Three KC Chiefs players who need to step up against Bengals

Isiah Pacheco

As much as Chiefs fans love Andy Reid, there are many who have become frustrated with his stubbornness in terms of refusing the run the ball. In fact, some point to the lack of rushes by the Chiefs in last year’s AFC Championship game as one of the main reasons the Bengals emerged victorious. Establishing the run early and often will be monumental in making the Bengals’ linebackers pause and prevent their pass rushers from pinning their ears back and completely selling out against the pass.

Rookie Isiah Pacheco has simply only gotten better throughout the season. He continues to fight through contact to gain extra yards, his vision has improved, and we finally got to see him showcase his 4.37 speed during his 39-yard run against Jacksonville. Andy Reid isn’t one to rely on the run, but Pacheco has proven his ability to be a workhorse if needed.

In a game where taking the pressure off of Mahomes is paramount, Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy need to feed Pacheco who just came off a game averaging 7.9 yards per carry. Running the ball and allowing the interior offensive linemen to play smash-mouth football and win in the trenches will force the Bengals to adjust accordingly and ultimately give Mahomes more time in the pocket.