Andy Reid has undergone an unexpected offensive evolution with the Chiefs

Historically, Andy Reid has come under heavy fire for his aversion to running the football with any regularity. In the wake of three significant injuries to key offensive players—Marquise Brown, Rashee Rice, and Isiah Pacheco—the offense has had to adjust. That process began when the team reunited with its third-round pick (86th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. Kareem Hunt, who had been sitting at home following a five-year tour with the Cleveland Browns, was brought in to help stabilize a running backs room ravaged by injuries (Isiah Pachec) and a non-football illness (Clyde Edwards-Helaire).

Since being elevated from the practice squad, Hunt has amassed 414 rushing yards on 111 carries. He's averaging 22 carries per contest and has scored a touchdown in four of five starts. On Monday Night Football, Hunt admittedly got off to a slow start, finishing the opening half with seven carries for 16 yards. When play resumed, the Buccaneers went on a 10-0 run and assumed control of the game with a seven-point lead.

The Chiefs punted on their first offensive series of the third quarter, but handed the keys to Hunt on the subsequent drive. Patrick Mahomes started hot in the first half, but the Chiefs' offensive line had real trouble keeping him upright in the face of heavy pressure. Reid adjusted and put the ball in Hunt's hands on three consecutive run plays when the offense returned to the field. The eighth-year man made good on those carries with runs of 7, 9, and 4 yards to get the Chiefs near midfield. Kansas City would go on to score and knot the game up at 17-all.

On Monday night, the offense prominently featured recently acquired wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. In no surprise, it appeared to help unlock Kansas City's passing game. Mahomes would go 34-of-44, for 291 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Hopkins was the team's second-leading receiver with eight receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Travis Kelce led the way with 14 catches for 100 yards. The Chiefs were excellent in third-down situations converting 12-of-18 in the game. That's partly due to their efficiency on early downs. Kansas City's run game facilitated manageable third downs all night.

As the team approaches the midway point of the season, leaning into this new-look offensive identity will be key to ramping up production. Mahomes had his best outing of the season on Monday and the offense will soon get reinforcements with the return of Pacheco (reportedly in the next two to three weeks) and wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster. Reid's defiance of norms in the Week 9 tilt helped the Chiefs remain unblemished. If Kansas City can edge the Broncos on Sunday, they'll head into a massive conference game with the Buffalo Bills that could ultimately decide the top seed in the AFC.

The passing offense is opening up with the addition of Hopkins, but consistency demands staying "ahead of the sticks" with a methodical run game. This isn't your father's Chiefs offense. It's not the Legion of Zoom, but it is perhaps the most brutally-efficient unit in the league. If Reid can stay the course, this offense will evolve again over the next month and become one of the most reliable and productive in the NFL.

A Kansas City offense that converts 66% of its third downs and scores in every red zone possession — as it did on Monday night — is a nightmare for the NFL. Sunday's matchup with the Denver Broncos will be a great litmus test. The Broncos are a Top 10 unit in defending the run in terms of yardage, touchdowns, and rushing yards per attempt. We'll find out just how disciplined Andy Reid will be when the division rivals lock horns on Sunday at high noon in Arrowhead Stadium.