Andy Reid didn’t call Isiah Pacheco’s game-winning run

Isiah Pacheco’s game-winning run against the Denver Broncos was impressive, but head coach Andy Reid almost didn’t call it.

There has always been some debate on who really calls plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. The default answer is, of course, head coach Andy Reid, and for most situations that is probably true. But in recent seasons, there has been a debate on how involved offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy really is.

This week on the Chiefs Kingdom Show with Mitch Holthus, Reid gave an interesting wrinkle to the play-calling theory with regard to rookie running back Isiah Pacheco’s game-winning 10-yard run against the Denver Broncos. Reid revealed that while they were discussing potential scenarios for how to end the game, offensive line coach Andy Heck actually called for the inside run.

This apparently surprised Andy Reid who admitted that he was unsure if that was the best option. To Reid, an inside run into “a bunch of guys” would probably only gain a few yards. It was not the worst-case scenario, but also a little puzzling considering a first down would end the game.

Heck’s response was pretty matter-of-fact, “Oh, we’ll get the whole 10 yards right here.”

Heck was right. Pacheco took that inside run right up the middle and gained every bit of 10 yards in what obviously became Kyle Brandt’s Angry Run of the Week. For his part, Pacheco was pretty fired up after the play was over.

It turns out that the play-calling duties aren’t as straightforward as some might assume. I’m glad that Heck had enough confidence in his running back to call a play as boldly as an inside run up the middle. And I’m also glad Reid trusted Heck enough to stick with the call, even if he was a bit skeptical.

I think Pacheco is cementing himself as the Chiefs’ next great running back. If he can keep it up, the Chiefs might finally unlock the offense they briefly had with Patrick Mahomes and Kareem Hunt. Maybe even better.