Former Mississippi State defensive tackle Chris Jones sets tone for Chiefs’ Super Bowl quest

The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t shy about talking about winning their third straight Super Bowl. If they become the first team in the Super Bowl era to accomplish the feat, it will be for more than just Patrick Mahomes being Patrick Mahomes.

Former Mississippi State star Chris Jones is the Chiefs’ biggest play not playing quarterback and he showed why in Thursday night’s season-opener against the Baltimore Ravens.

Jones was a threat to the Ravens’ offensive line, which had many new faces. And he got off to an early start, blocking running lanes, driving his pass blockers and pressuring Lamar Jackson. He finished the first half with two tackles and a tackle for loss.

His biggest play of the night came early in the second quarter when he easily outpaced a blocker and grabbed Jackson’s arm before he began moving forward, causing a fumble that was recovered by a Chiefs defender.

Football fans know that a player’s stats don’t tell the whole story, and there were plenty of plays Jones made that didn’t register a stat but still impacted the game. He pressured Jackson on the second-to-last play that led to Jackson not seeing a wide-open receiver in the end zone. That play won’t show up in the box score.

With all due respect to Aaron Donald, Jones has been the best defensive tackle for a few years now, and if Thursday night is any indication, that streak won’t end in 2024.

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