In short yardage, Chiefs have gone back to basics with Isiah Pacheco, offensive line
Andy Reid and others who shape the offense have paid back the offensive line over the past two games.
It was after the game in Germany earlier this month, when the Chiefs failed to convert a third-and-1 on a doomed play that resulted in an incomplete pass late, that Reid said he owed it to his line to lead with the run blocking in short-yardage situations.
It’s worked. In Sunday’s 31-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, the Chiefs faced a third-and-1 situation twice. Both times, the ball went to running back Isiah Pacheco. The first one produced a 1-yard touchdown. On the second, he picked up six yards and a first down.
Later in the game, Pacheco scored on first-and-goal from the 1. The Chiefs are moving defensive lines and feeling good about it.
“Those critical situations, whether it’s goal line or short yardage, we take them personally,” center Creed Humphrey said. “We want to dominate every time we can.”
In the previous game, the Chiefs found short-yardage success against the Philadelphia Eagles. Pacheco ran for first-down yardage on a second-and-1, third-and-2 and fourth-and-1.
“You have to have an attitude in those situations, when everybody in the building knows you’re going to run,” Humphrey said.
After the Miami game, the Chiefs had 32 snaps on the season when they faced third or fourth down with 2 or fewer yards to go. They had converted 18 of them for 56%, a figure that ranked 26th in NFL.
They’ve made all four of their attempts in those situations in the past two games.
Although Pacheco has gotten the call on each of those occasions, the threat of multiple weapons benefits the Chiefs there, Reid said.
“The more guys that are available that are threats there, that you can utilize, is a positive thing,” Reid said.
If the short-yardage parameter is expanded to third-and-3s, the Chiefs have gotten others involved. Justin Watson caught a 3-yard touchdown pass on third down against Raiders. Travis Kelce also scored on third-and-3 from the 4 against the Eagles.
At least, the bizarre play-calling phase in short-yardage situations seems to have passed. Against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead, with the Chiefs at the 6 and lined up for a field goal, tight end Noah Gray motioned to take the snap. He needed 2 yards on a keeper and got 1.
In the opener against the Detroit Lions, tight end Blake Bell went under center and handed to wide receiver Rashee Rice on a jet sweep. The third-and-1 play lost 3.
Over the past two games, it’s back to the basics, with Pacheco powering behind the offensive line, finishing the task.
“We’ve put an emphasis on it and we’ve gotten better each week,” Humphrey said.