Jerick McKinnon’s hot hand is what the Chiefs offense needed

The K.C. Chiefs met the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round on Sunday, the beginning of Kansas City’s quest for a fourth straight AFC Championship game appearance and, hopefully, a third straight Super Bowl appearance.

However, none of that would come to fruition without a win against an inferior opponent, one they defeated handily in Week 16 by a score of 36-10. The Chiefs took care of business against a tired Steelers team trotting out the battered ghost of Ben Roethlisberger, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.

Much of the Chiefs’ offensive success came from the arm of Patrick Mahomes and the hands and legs of an unlikely playoff hero, running back Jerick McKinnon. With only 169 yards in 7 appearances this season, McKinnon wasn’t billed to do much in the playoffs, but nonetheless is a part of the running back by committee in the wake of Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s injury.

McKinnon very much established himself as a wily playoff veteran who knows when to turn on the jets (pun intended) in critical moments. He turned in a spectacular outing on Sunday night and solidified himself as a part-time receiving option just behind Travis Kelce in this game with 6 catches for 81 yards and a score through the air for the 8-year veteran.

Whether it be Darrel Williams, Derrick Gore, or McKinnon, many fans believed the Chiefs were going to ride the hot hand moving forward from CEH’s injury in Week 16, and boy does McKinnon have the hot hand early on in these playoffs. With 142 all-purpose yards in the Wild Card round, McKinnon logged his most offensive production in a game since Week 5 of 2017, when he was on the Minnesota Vikings.

Looking ahead to the Divisional Round against the Bills, what should we expect from the running back room? Hopefully, the coaching staff goes with McKinnon to start the game against Buffalo.

The Bills have a top-10 defense against running backs, giving up roughly 85 yards per game, and a little over 4 yards/carry. However, there is room for McKinnon to continue his playoff run of excellence in the next round given that the Bills are stuck between a rock and a hard place—not being able to fully commit to the run due to Patrick Mahomes and company while also not able to fully sell out on the pass given the Chiefs stellar offensive line and capable running backs from top to bottom.

McKinnon getting hot is exactly what the Chiefs offense needs heading into this playoff run. A running back who can also provide a spark in the passing game could make this offense unstoppable as this Kansas City team marches toward Super Bowl LVI.