Chiefs vs. Packers: LeSean McCoy bound for big game on Sunday

The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to be without quarterback Patrick Mahomes on Sunday night, but could still find some success on offense without him.

It may be fairly obvious to suggest that the Kansas City Chiefs should look more to the running game given that backup quarterback Matt Moore is expected to start on Sunday night. While the Chiefs may want to keep the passing game active, even without Patrick Mahomes, the running game might be a better option for Kansas City against the Green Bay Packers.

The Chiefs are entering Week 8 with 576 rushing yards, the eighth fewest in the NFL. They also average 3.8 yards per carry, which is 20th in the league. Despite those numbers being too low, the Chiefs still have a rushing attack that could help the team come away with a win against the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers are currently 24th in the NFL in stopping the run, allowing 129 yards on the ground per game. Among the seven games they have played, five of them at home, the Packers have managed to hold opposing teams to below 100 yards rushing just twice.

Running back LeSean McCoy leads the team with 322 rushing yards, the only rusher on the team with more than 100 rushing yards on the season. McCoy averages a 5.4 yard per carry average, which is the seventh best in the NFL among all running backs.

McCoy will rely heavily on his run-blockers. The good news is that he has some of the best run blockers in the NFL today.

Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz is rated as the fourth best offensive tackle by Pro Football Focus. PFF rates him as the third best run-blocker from offensive tackles. PFF also rates tight end Travis Kelce as the 10th best run-blocker as backup tight end Blake Bell is 17th in the same category at that position.

Fullback Anthony Sherman has not seen a lot of playing time on offense. However, this game would be a great opportunity to let Sherman see a lot of snaps to help pave the way for McCoy. Sherman has served as a lead run blocker before and can help McCoy have a big game, contributing in helping the Chiefs against the Packers.

If you had to put down money, there are plenty of reasons to believe McCoy would attack the outside, the right side the most, more than the inside. If the Chiefs line up Kelce and Bell next to Schwartz often, it will be hard for the Packers defensive line to stop the right side of Kansas City’s blockade in running plays.

Backup Darrel Williams has a chance to contribute as well, coming in with four yards per carry. Damien Williams has struggled as he’s ran 41 times for 1.7 yards per carry, but has a chance to improve on that, if given the ball on Sunday night.