Why the Kansas City Chiefs’ run-game success last week might become something enduring
Sharing the wealth is always good for morale, so it was a happy week for the Chiefs’ running backs.
All three backs on the Chiefs’ active roster —Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon — found the end zone and helped the Chiefs amass a season-best 153 rushing yards in last Sunday’s 41-10 triumph over the Chicago Bears.
“That was fun, competing with one an other,” Pacheco said. “We got a hat trick.”
Not to mention the joy of comparing touchdown celebrations. Everybody got an opportunity to bust a move. McKinnon’s high-stepping act, like a marching band leader working his way up the sideline, probably scored highest on the judges’ cards.
“Jet (McKinnon) said he’d get there first and he did it,” Pacheco said.
This occurred after two games — well, 1 1/2 games — of a largely ineffective ground game. Through the first half of Kansas City’s Week 2 victory at Jacksonville, the Chiefs had rushed for just 104 yards on 27 attempts.
But on the first play of the second half against the Jaguars, Pacheco ripped off a 31-yard gain ... and the Chiefs were off and running.
The Chiefs scored their first rushing touchdowns of the season last weekend, when Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire each powered in from the 1. McKinnon caught two touchdown passes.
Last season, it took until the final game of the regular season for three Chiefs running back to score in the same game. Then, Pacheco, McKinnon and Ronald Jones found the end zone.
Getting production from their running backs completes the Chiefs’ offense, said superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“We knew we needed to get the running game going,” Mahomes said. “Everybody talks about the offense and how much we’ve thrown in the past, but we’re at our best when we run the football. So we’re going to try to continue to do that.”
The numbers support Mahomes’ claim. In his starts, the Chiefs are 42-5 when the Chiefs rush for at least 100 yards.
Mahomes’ scrambles remain a big part of the KC running game, and he’s the team’s second-leading rusher this year. But establishing a ground game provides great value.
“It opens everything up,” Mahomes said. “We have a good running backs room, a good offensive line, so we want to make sure we’re progressing in the right direction.”
Even more encouraging: In addition to Edwards-Helaire’s and Pacheco’s 1-yard touchdown runs, the Chiefs picked up a pair of first downs in short-yardage situations with power running.
This week, the Chiefs and Mahomes hope this sort of balance can disrupt a stout New York Jets defense. The Jets have surrendered just four touchdowns in three games. Their defense is holding up a team that absorbed a cruel blow when star free-agent signing Aaron Rodgers was lost for the season.
The quarterback tore an Achilles on the Jets’ first series of the season.
“It’s a big-time challenge,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said of preparing for the Jets’ defense. “These guys are good. They’re not just good on the front level, the second level or the third. They’re good in all three. They stress an (opposing) offense.”
But coming off their best performance of the season — especially from their running backs — the Chiefs will be playing with confidence in New York this weekend.
This story was originally published September 29, 2023 at 6:00 AM.