Here’s one trend KC Chiefs and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will look to stop

The Chiefs’ defense became a force through the middle of the 2021 schedule. Over a stretch of six games, they allowed 17 or fewer points and four times held the opponent to single digits.

These were the first six of an eight-game winning streak, and that’s how, during a season in which the Chiefs ranked frustratingly low in several defensive categories, they finished a healthy eighth in the most important one: points allowed, at 21.4 per game.

Overall, that defense was good enough to help the Chiefs capture a sixth straight AFC West title and appear in a fourth consecutive conference championship game.

If fourth-year defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has his way, the Chiefs won’t wait as long to find the right gear this fall. The 2021 season marked the second time in three years that the Chiefs’ defense had to overcome a slow start.

But sometimes, it’s simply a matter of getting familiar with the players you’ve got on hand.

“You spend the first quarter of the season figuring out what you have, who you are and what you want to do,” Spagnuolo said, “because you can’t always get it figured out going against one type of offense.”

Even if the powerful Chiefs offense is led by Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

Avoiding trouble out of the gate becomes an even more formidable this season because of a couple of factors. First, the Chiefs’ early schedule is loaded with terrific quarterbacks. The Chiefs draw the Arizona Cardinals and Kyler Murray in the opener; four days later, the L.A. Chargers and Justin Herbert open the Chiefs’ home schedule.

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, seeking revenge for last season’s playoff heartbreaker, are among Chiefs’ opponents in their first six games.

Also, not since Spagnuolo arrived here in 2019 has he had to become acquainted with more newcomers — with an emphasis on rookies. Five drafted players could be part of the Chiefs’ defensive two-deep: cornerback Trent McDuffie, end George Karlaftis, safety Bryan Cook and cornerbacks Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson.

“We’ve got new guys that we’re still trying to figure out where their strengths and weaknesses are,” Spagnulo said.

Plenty of veterans return, too, of course. The Chiefs could open with six who started the AFC title-game loss to the Cincinnati Bengals: Chris Jones and Frank Clark up front, linebackers Willie Gay Jr. and Nick Bolton in the middle and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and safety Juan Thornhill in the secondary.

Also back are linemen Derrick Nnadi and Turk Wharton, along with cornerback Rashad Fenton. The Chiefs appear to have a nice blend of experience and young talent.

There were more obvious reasons for the first slow start under Spagnuolo. He had just taken over for Bob Sutton, who was fired after the 2018 season as part of a defensive overhaul. But the early returns weren’t positive.

In 2019, the Chiefs surrendered at least 447 yards in four of their first six games and got involved in plenty of offensive shootouts. But after surrendering an average of 23.9 points in their first 10 games, the Chiefs buckled down, allowing just 11.5 over the final six.

And that season ended with the Chiefs hoisting the Super Bowl trophy.

Last season, several complications contributed to the Chiefs’ slow start. Jones, Clark, Gay and cornerback Charvarius Ward all missed multiple games early. Also, Jones had been moved from tackle to end, and the switch in positions just wasn’t working.

As players started returning and the Chiefs acquired end Melvin Ingram, the defense gained momentum. The Chiefs produced 11 sacks in their first eight games and eight in their next four.

By then, the defense was winning games as the offense went through its own malaise. Over a three-week stretch, the Chiefs beat the Green Bay Packers 13-7 and the Dallas Cowboys 19-9. Those outcomes marked two of the team’s three victories in Mahomes’ four seasons as Kansas City’s starting quarterback that the Chiefs won without scoring 20 points.

“We found our stride,” Spagnuolo said. “We got back to who we are and what we do.”

In 2020, the Chiefs had their worst game early, a 40-32 loss at home to the Raiders. Statistically, they were better in the first half of the season, but they also won the division by six games.

What will 2022 bring? The preseason returns were positive. In three exhibition games this summer, the Chiefs’ first-team defensive unit played in six series and forced six punts. Three times the opponent didn’t even collect a first down — these were possessions against Chicago Bears starter Justin Fields, Washington Commanders starter Carson Wentz and Packers reserve Jordan Love.

Not exactly the luminaries the Chiefs will see early in the regular season, but the defense accomplished all that was asked of it. If that level of play continues, the Chiefs’ defense shouldn’t be looking to rally after the first quarter of the regular season.