Running back Isiah Pacheco iced the Kansas City Chiefs’ Divisional Round game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday and has been on a hot streak as the defending Super Bowl champions strive to defend their title in the AFC playoffs.
The Chiefs leaned on Pacheco to pick up a first down late in the fourth quarter that clinched Kansas City’s 27-24 win over Buffalo.
While speaking to the media on Wednesday, the 24-year-old running back explained his mindset going into the game’s consequential final drive.
“Just knowing that situation is extremely important,” Pacheco explained. “You [normally] only get those situations in practice and when you rep it and rep it and rep it, when it comes in a game, and it happens it’s like second nature. For us just understand the scheme, understand when you did that in practice before – that’s the mindset of me getting a first down and having the [offensive line] finish on that play.”
Pacheco yearns for these types of situations when the offense controls the outcome of the game, and told reporters that he welcomes the challenge of closing out matchups for his team.
“It’s a big enjoyment, you won the game right there, it’s all said and done,” Pacheco said. “You don’t have to send the defense back out there to get a punt or just have them back out there. It eliminates that part of the game and is a big win for us.”
Pacheco will continue to be an integral part of the Chiefs’ offense, and as he continues to become a more effective and efficient runner, head coach Andy Reid will need to lean on his explosiveness and power to open up the rest of Kansas City’s offense.
Through two playoff games, Pacheco has taken 39 carries for 186 yards and two touchdowns, becoming a true workhorse back for the Chiefs.
