Tyreek Hill had best description of L’Jarius Sneed jam that defined Chiefs’ victory

A big play in football usually involves the ball. This one did not.

In last weekend’s playoff victory over the Miami Dolphins, Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed jammed Tyreek Hill at the line of scrimmage and never let the fleet former Chiefs standout start his engine

Sneed took down Hill before he could get into his route. And when Hill tried to get to his feet, Sneed kept him on the turf.

The moment helped define a dominant and rugged defensive performance that sent the Chiefs into the AFC Divisional Round. The Chiefs play the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday.

As he’s done throughout the season, Sneed likely will take on the opponent’s top wide receiver — in this case, Stefon Diggs — and the objective will be the same. Limit the opponent’s production. Sneed hasn’t allowed a touchdown in the regular season or playoffs.

“I’ve been doing it all year,” Sneed said of his hit on Hill. “It’s Tyreek, so that made it big.”

While lined up against Sneed on Saturday, Hill caught one pass for nine yards. He scored the Dolphins’ lone touchdown on a deep pass from Tua Tagovailoa but was otherwise covered superbly by Sneed and Trent McDuffie throughout the game.

Hill had fun with his response on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Jammed my ahh to Cancun.”

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo enjoyed the play so much he watched it multiple times.

“I was like a proud papa when you see that,” Spagnuolo said. “(Hill) may be the toughest guy in the league to press.

“I’ll be watching it again.”

Spagnuolo has sung Sneed’s praises all season and remains “befuddled” that the fourth-year pro wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl or All-Pro teams. There’s no question Sneed has played an invaluable role in helping shape a defense that ranks second in fewest points and yards allowed, and last week turned the best defensive performance of the Patrick Mahomes era.

“L.J.’s the kind of guy that loves a challenge,” Spagnuolo said. “When you say, ‘I need you to go cover that guy,’ that’s as big a challenge as you can get as (a defensive back) in the NFL. He embraces it.”