When Josh Allen dropped back from the shotgun snap in the AFC Championship game, with the Buffalo Bills ahead of Kansas City, the 2-point conversion play quickly became a mess.
Allen retreated to the 14-yard line, looking for a way out, but as two pass rushers closed in on him, he scrambled right. Chris Jones, the standout of the Chiefs’ defense, finished the play by stripping the ball from Allen.
In those few chaotic seconds, Jones showed why he’s been a first-team All-Pro for three years in a row. With a powerful bull rush, he overpowered Bills left guard David Edwards and collapsed the pocket around Allen. Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis helped by pushing right tackle Spencer Brown back and then shifting inside to trap Allen. Jones and Karlaftis combined to force the turnover.
Strong pressure up the middle is one of the most effective ways to disrupt a play in today’s NFL.
“The most direct path to the quarterback is through the middle,” said NFL analyst Brian Baldinger. “The way quarterbacks now can extend plays or run, it’s changed how defenses rush. If you can collapse the pocket inside, it makes life much harder for them.”
The outcome of Super Bowl 59 between Kansas City and Philadelphia could come down to which team can better protect the middle from fierce pass rushes. The Eagles, with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jalen Carter, have three of the top eight and four of the top 22 interior pass rushers in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
Chris Jones, who ranked highest for interior defenders in 2024, is also the top pass rusher at his position, according to PFF’s analysis.
“Jones has incredible agility for his size,” Baldinger said. “He’s hard to block because his feet and hands are always moving. He’s slippery, hard to catch, and knows when to take advantage of key moments.”
Interior offensive linemen are becoming more essential in the game
Interior offensive linemen have become more valuable in recent years. While left tackle has always been a key position, blocking the blind side of right-handed quarterbacks, the role of right tackle has become just as crucial. Right tackles need to be able to stand up against top pass rushers. According to salary data from Over The Cap, there are 32 tackles in the NFL earning an average of $10 million or more per year.
But now, guards and centers are also gaining value. There are 20 guards and six centers with contracts averaging at least $10 million annually. The highest-paid center is Creed Humphrey of the Chiefs, while Landon Dickerson, the left guard for the Eagles, is among the top-paid guards.
This Super Bowl will showcase some of the top interior blockers, who have benefited from experienced offensive line coaches. Andy Heck of Kansas City is in his 12th season with the team, and Jeff Stoutland of Philadelphia has been coaching for 41 years, including 12 years with the Eagles under three different head coaches.
For Kansas City, Humphrey and left guard Joe Thuney were named first-team All-Pros. Thuney recently moved to left tackle to help stabilize an unsettled position, while right guard Trey Smith, a Pro Bowl selection, will be a highly sought-after free agent at just 25 years old. If D.J. Humphries is healthy enough to return to left tackle, Thuney could move back to guard.
For the Eagles, Dickerson is heading to his third straight Pro Bowl. Center Cam Jurgens earned his first Pro Bowl after filling in for the retired Jason Kelce. Right guard Mekhi Becton, a former tackle, quickly adapted to his new position after joining the Eagles.
Dickerson had to start at center in the NFC Championship Game due to a back injury to Jurgens. But then Dickerson hurt his knee, forcing Jurgens to step back in.
“These guys are playing through pain. I just can’t say enough about how much I respect these guys for what they have to do with their bodies,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “I don’t think anyone knows the half of it, what they have to do to play the long season.”
The role has become more challenging
The job has gotten tougher. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald changed the game during his career with eight All-Pro selections. Since his retirement, Chris Jones has taken over as the leader of the interior pass rushers. But guards and centers now face more challenges than just players like Donald.
Many teams now move their edge defenders inside during passing situations to create a mismatch. For example, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores frequently put his four best pass rushers in standup positions on third downs.
“The guys we’re going against are bigger, and as they get bigger they’re still staying fast, they’re still staying twitchy,” said Vikings right guard Dalton Risner earlier this postseason. “The game of football is ever changing, ever evolving. Everyone’s trying to figure out one way to one-up it.”
Teams with weak interior protection are at risk. The Vikings, for example, struggled with interior pass protection for years. Their 14-win season ended with a blowout loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 18 and a playoff defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. Quarterback Sam Darnold was pressured heavily in both games, with much of the pressure coming from the middle.
The Chiefs and Eagles have avoided this problem.
“How many pressures you gave up and how many sacks you gave up, those are the stats that we all know,” Sirianni said. “Sometimes you only get focused on the negative thing. But I love offensive linemen. I’ve always loved offensive linemen because of that selflessness they have.
They’re protectors, right? They’re there to protect and serve other people. That’s the best thing you can say about a human being, that you want to do well for yourself to do well for others.”
