The Kansas City Chiefs offense is officially primed for an AFC Championship. Isiah Pacheco, who has been dealing with ankle and toe injuries, is officially back in action on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.
CBS Sports lead sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson said Pacheco had swelling in his toe and would wear special cleats for the game.
Pacheco’s injuries have impacted his practice time this week. He did not participate in practice on Wednesday and Thursday and was limited on Friday. According to NFL Media, his practice schedule at the beginning of the week was pre-planned.
The second-year player led the team with 935 rushing yards, 7 rushing touchdowns, yards per game (66.8) and 205 in 14 games played. He also had 14 receptions for 244 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
He leads the team in the postseason in rushing yards with 186 yards, yards per game with 93.0 and in carries with 39, both with touchdowns in the playoff games.
In the Chiefs’ new-look offense, Pacheco has been the main reason for their success, as they rely more on the running game than in years past. Pacheco carried the ball 24 times in the Chiefs’ wild-card win over the Dolphins, and he contributed all but two of the team’s RB carries against the Bills last week. Having Pacheco as an option for a Super Bowl ticket on the line is a huge deal for Kansas City.
The Ravens have a great defense, but if there’s a weakness to exploit, it’s against their 14th-ranked run defense.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and company look to advance to their second consecutive Super Bowl and become the first team to win back-to-back championships since the 2003/2004 New England Patriots.
The AFC Championship will be broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
