The Kansas City Chiefs left no doubt that Patrick Mahomes is headed back to the Super Bowl, but this time with the best defense of his career standing alongside him.

In a resounding 31-14 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night at M&T Bank Stadium, the Chiefs defense led by coordinator Steve Spagnuolo played a pivotal role in punching Kansas City’s ticket to the big game.

Inside the Chiefs’ jubilant locker room, where cigar smoke filled the air and music thumped, the mood was one of celebration and triumph.

Chiefs defenders, still riding high from their dominant performance, paraded around in custom t-shirts featuring images of their beloved coordinator Spagnuolo and a catchy slogan: “In Spags We Trust.”

“I had these made just to show you how much we believe in coach Spags,” said safety Justin Reid, who was instrumental in the Chiefs’ defensive effort. “Coach Spags is the greatest defensive coordinator ever. I’ve played for five defensive coordinators, and I love coach Spags.”

The Chiefs’ defense had every reason to celebrate after a game in which they smothered a Ravens offense that had been one of the NFL’s most explosive this season. Under Spagnuolo’s strategic guidance, Kansas City’s defense limited Baltimore to just 81 rushing yards—its lowest output since the first game of the 2022 season—while forcing three turnovers and holding the Ravens to a dismal 3-of-11 on third down conversions.

The key to their success? Disrupting probable MVP Lamar Jackson, something few teams have managed to do this season. “We threw the book at Lamar,” said Reid. “Zone pressures, man pressures, fake pressures that look like blitzes but end up being zone drops—we tried everything to confuse him and make sure he didn’t get the same look twice.”

Jackson, who had carried the Ravens offense throughout the year, looked rattled against a Chiefs defense that seemed to be one step ahead at every turn. With Kansas City’s pass rush and coverage units clicking in unison, Jackson struggled to find rhythm, and Baltimore’s offense never found the spark it needed to challenge the Chiefs’ lead.

Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes did what he does best, orchestrating the offense with his usual brilliance. Yet, this season, Mahomes has had the luxury of relying on a defense that has grown into one of the most formidable in the league, a balance that the Chiefs haven’t always enjoyed in years past.

“Having a defense like this, it’s incredible,” Mahomes said post-game. “They’ve been lights out all year, and it’s a blessing to know that when we have some tough stretches on offense, those guys are holding it down on the other side of the ball.”

Mahomes, who threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns in the victory, knows all too well the value of a defense capable of stifling elite opponents. After years of bearing the weight of the Chiefs’ offensive success almost single-handedly, Mahomes can now rely on a unit that is capable of delivering game-winning performances.

The Chiefs’ defense not only shut down the Ravens’ high-powered attack but also provided key momentum swings with timely turnovers. Two of those turnovers led to Chiefs’ touchdowns, keeping the Ravens at bay and helping Kansas City build an insurmountable lead.

With the win, the Chiefs will make their fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years, once again becoming the team to beat in the NFL. As the Chiefs prepare to face their next challenge on the biggest stage, they will enter the Super Bowl not only with Mahomes’ offensive brilliance but with a defense that has become a championship-caliber force.

“It’s been an incredible journey,” Mahomes said. “To have this defense alongside me, I feel like we’re ready for anything. We’ve been through it all, and now we get the chance to go back and win another one.”

The stage is set for Kansas City to make a serious run at their third Super Bowl title in the Mahomes era, with a defense that will be a cornerstone of their pursuit of glory.