The Kansas City Chiefs have a huge game against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football. Kansas City is off to a 0-2 start and badly needs to add a win to its record.
One of the biggest problems for the Chiefs' offense thus far has been their lackluster rushing offense. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is fully aware of the importance of the run game to this offense, as it helps make life easier for Patrick Mahomes.
When speaking to reporters on Friday about the rushing attack and its impact on Mahomes, Nagy said, via Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports, "He'll be comfortable when it's productive in any run game. The run game is the quarterback's best friend."
And this contest against the Giants is the perfect chance to get the rushing attack going.
Chiefs Have Golden Chance to Revive Run Game in Week 3
Fans aren't thrilled with Nagy's comments, as the Chiefs haven't tried to run the ball much this season. Through two games, Kansas City is tied for 30th in the NFL in total carries (43) and 18th in rushing offense (109.5). The worst part is that Mahomes is the leading rusher (123) while scoring both rushing touchdowns.
Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco have 47 rushing yards each, with each player averaging fewer than four yards per carry. With receivers Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice sidelined, the other players and coaches available to contribute must elevate their play to help Mahomes.
Thus far, they haven't been able to do that. This has forced Mahomes to play "hero ball" to keep the Chiefs in these matchups.
Even though the run game has struggled through two weeks of play, Kansas City should be able to get its rushing attack going this Sunday. The Giants are last in the NFL in run defense (177.5), giving up 5.9 yards per rush and four rushing touchdowns. They have allowed 130-plus rushing yards in Weeks 1 and 2, which only reinforces that there will be chances to take some pressure off Mahomes.
That is something that benefits the offense as a whole. The Chiefs need to get the ground game going, as that will open up play actions and potential deep shots. It would also help neutralize a Giants defensive line rush that features Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, and Abdul Carter.
Keeping Mahomes clean is a recipe for success. All the elite offenses can run the ball, and it isn't something the Chiefs will be able to succeed without. Nagy knows that, and in Week 3, he needs to back up his words and craft a good rushing game plan to get that unit rolling.
However, if he can't get this rushing game to be productive against the league's worst run defense, there will be some serious problems in Kansas City.