After another dismal showing for Patrick Mahomes & Co. in Week 14 against the Buffalo Bills, observers and analysts aroundthe football world are openly wondering if Kansas City’s offense is broken beyond repair.
While the days of Tyreek Hill and the electrifying offense are in the rearview mirror, Andy Reid has enough time to tweak his scheme to spark a back-to-back title run.
After assessing the lineup’s strengths and weaknesses and how the offense could best complement a defense playing at an elite level, here is how Reid could rework the unit to make it more potent down the stretch:
Despite the offense’s high-flying reputation, the Chiefs have been at their best in 2023 when Isiah Pacheco & Co. are running the ball early and often. The second-year back leads the team with 779 rushing yards, and since Pacheco’s arrival from Rutgers, the Chiefs boast an 11-2 record when he logs at least 15 rushing attempts.
Though Pacheco has been nursing a shoulder injury that kept him out of the Buffalo game and could keep him sidelined in Week 15, the hard-nosed runner provides the Chiefs with the ruggedness to navigate an AFC playoff field that could feature several teams who want to play “Bully Ball” in the trenches.
Measuring 5-foot-10 and 216 pounds, Pacheco is a downhill runner with a gritty style that wears down defenders tasked with tackling him in the hole. In addition, his vision and subtle wiggle make him difficult to bring down in space. As the Chiefs feature an off-tackle running game with Pacheco running to the edges, the second-year pro’s speed, quickness and power produce first downs and keep the offense on schedule. Pacheco is tied with Titans RB Derrick Henry for the four-most first downs with 48.
