1 big reason for Chiefs' troubling 0-2 start

Adam Schultz

•
1 big reason for Chiefs' troubling 0-2 start image

The Kansas City Chiefs have started a season 0-2 for the first time in Patrick Mahomes' career, with the defending AFC champs unable to overcome the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles.

Granted, both have been by one score, so it's not like Kansas City is getting blown out each week, but there is a troubling pattern starting to emerge, especially for the offense and Patrick Mahomes.

They can't run the ball.

With Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt posting just 47 yards each in two games, while Mahomes has 123 rushing yards, that, my friends, is a monster problem that needs fixing.

But is head coach Andy Reid confident the tide will eventually turn?

“Yeah, we can do a better job there," Reid said. "We'll get that thing going better."

MORE: Is Patrick Mahomes' increased running a problem for Chiefs?

Chiefs need to figure out run game

The Chiefs rank 17th for rushing yards through two games (109.5), and if we take out Mahomes' 123 yards, Kansas City's running backs have just 96 yards from two games, meaning it averages just 48 yards per game, which would be 31st in football, with the Cincinnati Bengals currently averaging 47 per game.

Is there confidence that Hunt and Pacheco can flip the script, starting with the New York Giants in Week 3? Reid seems to think so, but Mahomes can't be a crucial piece of the run game.

Pacheco and Hunt simply have to start producing better, and it also falls on the offensive line to create running lanes for the duo to exploit.

It has been a poor start for the Chiefs in many areas offensively, but getting this run game going has to be the top priority.

MORE NFL NEWS:

Adam Schultz

Adam Schultz is a freelance writer at The Sporting News. An Australian journalist with years of experience covering the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL, Adam has interviewed several high-profile athletes in Australia for various sites and brings a unique view on the NFL.