Few defenders in football can take over a game the way Chris Jones can.
For Kansas City, their all-world defensive presence has long been one of the NFL’s premier game-wreckers, capable of dictating the flow of an entire offensive game plan from the interior.
As the Chiefs prepare for a 4-1 Detroit Lions unit, Jones looms as a potential difference-maker -- and his presence inside could tilt the contest in Kansas City’s favor.
Through the first five weeks of the 2025 season, Jones' sack totals (1) don't tell the full story of his impact along the trenches. Whether he's lined up over the guard, shaded over the tackle, or sliding out to a wide alignment in Steve Spagnuolo’s versatile fronts, he’s been nearly unblockable.
His combination of size, strength, and twitch can overwhelm offensive lines at 310 pounds, and he continues to show that few in football can handle his power at the point of attack on early downs, also.
For Detroit, it's a huge week for their youth-infused interior offensive line. Second-year guard Christian Mahogany and rookie Tate Ratledge have both shown flashes of physicality in the run game, yet their pass protection remains a work in progress.
Mahogany has given up two sacks, and while Ratledge has pitched a shutout in that facet thus far, the pair has allowed 18 combined pressures through five starts -- numbers that will invite attention from Spagnuolo and a player of Jones’ caliber. Against a defensive tackle who can collapse pockets at will, that inexperience could become the focal point of the chess match.
Jones’ ability to wreck plays starts with his first step.
He’s explosive off the snap, able to shoot gaps before linemen can anchor. But his greatness lies in the blend of finesse and brute force. His patented cross-chop and club-swim counters up front are devastating when paired with his long-arm into the chest of his opponents, allowing him to keep blockers off balance. Even double teams have proven ineffective, as Jones consistently finds ways to remarkably get "skinny" at his size and mass to slide through gaps and force quarterbacks off their spot.
Against Jared Goff, who thrives when in rhythm, interior disruption is the fastest way to break Detroit’s timing. Jones collapsing the pocket could erase the clean platforms Goff depends on, forcing hurried throws and disrupting the Lions’ play-action game.
And in the run game, Jones’ ability to anchor and shed makes it difficult for Detroit’s guards to climb to the second level -- limiting their ability to spring Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery for chunk plays.
Beyond his technical dominance, Jones remains the emotional heartbeat of Kansas City’s defense. His energy, leadership, and relentless motor have set the tone for a group that’s been questioned early in the season. He himself has enjoyed his [fair share of scrutiny](https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-chris-jones-9b73de169badb8b706c6bc517c2e240c) over the last few days, and Sunday could be used as a platform to show those outside the locker room in Kansas City just how important his presence is.
If the Lions can’t contain him, it won’t matter how talented their offense is -- Jones will dictate the terms for 60 minutes.