How George Karlaftis and KC Chiefs brought the heat, sacked Texans’ QB Stroud 8 times

An error in practice became a moment of perfection for George Karlaftis on Saturday as the Chiefs beat the Houston Texans 23-14 in an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

The origin of one of the biggest plays by the Chiefs’ defense — Karlaftis’ 16-yard sack of Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud, on fourth down in the fourth quarter — could be traced to a practice session that took place two days earlier.

“I knew the protection because I messed that play up in practice,” Karlaftis said. “I’m glad I messed it up on Thursday and not on game day.”

In practice, Karlaftis lost contain of the quarterback and he escaped. That didn’t happen Saturday. Karlaftis wrestled Stroud to the ground, the Chiefs ahead by eight with 10 minutes remaining.

Although that play kept momentum on the Chiefs’ side, it didn’t seal the deal. Nor did it end the Chiefs’ run of sacks against Stroud: Karlaftis would get one more by game’s end, giving him three for the afternoon.

The Chiefs finished with eight as a team.

Karlaftis’ three-sack game matched the Chiefs’ playoff record shared by Aaron Brown (set against the Oakland Raiders in the 1969 AFL Championship Game) and Frank Clark (against the Texans in a 2019 Divisional Round game).

“I’ve had two teammates have those type of games in the playoffs,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said of Clark and Karlaftis. “For me, it’s been amazing to be part of it.”

Jones is more than a part of it. With his All-Pro talent, he draws the type of attention that enables others to thrive. And Jones chipped in with a sack of his own on Saturday.

With Karlaftis’ big game, perhaps that could create more opportunities for Jones, who now has 3 1/2 career playoff sacks.

“I told him, ‘Don’t get too high,’” Jones said. “The next game they’ll be planning for you, buddy.”

The Chiefs’ eight sacks against the Texans were one off the team’s playoff record, set by the 1993 Chiefs in a road victory against the Houston Oilers. And Saturday’s total came as little surprise, given this defense’s pin-its-ears-back approach.

This hasn’t been a sack-heavy season for the Chiefs. They came up with 39 during the regular season, tied for 18th in the NFL, a year after recording 57.

But they brought the heat Saturday.

According to NextGenStats, Stroud was pressured on more than half of his 41 dropbacks (21 of 41). The Chiefs’ 17 blitzes produced 12 pressures, including eight from unblocked pass rushers.

On the series that produced Karlaftis’ 16-yard sack, the Chiefs had sent blitzers on three previous plays, rushing Stroud into incomplete passes.

The next two times Houston had possession, Chiefs dialed up pressure upon pressure. Those drives resulted in a punt and a blocked field goal (by Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal).

In the teams’ Week 16 regular-season game, the Chiefs got pressure on Stroud but sacked him just twice. This time, Karlaftis, Jones, Charles Omenihu, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Tershawn Warton and Charmarri Conner filled the stat sheet with sacks.

It helped the Chiefs win a game in which they were out-gained 336 yards to 212, and one in which the Texans held the ball for 6 1/2 minutes longer than the home team.

The credit, the Chiefs players said, goes to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

“Spags dials up a game-plan and we trust wholeheartedly in what he does,” safety Justin Reid said. “You go out and execute and do it with intensity.”