The Kansas City Chiefs face a critical challenge during their bye week as they must reassess their offensive strategy. The team embarked on the season with a game plan that heavily relied on the dynamic playmaking abilities of wide receivers Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown, along with running back Isiah Pacheco. Unfortunately, both Rice and Brown are currently sidelined with undefined recovery timelines, while Pacheco is expected to make a return after recovering from a serious fibula injury sustained just months ago. The absence of these key players necessitates a thorough evaluation of the team’s offensive capabilities and adjustments to their game plan.

Taking a deep dive into their performance during the bye week may uncover the need for an external acquisition to bolster the offense, although such moves are never guaranteed. Moving forward, head coach Andy Reid and the offensive coaching staff need to maximize the potential of the current roster by refining their strategies and play-calling. This adjustment process was initiated during the Chiefs’ impressive Week 5 victory against the New Orleans Saints, illustrating the team’s flexibility and determination to adapt.

Revamping the Run Game Strategy for Maximum Impact

As Pacheco emerged as the Chiefs’ primary running back, the offensive scheme underwent significant changes, shifting from a reliance on zone runs to a focus on downhill, power running plays that provided opportunities for explosive gains. This strategic pivot is essential for maintaining offensive momentum and capitalizing on favorable matchups.

In Pacheco’s absence, Kareem Hunt has stepped into the lead role, significantly altering the Chiefs’ play-calling approach in the running game. In their matchup against the Saints, the Chiefs executed 23 zone runs compared to just 7 gap runs, as reported by PFF. The zone-running scheme aligns well with Hunt’s unique blend of elusiveness and power, providing a balanced offensive threat. However, this approach may limit explosive plays on the ground; notably, none of Hunt’s 27 carries in Week 5 exceeded 8 yards, highlighting a need for more aggressive play-calling to unlock his potential.

The Chiefs’ zone-running strategy frequently incorporates pass options for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has the autonomy to throw when presented with favorable defensive alignments. Although the team does possess a gap-running scheme in their run-pass option (RPO) playbook, these plays are most effective when the offensive line can assertively push back the defensive front. This emphasizes the need for a strong offensive line performance to facilitate successful RPO execution.

Consequently, the Chiefs’ running approach is likely to adopt a more conservative stance, with linemen instructed to avoid advancing downfield prematurely in case a pass play is called. This strategic shift is critical for maintaining offensive balance and ensuring that Mahomes has the necessary time and space to make effective decisions.

The dual-edged nature of run-pass options provides quarterbacks like Mahomes with the flexibility to make advantageous throws based on defensive alignments. However, this can also lead to risky situations, as evidenced by Mahomes’ interception against the Saints. Although the pass choice was the correct read given the defensive setup, the tighter throwing window in the red zone posed greater risks compared to more open field opportunities, necessitating more cautious decision-making.

The intricacies of play-calling play a pivotal role in this dynamic. The run action was based on a gap scheme, with pulling blockers moving to the left, but the designated pass option allowed Mahomes to forgo a handoff from the one-yard line, showcasing the complexities inherent in RPOs.

To counterbalance Pacheco’s absence and the lack of explosive plays from the ground game, the Chiefs are working to create more opportunities for significant yardage on running calls. This is a promising strategy, provided the team continues to incorporate designed runs in the appropriate contexts to maintain offensive unpredictability.

Maximizing Tight End Utilization to Enhance Offense

The Chiefs significantly increased their use of tight ends during the game against the Saints, with both Noah Gray and Jared Wiley logging a season-high number of snaps. Meanwhile, veteran tight end Travis Kelce received a remarkable number of targets (10) and receptions (9) in this game, showcasing his crucial role in the offense. Even fourth-string tight end Jody Fortson contributed by playing 11 snaps, reflecting the team’s commitment to maximizing their tight end resources.

This tight end-centric approach highlights the current lack of reliable depth at the wide receiver position. The Chiefs maintained a tight rotation during the game against New Orleans, with only Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, and JuJu Smith-Schuster receiving consistent playing time. This adjustment underscores the need for the team to innovate offensively while navigating roster challenges.

The Chiefs have also leaned more heavily on multiple tight end sets, experimenting with formations that include 14 personnel (4 tight ends, 1 running back, no wide receivers). This innovative strategy utilizes the speed of Wiley and Fortson to create space for Kelce to execute out routes effectively, enhancing the overall offensive scheme.

On both occasions the Chiefs deployed this 14 personnel grouping, they successfully achieved first downs, both times through passes to Kelce. This demonstrates the effectiveness of their tight end utilization in critical situations.

Employing heavier personnel packages compels opposing defenses to field more linebackers and fewer coverage-oriented players, creating mismatches that Kansas City can exploit. Thus, the Chiefs are likely to continue integrating tight ends into their passing game to maintain an advantage against defensive schemes.

Strategically Filling Rashee Rice’s Role in the Offense

In the absence of Rice, JuJu Smith-Schuster emerged as a key contributor during the Chiefs’ victory over the Saints, stepping in to effectively fill Rice’s role within the offensive framework. Smith-Schuster was tied for the second-most receiver snaps on the team, leading the position with 8 targets, 7 receptions, 130 receiving yards, and 4 crucial first-down catches. His performance highlights his importance in maintaining offensive productivity despite injuries.

Both Smith-Schuster and Rice excel in exploiting zone coverage, a skill that was evident during the Week 5 matchup. Smith-Schuster demonstrated a strong understanding of the Chiefs’ offensive system, particularly in his ability to adjust routes based on defensive alignments, effectively finding openings within the zone.

While Smith-Schuster may not possess the same level of playmaking ability after the catch as Rice, he proves to be effective in navigating the middle of the field and making quick, strategic decisions. Although he has shown some inconsistency in contested-catch situations, this is less critical in the Chiefs’ offensive scheme, which emphasizes space creation over physical battles.

Before his injury, Rice was the primary target for quick screen passes to the outside. While Smith-Schuster may not replicate those specific routes, Mecole Hardman has shown potential in that area. In the game against the Saints, Hardman caught 4 screen passes, accumulating 33 yards and securing 2 first downs, illustrating his ability to contribute in high-pressure situations.