Chiefs’ Justin Houston on beating Ravens in OT: ‘Felt like this was playoff game’

After being pushed to the brink in their 27-24 overtime victory Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs couldn’t help but feel a great deal of respect for the Baltimore Ravens.

Although the Chiefs share the NFL’s best record at 11-2 and the Ravens fell to 7-6, Kansas City outside linebacker Justin Houston was highly impressed with what Baltimore did on both sides of the ball.

‘It was good to see where we are and the things we need to work on’

“I felt like this definitely was a playoff game,” Houston told Bill Lekas on The Sunday Drive. “Baltimore played great defense and they had a great scheme on offense … It was good to see where we are and see the things we need to work on. It was great fun.”

“When they were running their option, everybody’s got a man, everybody’s got a gap responsibility.”

Ravens rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson was a tremendous challenge for the Chiefs’ defense with his passing and running from an option attack. He threw for 147 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the way to a passer rating of 100.5, and rushed for 71 yards.

‘When they made their plays, our defense wasn’t doing our job’

“You had to play sound defense,” said Houston, who did strip the ball from Jackson late in the game to set up a field goal the Chiefs missed at the end of regulation. “Everybody had a job to do. When they made their plays, our defense wasn’t doing our job. So when they were running their option, everybody’s got a man, everybody’s got a gap responsibility. And if you’re not in that gap responsibility thing, they’ll show it and expose that. So you’ve got to play sound defense through the whole game. The times we didn’t play that, they capitalized on our mistakes.”

On the other hand, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes showed his typically great composure. He wound up throwing for 377 yards and a pair of TDs, with one interception.

‘I just knew if (Mahomes) stayed close to Coach Reid, Coach Reid would have him more than prepared’

“Very impressed, but it’s not surprising to me,” Houston said. “I knew, since day one, the type of quarterback we had. I just knew, if he stayed close to Coach (Andy) Reid, Coach Reid would have him more than prepared. Because the talent he has, and the coaching he can receive from Coach Reid, that makes him who he is and puts him above and beyond.”

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