The Kansas City Chiefs are back. They have won four games in a row to get to 10-4 on the season. This marks five straight seasons with 10 or more wins and four straight AFC West titles. This year, the Chiefs will look to finally make it to the Super Bowl. To do so, they will need to find any semblance of a rushing attack.
Kansas City hoped to have many weapons in their backfield. Damien Williams was the starter going into the season. They traded Carlos Hyde to Houston and replaced him with LeSean McCoy when he was cut by the Buffalo Bills. Youngsters Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson were supposed to see a limited amount of snaps. So far this season, McCoy leads the team with 101 carries and 465 yards on the ground. Williams is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry.
Once again, the Chiefs are a pass first team. This is no surprise with the reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes under center. Travis Kelce has yet another 1,000 yard season and Tyreek Hill has seven touchdowns while averaging 14.8 yards per reception. Mecole Hardman has been a nice rookie addition with six touchdowns. To say the Chiefs are stacked in the pass game would be an understatement. It will take more if they want to take the next step to the big game.
Chiefs Need a Back to Step Up
Article Continues BelowThe Chiefs have had a running back go over 100 yards just once this season. Williams went for 125 yards in a 26-23 win over the Minnesota Vikings. McCoy's season-high is just 81 yards. Kansas City continues to be a strong regular season team but to make it to a championship, they will have to run the ball.
The concern is that the Chiefs are becoming one dimensional. Defenses know that their run game is miles behind their air attack so the game plan is to slow down Mahomes and the receivers. They did not lose the AFC Championship Game because of their lack of a rushing attack. Kansas City lost because Dee Ford lined up offsides. They do not feature a perfect defense either. This is why the rushing attack will have to pick up some slack.
Anytime that the Chiefs' defense is off the field is time well spent. Getting the run game going early will make for longer drives and keep their stronger unit on the field. Kansas City is getting hot at the right time which is a good sign. Only time will tell if they try to lean on the run game more over the final two games of the season.