Bills should expect wrinkles from mad scientist/Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo

Yes, that was 310-pound Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones – on his way to a third consecutive first-team All-Pro selection – dropping into zone coverage on a third-and-7 play, allowing linebacker Nick Bolton to blitz and cornerback Trent McDuffie to rush unblocked.

Under pressure, Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw the football away, leading to a punt.

Welcome to just one example of the mad scientist techniques of Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

“I call him, ‘Bill Nye, Science Guy,’ ” defensive tackle Mike Pennel told The Buffalo News before practice Thursday. “He’s been doing it for so long and so consistently. He has a certain pattern of success, and that’s not by accident.”

Spagnuolo’s certain pattern of success: One Super Bowl win a coordinator for the New York Giants (over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots) and three with the Chiefs.

The Chiefs’ next task is one of their toughest, facing the Bills’ offensive line in Sunday night’s AFC championship game (6:30 p.m.).

The Bills allowed 14 sacks in the regular season (fewest in the NFL) and three sacks in playoff wins over Denver and Baltimore.

“They’ve got guys who win a lot of reps 1-on-1, and then Josh Allen, if you send an overload blitz, he can make a play outside the pocket,” Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal said.

This really is a strength vs. strength duel up front.

Kansas City blitzed on 34% of its opponent’s drop backs, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, fifth-most in the league.

“I know the guys do enjoy that (part of the game),” Spagnuolo said.

Against extra rushers, Allen had a 123.2 passer rating (third-best), 16 touchdowns and one interception.

In the teams’ Week 11 game, a 30-21 Bills win, the Chiefs rushed five or more on 16 of 43 drop backs, and Allen was 7 of 13 passing for 103 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The Chiefs had 39 sacks in the regular season, tied for 19th.

The fun for the Chiefs’ defense begins each Wednesday during a game week, when Spagnuolo gives a sneak preview of the pressures he and his staff have drawn up.

“Him and Coach (Andy) Reid, both those guys don’t mind going 40 years into the playbook,” safety Justin Reid said. “I don’t know if they watch NFL Network and see a 2006 game rewind and say, ‘That’s a pretty good pass rush, I bet we can put that in.’ ”

Spagnuolo also will take suggestions from the players.

“I asked to put in a pressure one time from what I saw in a college game, and we put it in the next week,” said Reid, who added that the blitz generated pressure on the quarterback.

Said Pennel: “It’s always interesting. Spags’ system is always evolving, so you know it’s going to be pretty stimulating and entertaining and challenging to come in every week and see what he’s planning.”

Spagnuolo said calling a blitz is based on many factors – score, down-and-distance, part of the field – but also according to feel.

“When I say ‘feel,’ the things that go into it are, how have they protected prior to that and the different looks we gave them before and how they reacted to those,” Spagnuolo said. “And then I might have a little list of, ‘OK, if we get into this situation, let’s go with this.’ I’m usually trying to give the guys a heads up on the sideline (about an upcoming blitz).”

Spagnuolo’s plan in last week’s AFC divisional 23-14 win over the Houston Texans ended with eight sacks, second-most in Chiefs postseason history.

On the first sack, Bolton didn’t rush, but a Texans lineman accounted for him, allowing Jones to win his single matchup. The Chiefs later rushed six and five players on sacks.

The Chiefs have 24 sacks in their last eight playoff games dating back to 2022.

“It’s pretty cool and pretty special to be a part of,” Chenal said. “Spags demands a lot from everybody across the board, and he puts a lot on everybody’s plate. We take that as an honor and work extra hard to get the details right.”

“I know the guys do enjoy that (part of the game),” Spagnuolo said.