The Chiefs’ Isiah Pacheco has surged over the last eight games

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Andy Reid, head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Aside from the passing game, the Kansas City Chiefs’ running game has been disappointing this season, averaging 103.8 rushing yards per game, which ranks 19th in the NFL per game ESPN.

But former NFL running back and analyst Maurice Jones-Drew believes Kansas City’s running game, namely Isiah Pacheco, will “explode” in the second half of the season.

“Averaging 4.2 yards per carry this season, Pacheco has a furious running style that bodes well for a team suddenly in position not “He scores at will and instead tries to use up time in the second half of the game,” Jones-Drew continued on NFL.com November 8th. “He was successful across the board as a rookie, recording 633 rush yards on 126 carries in Weeks 10-18, averaging 5.0 yards per attempt. I suspect he will get more opportunities towards the end of 2023 than he did a year ago. Pacheco has the confidence and talent to be another offensive star in KC.”

Isiah Pacheco on pace to break 1,000 yards

This season, Isiah Pacheco has run the ball 124 times for 525 yards – 4.2 yards per carry – and scored three rushing touchdowns in nine regular-season games, it said Pro Football Reference. He also caught 24 of 28 targets for 160 yards and a receiving touchdown.

In the first half of the season, Pacheco averaged 13.7 carries per game. The Chiefs coaching staff should give him more touches per game, especially in the second half, so Kansas City can better control the clock and maintain the lead. However, more touches are needed at this point regardless of the situation as the Chiefs receivers have been inconsistent thus far.

Given the Chiefs’ championship ambitions, it’s understandable if the team wanted to limit Pacheco’s touches in the first half of the regular season in order to keep him fresh for the second half of the season. Kansas City’s offensive line also wasn’t as convincing in the running game as it was last season, which may have led the coaching staff to instead put the ball in the hands of Patrick Mahomes when running the ball would normally be the course of action.

That being said, the offensive line needs to improve in the trenches so that the reigning Super Bowl champions can run the ball forward more successfully. But the Chiefs need to put the ball in Pacheco’s hands more often — especially in third-and-short situations — no matter what.

Isiah Pacheco shows the German fans the ultimate gesture

After Kansas City’s 21-14 victory over Miami in Week 9, Isiah Pacheco made the ultimate gesture to fans attending the game in Frankfurt, Germany.

More than an hour after the game ended, Pacheco returned to the field to sign autographs for the fans in attendance.

Users on Twitter/X reacted to the video of the Chiefs signing Pacheco’s autographs after the game.

“Certainly a great player and it’s so nice to take time out for the fans who deserve much more recognition.” wrote one user.

“I adore (Isiah Pacheco). He has great energy, a great spirit and seems like a great person. I’m glad he’s part of #ChiefsKingdom.” another user wrote.