KC Chiefs’ Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon Can Provide a Major Boost in the Playoffs

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are getting into the common season’s last week with uncertainty surrounding the postseason. They are not positive which seed they’re within the AFC, who they are going to play, or when they are going to play. Nevertheless, when the playoffs do begin for them, they are going to be in a greater place offensively than they’ve been in years previous. 

Whereas they may have had extra top-end expertise beforehand, they weren’t almost as balanced as this yr. Andy Reid and the Chiefs won’t ever have an precise 50/50 break up on run and move, however the truth that they’re incorporating their operating again expertise at the next degree this yr may assist propel them on a deep run.

Although he was on the group final season, the backfield assist begins with Jerick McKinnon. In 2021, folks forgot he was even on the roster till this identical week a yr in the past. In that sport, McKinnon had a season-high in dashing and receiving yards and scored his solely landing of the common season. That was only the start. He then took off within the playoffs, bringing a unique aspect to the offense. His burst and physicality between the tackles created additional yards to place the Chiefs in advantageous positions. McKinnon was an outlet for Patrick Mahomes out of the backfield and topped all his regular-season stats in simply three video games.

When it was introduced that McKinnon would return to Kansas Metropolis, many followers had been enthusiastic about what he may carry due to how sturdy he ended the season. The 2022 marketing campaign began gradual for him however after the teaching employees found out the items within the operating again room, he took off. Racking up eight whole touchdowns and 410 scrimmage yards, the veteran has been among the finest gamers on the group over the last 5 video games.

Rookie Isiah Pacheco is the opposite operating again who has come on sturdy to finish the season. Taken within the seventh spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft, Pacheco had little expectation initially. Then when coaching camp got here round, the hype went off the charts. Earlier than the bye, the rookie was a backup to former first-round decide Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Nevertheless, the Chiefs knew they wanted to make a change, which has paid dividends because it occurred. Pacheco is slightly over 100 scrimmage yards from reaching 1,000 on the season. Additionally, he solely wants 38 dashing yards this week to prime Edwards-Helaire’s profession excessive.

The duo of Pacheco and McKinnon is the proper one-two backfield punch for the postseason. They each are quick and bodily runners. There are not often any wasted actions once they carry the ball. With Mahomes at quarterback, the Chiefs do not want a operating again seeking to make the house run play each time. As a substitute, they want somebody to easily take what’s given. Doing this punishes opposing defenses who play gentle containers to decelerate Mahomes from beating them by the air. Lastly, this duo within the backfield ought to give the Chiefs’ teaching employees some confidence to play on the bottom.

Whereas having success on the bottom helps the stability of the offense, everybody is aware of that this offense is based on the passing sport. McKinnon and Pacheco are nice when receiving the ball out of the backfield. Whether or not on a test down within the flat, a display and even lining up out large, they’ve had success within the passing sport this yr. McKinnon has over 500 receiving yards on the yr and not less than one receiving landing in every of the final 5 video games. Early within the yr, the rookie wasn’t tremendous concerned within the passing sport however has had not less than one reception in every of the final six weeks.

Not utilizing the operating backs sufficient has been a part of the Chiefs’ shortcomings in prior postseasons. Final yr, when the passing sport was struggling, the Chiefs refused to run the ball although the Cincinnati Bengals dared them to. With this duo, they need to be assured to take what’s given and gash groups on the bottom.

Switching over to the passing sport, Mahomes naturally needs to take the “kill shot” however with the belief he has within the operating backs, he may very well be using them within the passing sport extra typically if a group does one thing just like what Cincinnati did final yr. Both method, the tandem that the Chiefs have within the backfield has the ability set and manufacturing to assist help this group all through their total postseason run.