Eric Berry could be difference for Chiefs in Super Bowl pursuit
The Kansas City Chiefs have the best record in the AFC at 9-2, but they will be even scarier once star safety Eric Berry returns to the lineup.
Since joining the Kansas City Chiefs as the fifth-overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Eric Berry has been one of the NFL’s most important defensive backs. A truly elite player who can shine in coverage, against the run, or even as a blitzer, Berry is the ultimate weapon for the Chiefs defense.
Berry has yet to feature in a single game for the Chiefs this season due to a heel injury, which prevented him from practicing or playing in the preseason. While Berry did practice at OTAs this offseason, coming off of a torn Achilles’ that costed him essentially the entire 2017 season, he has been out of action since.
The 29-year-old could finally make his way back into the lineup this season, as the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that there’s optimism Berry will be able to practice this week. That doesn’t mean he’ll be in the Chiefs lineup in Week 13 against the Oakland Raiders (and it’s not like they’d need him to beat the hapless Raiders), but it does mean he’s one step closer to making his highly-anticipated return.
The #Chiefs have been here before so there is caution. But still: I’m told the team is hopeful that star S Eric Berry will return to practice this week as he begins to ramp up and get ready to play. They expect him to practice. And his addition could be massive for this defense.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 25, 2018
The Chiefs defense has missed Berry, as they are 28th in the league in points allowed, 30th in yards allowed, 31st in first downs allowed, and 29th in yards per carry (5.0) allowed. Kansas City’s defense is 13th in the league in net yards per pass attempt, but they are dead last in yards allowed, mostly because the offense is so good that the defense is forced into shootouts.
Despite Patrick Mahomes’ heroics and his astounding 117.9 QB Rating, the Chiefs two losses this season came against the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams. Both of those teams join the Chiefs as Super Bowl contenders, as they feature franchise quarterbacks, dynamic offensive weapons, and arguably the NFL’s two best head coaches.
Those are “quality losses,” but those are the teams the Chiefs would likely face in the AFC Championship Game or Super Bowl. Mahomes, Kareem Hunt, and the Chiefs offense is extraordinary, but the defense could use a boost.
The Chiefs cornerbacks are better than the statistics indicate, and they have two excellent pass rushers in Dee Ford and Chris Jones, who have 9.0 sacks apiece. However, they desperately need Berry back at the safety position to shore up their pass coverage and their abysmal run defense. Berry excels at both from the strong safety position.
Because Berry has missed so much time with injuries, the Chiefs can’t necessarily count on him to be at his best. However, he’s proven in the past that he can return from a lengthy absence and not miss a beat. At the very least, he’ll be an upgrade for a unit that is among the NFL’s worst at covering running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers that aren’t No. 1 or 2 options. Those are all skill position players Berry can handle, and he could help the corners on the Chiefs defense get more recognition for their work this season.
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Berry makes everyone on the Chiefs defense that much better, and he’s the last missing piece for a team that could easily be undefeated this season. Their only losses were last-gasp, three-point losses to two Super Bowl contenders, and if Berry returns for a playoff run, the Chiefs look like the clear favorites in the AFC. Given that they only lost by three to the Rams, Berry could be the difference-maker in the Super Bowl if a rematch takes place.