KC Chiefs vs. Bengals: Depressing takeaways from a complete meltdown

A wasted effort by the backfield

One sad element of the loss is that an effective game by the backfield has been lost and will remain overlooked due to the bigger (and more depressing) picture.

The Chiefs were able to bring back Darrel Williams before the game from a toe injury that could have kept him inactive, but it turns out the tandem that’s currently working so well for the Chiefs did what they could to keep the chains moving on Sunday.

Jerick McKinnon has been a postseason hero for the Chiefs so far this winter and he put up another strong performance on Sunday with 12 carries for 65 yards and 3 catches for 30 yards through the air—good for 95 total yards from scrimmage. Not to be outdone, Clyde Edwards-Helaire made the most of his appearances, too, and had 6 carries for 36 yards on the ground, good for a 6 yards/carry average.

McKinnon was electric from the word go and was instrumental in the team’s opening drive that led to a 7-0 lead. Giving extra effort on every single run or run-after-the-catch, McKinnon became a fan favorite late in the year for his grit and effort that works so well with his natural athleticism.

Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the backfield and the rest of the Chiefs offense came up short for the entire second half of the AFC Championship.