[Hammock Parties]

KC has run the ball on 47% of its plays, which ranks 13th in the NFL. Reid’s rank during his previous six seasons with Mahomes looked like this: 23rd, 23rd, 28th, 27th, 25th and 26th.

Direckshun got his power running team

Taking advantage of that interior strength also has pushed KC’s coaches in a different direction stylistically. For instance, Sports Info Solutions’ data says the Chiefs have called inside zone — a scheme that leans most heavily on the middle three — for 39 plays already this year, compared to 59 for the entire 2023 regular season. There’s been a similar uptick in “power,” a format that utilizes a pulling guard to get downhill in the run game. The Chiefs have gone to that 26 times this season compared to 40 all of last season, showing the team’s increasing trust in its big guys up front.