they can get big plays.
Just like the games. You talked about snow Globe play
(33:07):
being one of them, so snow Globe game being one
of them. But and then Miles Garrett. We know about
him the fact that he is tied for second in
the NFL with eleven sacks another place where their dangerous Defensively,
They've only given up seven points this year on first
possessions of the opponent. That's thirteen games, seven points in
(33:29):
thirteen opportunities for the opposing team to score in the
first possession. All of that tells me that this is
a dangerous team on both sides of.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
The ball, and Miles Garrett is the key talking about
him fifty eight pressures this year as well, that's fifth
most in the NFL. The Browns have the top pressure
rate of any team in the league at twenty seven
point seven percent. We're shooting this on Tuesday. Not sure
who the left tackle is going to be in this
game for us, but you got to protect against these guys. Honestly,
in a lot of ways, I think the quick passing
(33:58):
game that we showed at the end into the first
half and through the second half against the Chargers last
week could be a good formula in this game. Don't
allow the Browns to direct the game plan with their
pass rush. Kind Of an interesting ying and yang thing
though in this game that I found is the Browns
have allowed fifty two runs of ten or more yards,
that's fourth most in the NFL, and on those the
(34:20):
average distance is nineteen yards. But they've also forced a
league best seventy one negative runs. So they're kind of
like a boom or bus defense where they're gonna get sacks,
they're gonna get negative plays, but then you can also
break off big plays against these guys. They've allowed sixty
four total plays of twenty or more yards, second most
of any team in the NFL. They've also allowed seven
(34:41):
scoring drives of four or fewer plays, third most in
the league. So Cleveland is interesting. They're talented, they have
good players, they can force negative plays, negative runs, they
can sack the quarterback, and they have a great pressure rate.
But you can also get these guys for big plays
as well. So for the Chiefs in this game, we'll
love to see the explosive passing game, maybe get going.
Patrick Mahomes has talked about how he feels like it's
(35:03):
this close weekend and week out. Could be a good
opportunity for that. And also Kareem Hunt returning back to Cleveland.
Maybe a few big runs for Kareem.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
The other thing, Cleveland has the most offensive possessions in
the league. They have one hundred and fifty three offensive possessions.
It's weird. There's a lot of stuff here to try
to take in with the Cleveland Browns, but just know this,
they're a dangerous opponent. But you have heard from Trent McDuffie.
Take the ball away. Those are big. That's the reason
they're three and ten. We just laid all that out.
(35:32):
But Matt, the Chiefs try to take care of business
in this game. It'll be tougher than I think fans think,
but for the Chiefs, it's a chance for the next
step to check the next box.
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