Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones excited to attack ‘best in the league’ Eagles offensive line
- Harrison Discombe
- 9 February 2023
Fresh off a two-sack performance in the Championship Round, Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said he ‘can’t wait for the opportunity’ to get after the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaking to reporters at the NFL's annual Media Row event, Jones said: "They're probably the best offensive line in the game today, especially graded by PFF and rightfully so.
"They've done an incredible job all year. As a defensive line it's going to be exciting to get after them."
Led by six-time Pro Bowl center Jason Kelce, the Eagles have stayed healthy up front all year to help lead their offense to top ten regular season rankings in both rushing yards per game and passing yards per game.
Right tackle Lane Johnson has fought through injury to maintain his excellent run of no sacks allowed in the past two seasons, while the 360-pound Australian mauler Jordan Mailata's physical play has been supported by the consistency of guards Isaac Seumalo and Landon Dickerson.
"A lot of preparation and film study is needed to win up front," Jones added. "Gameday decisions will be key."
The Chiefs' defensive line itself is an elite unit, helping the team pick up 55 sacks in the regular season, second only to the Eagles' 70.
Jones has continued his rise to elite status with a 15.5 sack season, enough for joint third highest in the NFL.
Bizarrely, the former Mississippi State bruiser had zero postseason sacks in 13 appearances ahead of the Championship Round but put that aberration to bed with a vintage two-sack display in the victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
"Up front we're peaking at the right time," Jones said to reporters.
"We need to continue on the path we're on now and continue to build chemistry. Everyone's dialled in, everyone's ready. We're excited for this big game and we're going to keep at it.
"In my seven years of playing this is probably the biggest brotherhood, which speaks volumes. It's an unselfish group."
The rarely seen levels of physicality demonstrated by the Eagles offensive line on a weekly basis has helped guide Philadelphia to a league-high 32 rushing touchdowns this year, eight more than any other team and the most in the NFL since 1976.
Such physical prowess has also allowed the Eagles offense to be dominant in 4th-and-short situations, establishing a new technique to get behind quarterback Jalen Hurts and push him over the line with a yard or less to go.
Nick Sirianni's side has had the best 4th down conversion rate of any team to go for it at least 20 times this year and their consistent success has allowed their head coach to become more aggressive and keep his offense on the field.
"We'll give them different looks, line up in different gaps and move me around, especially early, to see how they want to block and what their plan is for me," Jones continued. "We've got to attack them.
"When you're going against the best you always look forward to it. That's how you want it to be. I can't wait for the opportunity."
