Chiefs receive reality punch on running back issue

Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, defeated the San Francisco 49ers in an exciting Super Bowl victory.

Even if that’s the case, the running back unit needs to improve, according to PFF’s NFL review of the position.

The Chiefs had a historic season in 2023, becoming the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since the Patriots in the early 2000s. Despite failing to match last year’s 14-3 record, Kansas City won their 11th consecutive season and 8th straight AFC West division title.

Kansas City’s journey to back-to-back championships was not simple, as they had to defeat some of the NFL’s best offenses in the playoffs. Led by an excellent defense that ranked second in the league in yards and points allowed, the Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens, 49ers, and others to advance to their fourth Super Bowl in five years.

In a repeat of Super Bowl LIV, the Chiefs won again, this time in overtime, establishing themselves as the AFC’s new dynasty. The overtime triumph was only the second in Super Bowl history, emphasizing the dramatic manner in which Kansas City won their second consecutive title. The Chiefs, led by head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, have established themselves as the team to beat in the NFL for the foreseeable future.

Kansas City Chiefs’ Running Back Unit Ranked in NFL’s Bottom Half By PFF

While their on-field performance has led to long-term success, Kansas City’s running back group may need to improve in the coming season. Trevor Sikkema explained in an essay on PFF why their running back corps ranks in the bottom half of the NFL.

“Isiah Pacheco is the king of consistency, earning rushing grades of 74.2 and 80.2 in the past two seasons. He also recorded a yards per carry average above 4.5 in each of the past two seasons with 40 explosive runs, 20 in both years. Kansas City still has Clyde Edwards-Helaire behind him, but not much is known after that,” Sikkema wrote.

As it stands, the Chiefs’ roster of excellent running backs is sparse, which led to their offense ranking 15th last season. Even so, their defense is ranked second among the league’s 32 teams.

It remains to be seen how the Chiefs’ running backs will do this season. In any event, supporters will be looking forward to their title defense and Kansas City’s attempt to win three consecutive championships.