Fighting Fire With Fire: Here’s Monday’s Most Exciting Matchup

Steve Spagnuolo should have something up his sleeve to counter Jacksonville Jaguars' most dangerous weapon.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, center, talks to quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) next to tight end Travis Kelce (87) before a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 26-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fair to say, the Jacksonville Jaguars would not be playing in primetime without the monumental trade they consummated on Night 1 of the April draft.

Ironically, though, Travis Hunter hasn’t commanded much of the spotlight through his first four NFL games. Neither has 2024 rookie sensation Brian Thomas. When the Chiefs (2-2) visit the Jaguars (3-1) on Monday Night Football (7:15 p.m. CT, ESPN/ABC, KMBC Ch. 9, 96.5 The fan), the most dynamic Jacksonville player they’ll see is a resurgent Travis Etienne.

Sep 28, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

The Jacksonville running back ranks third in the league with 394 rushing yards, trailing Jonathan Taylor (414) and James Cook (401). More alarming for the Chiefs, Etienne is averaging 6.1 yards per carry, second in the league among qualifying players behind Justin Fields (7.4) and first among running backs.

He also has two 100-yard rushing games over the season’s first four weeks, the only NFL player with multiple games of at least 120 rushing yards this year, and has touchdowns in three straight games.

Aug 9, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Monday's test

But on Monday, Liam Coen’s Jacksonville offense is expected to see its stiffest test so far: Steve Spagnuolo.

The Chiefs’ defensive coordinator hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 23 straight games, since Lamar Jackson had 122 in Week 1 of the ’24 season. A running back hasn’t hit triple digits against the Chiefs in 30 consecutive games, including playoffs. The last to do it was the Raiders’ Zamir White (145) on Christmas Day in 2023, a 20-14 home loss to Las Vegas.

Kansas City’s defensive streak includes Super Bowl 58 (Christian McCaffrey) as well as two games each against Cook, Joe Mixon, Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley.

Coming out of his shoes

So far this season, the Chiefs are allowing 127.0 yards per game on the ground. That’s 22nd in the league through four games. But take away the late 71-yard touchdown Kansas City allowed to Justice Hill on Sunday, and Spagnuolo would be allowing only 109.3 yards per game.

Also, the Chiefs were solid defensively in between that run and Baltimore’s game-opening 70-yard touchdown drive.

“He had a great plan,” head coach Andy Reid said after Sunday’s 37-20 win. “You take that first drive out and then that last run, he had a good day. He got so mad after that last run; he about jumped out of his shoes. Then as coaches, too, I don’t want to slight the other guys, either, but they’ve all done a nice job there, defensively.”

Lethal combination

They’ll need to do a nice job again on Monday night. Jacksonville has won three of its first four games for only the second time over the last 15 years. And the Jaguars have done it with a lethal combination of takeaways and rushing offense.

Jacksonville ranks fourth in the league with a 144.0-yard average-per-game rushing attack. In addition to Etienne, the team also brandishes a tough-to-tackle rookie in Bhayshul Tuten, who has touchdowns in two of his last three games.

Last matchup with Coen

Spagnuolo is familiar with Coen’s offense, having faced him last season when Coen was Tampa Bay offensive coordinator. The Buccaneers visited Kansas City in a Week 9 Monday night thriller.

The Chiefs escaped with a 30-24 overtime victory, but not before Baker Mayfield led Tampa Bay on a 10-play, 71-yard touchdown drive to tie the game in the final minute. The Buccaneers’ quarterback threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes.

Nov 4, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) hands off to running back Bucky Irving (7) against the Kansas City Chiefs during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

But even in that game, Spagnuolo’s defense didn’t give up a big game to any individual rusher. Bucky Irving was Tampa Bay’s leader on the ground with 24 yards on seven carries. Rachaad White had just 19 yards on three carries.

Coen’s Tampa Bay offense was the only NFL unit last year to finish among the league’s top-five in both rushing and passing yards per game.

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