Losing to the Buffalo Bills left a bad taste in the mouths of the Kansas City Chiefs, but especially Chris Jones.
The defensive tackle, however, made sure the outcome this time would be different. Jones had two of the team’s five sacks and helped lead the Chiefs to 44-23 road win Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, sending the Chiefs into the bye week with a 5-2 record and feeling good about the future.
“We’re in a good spot,” Jones said. “Most importantly we’re missing a lot of key pieces within this team. A lot of guys are still hurt, banged up. We got a lot of guys healthy, and everyone can get a little rest. Get off your feet, take care of your body and we can come back and make some strides.”
The Chiefs have been playing without cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Rashad Fenton as well as defensive lineman Mike Danna but all three could be back when the team reconvenes next week in preparation for the Titans.
The Chiefs could use their help as they have been down by 10 points or more three times this season. The Chiefs, though, have won all three games, including last week against San Francisco. And while Jones said he doesn’t want to play from behind, the deficits have forced the Chiefs to show what they’re made of.
“I think we play better when we’re down,” said Jones, who has five sacks this season. “I don’t like to be down because it causes so much pressure on us to go out and score or go out and make a stop. But I guess we like challenging ourselves at this point.
“But no one got rattled. Everyone stayed subtle and we came to together as a team. I said at the beginning of this year we were going to face a lot of adversity as a team, and it’s continued to build our character as a whole.”
CLARK SUSPENDED TWO GAMES
Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark has been suspended two games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, the league announced Tuesday.
The suspension is a result of weapons charges filed against Clark in 2021. Last month in Los Angeles, Clark pleaded no contest to two counts of misdemeanor possession of an assault weapon and was sentenced to one-year probation and 40 hours community service.
Clark’s suspension begins immediately. He will not be able to play against the Titans on Nov. 6 or against the Jaguars on Nov. 13.
