The Carolina Chaos are entering the Cash App Playoffs with a 4-6 record and are fighting to find an offensive identity. 

Head coach and general manager Andy Towers entered the season intending to switch the offensive philosophy from two-man games to two-handed dodging, but that philosophy continued to change throughout the season because the offense struggled to produce.

Even with the issues on offense, the team has been close in most games because of its world-class defense. 

Why the Chaos can win the Cash App Championship

One word: defense.

Headlined by the four-time Oren Lyons Goaltender of the Year Blaze Riorden, Carolina has allowed a league-best 11 scores against per game. Riorden’s 11.5 saves per game and 59% save percentage are great, but the netminder’s ability to spark transition offense and take over an entire game is second to none.  

The close defense unit comprised of Will Bowen, Jack Rowlett, Jarrod Neumann and sometimes Jack Posey has been elite all season. 

Each week, the close unit and the rest of the defensive personnel have combined to shut down opposing offenses better than any other team in PLL history in terms of efficiency. They don’t do it by causing a plethora of turnovers; the defense has success because it allows every player to play to their strengths.

A unit this solid shouldn’t have six losses on the season. The positive thing is if the Chaos defense continues to clamp opposing offenses, it will only take an average Carolina offense to win games.

But promising as that sounds, it’s something that has rarely happened this year.

Why the Chaos could lose in the Cash App Playoffs

The Chaos’s star player on offense, Josh Byrne, put together a 29-point (11G, 18A) season. After Byrne, there is a steep drop to the next most productive player, rookie Ross Scott, who has 16 points (14G, 2A). Every team has two 20-plus-point scorers except Carolina.

The kryptonite on offense has been turnovers and lack of possessions. Carolina averages 17.1 turnovers a game and wins just 37% of its faceoffs, leading to low possession totals each week. It has resulted in long periods without goals from the offense and led to games getting out of reach earlier than they should be.

If the Carolina offense continues to struggle and can’t reach average play, it will be the reason why the team doesn’t make it through the first round.

X-factor: Blaze Riorden

The team’s X-factor for the playoffs is its anchor on the back end. Simply put, he can steal games. A red-hot Riorden is a scary sight for the rest of the league and led to a Chaos championship in 2021. 

Key stat: 12 goals

Earlier this season, Towers said 12 goals would be Carolina’s benchmark for success. He believes if the Chaos reach 12 goals before their opponent, they can win every week because of how talented their defense is

After allowing 11 goals in an overtime loss to Boston last Friday, the Chaos have a second chance against Boom Squad in the quarterfinals on Sept. 2.

It will take another world-class defensive effort led by Riorden and at least an average offensive performance for the Chaos to survive the Cannons and reach the semis.