Currently riding an eight-game winning streak, the Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the stories of the 2015 NFL season, as the preseason darkhorse contenders have proven their worth by bouncing back from an early-season slump and a season-ending injury to superstar running back Jamaal Charles.
Once again, one of the biggest reasons for the Kansas City Chiefs success this season is the pass rushing duo of Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. We all knew that Houston, who was one of the best players in the league last season, would have a dominant season after signing a well-deserved mega-deal this past offseason, but Hali’s ability to take over games in 2015 wasn’t as sure of a thing for Kansas City.
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Although Hali was still effective last season, it’s safe to say that he wasn’t as beastly as he usually is. Hali managed to put pressure on the quarterback, as usual, but he wasn’t finishing off as many plays and had just six sacks on the year. While Houston had the best season of his life and was simply unblockable, Hali was playing at an Ahmad Brooks level, as opposed to the elite, Elvis Dumervil level of play that we’re used to seeing from him.
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Here in 2015, Hali has been back to his best, and he’s undoubtedly been one of the NFL’s most efficient and fearsome pass rushers this season. Sure, his 6.5 sacks only represent a slight uptick in quarterback takedowns, but Hali is doing so much more than just finishing off more plays in the passing game.
According to Sporting Charts, Houston unsurprisingly leads the league in quarterback hurries, but Hali has shot up to fifth in the NFL in this stat with 27 hurries. That’s more than fellow AFC West superstars Von Miller and Khalil Mack, which is quite the accomplishment. Per Pro Football Focus, no 3-4 outside linebacker who rushes the passer from the right side of the offensive line has more pressures than Hali, and none of them are within single digits of the Chiefs superstar OLB.
That’s right, Hali, despite being a 32-year-old edge rusher, has reclaimed superstar status this season. I mean, what other praise is more appropriate for a player who is among the ten best edge rushers in the NFL right now? Hali his also fifth on the Chiefs in solo tackles to boot, and that’s not a slight accomplishment, since it puts him higher than Houston. It also isn’t easy to be fifth on the Chiefs in tackles as a 3-4 OLB, because this is a defense that is stacked with talent, allowing the third-fewest points per game.
Although the Chiefs offense is underrated with a strong running game, a heady QB, two dynamic pass-catchers in Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce, and an underrated third option in Albert Wilson, we all know that the strength of this team lies in the defense. Eric Berry, Marcus Peters, Sean Smith, Derrick Johnson, Jaye Howard, Houston, and Hali have all been among the elite players at their positions this season, and sometimes it seems like Hali’s return to elite form has been lost in the shuffle, particularly with Peters earning so much praise as a standout rookie and possible future top-five corner.
I’m not quite sure where Hali ranks among the best outside linebackers in the game right now, but I am sure that the Chiefs wouldn’t be the same without him. Of course, the Chiefs defense is so great that the unit as a whole is more than just the sum of its exceptionally talented parts, and that’s part of the reason why players like Howard, Johnson, and Smith have been underrated in the 2015 season.
Dec 20, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali (91) tackles Baltimore Ravens running back Terrance West (27) during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Kansas City Chiefs defeated Baltimore Ravens 34-14. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
However, nobody can understate the impact of having a pass rushing tandem that is as good as Hali and Houston, and there can be no doubt that, just as they were in 2013 when the Chiefs made the playoffs in Andy Reid‘s first season at the helm, the best pass rushing duo in the league lies in Kansas City.
Hopefully, people will stop taking Hali’s breakout season for granted, even if he isn’t able to suit up this week against the Cleveland Browns with an injury.
Hali’s health going forward is a big key for the Chiefs, and while they could overcome his injury due to their star power elsewhere on defense (Dee Ford is one to watch, of course), it’s always better to have a standout veteran edge rusher around.
DeMarcus Ware‘s defiance of age has been a big storyline, but Hali has also done a fine job of beating “Father Time”.
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Remember, Hali seemed to have the profile of a somewhat declining pass rusher this past offseason, because he needed to undergo a knee scope in May and was starting to see some slippage in play in 2014.
But instead of taking a step back after already taking a paycut in order to help keep Houston around, Hali has bumped up his sacks and overall productivity; that alone is worth considerable praise.