2025 Chiefs set to break century-long NFL record for worst running game efficiency

It’s a crisp autumn Sunday in Kansas City. The air is thick with the smell of barbecue, and the roar of Arrowhead Stadium is deafening. But beneath the surface of the usual excitement, a sense of unease is palpable. It’s Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season, and the Kansas City Chiefs, once a seemingly unstoppable juggernaut, are struggling – specifically, their running game efficiency is abysmal. I mean, historically, laughably bad. The kind of bad that makes coaches lose sleep and general managers start sweating. We’re talking about a team potentially on track to break a century-long record for the worst running game in NFL history. Can you believe it? A century! (My grandpa used to say they ran the ball back then because they didn’t trust the forward pass – times sure have changed!).

The whispers started weeks ago, after a particularly lackluster performance against the Chargers. Now, they’ve grown into full-blown shouts of concern. “I haven’t seen anything like this,” one veteran analyst muttered on ESPN. “They can’t block, the backs can’t find holes, and the play-calling is… questionable, to say the least.” The question everyone is asking: how did this happen? How did a team built around the brilliance of Patrick Mahomes, a team expected to contend for championships for years to come, suddenly find themselves saddled with a running game so ineffective it’s practically nonexistent?

We’re not just talking about a few missed blocks or a couple of unlucky bounces. This is a systemic failure, a complete breakdown of the fundamental aspects of running the football. The numbers are horrifying: averaging a paltry 2.8 yards per carry, failing to convert short-yardage situations with alarming regularity, and consistently putting Mahomes in long, difficult down-and-distance scenarios. “It’s like watching a car try to drive through quicksand,” one anonymous source within the Chiefs organization admitted. “We’re spinning our wheels, getting nowhere fast, and embarrassing ourselves in the process.” The 2025 Chiefs are flirting with infamy.

The Historical Context: A Century of NFL Running

To truly understand the gravity of the Chiefs’ situation, it’s essential to appreciate the historical benchmark they’re threatening to eclipse. The current record for the worst running game efficiency belongs to the 1930 Portsmouth Spartans, who averaged a meager 2.9 yards per carry. That was a different era of football, a time of leather helmets, limited passing, and brutally physical play. To think that a modern NFL team, with all the advancements in training, nutrition, and scheme, could perform worse than a team from nearly a century ago is almost unfathomable.

Consider the evolution of the game. Over the decades, offenses have become increasingly sophisticated, defenses more complex, and athletes bigger, faster, and stronger. Running game strategies have evolved from basic power formations to intricate zone schemes and read-option concepts. Yet, despite all these advancements, the Chiefs find themselves on the verge of setting a new low.

“It’s not just about the yards per carry,” explains former NFL coach Ron Rivera. “It’s about the overall impact on the offense. A consistently ineffective running game makes the entire team predictable, puts tremendous pressure on the quarterback, and makes it incredibly difficult to sustain drives.” He added with a chuckle, “Mahomes is good, but he’s not *that* good. No one can carry an entire team when the run game is this bad”.

What’s Gone Wrong in Kansas City?

So, what’s causing this epic collapse of the Chiefs’ running game? It’s a complex issue with multiple contributing factors. Let’s break it down:

* Offensive Line Struggles: The most glaring problem is the performance of the offensive line. Injuries have taken their toll, forcing the team to shuffle players and rely on inexperienced backups. The unit is struggling to generate push in the run game, failing to open up running lanes, and allowing defenders to penetrate into the backfield.

* Running Back Ineffectiveness: While the offensive line deserves much of the blame, the running backs themselves haven’t been particularly impressive. They lack explosiveness, struggle to break tackles, and often fail to make the most of the limited opportunities they get. There’s a lack of vision and decisiveness in their running styles.

* Predictable Play-Calling: Opposing defenses have quickly realized that the Chiefs’ running game is a weakness. They’re loading the box, daring Mahomes to beat them through the air. The play-calling has become predictable, with the Chiefs often abandoning the run too early in games.

* Defensive Adjustments: NFL defenses have become increasingly adept at stopping the run. They’re using lighter, faster personnel, employing sophisticated gap schemes, and focusing on penetration and disruption. The Chiefs’ offensive scheme simply hasn’t adapted to these changes.

“They need to find a way to get creative,” says former NFL running back LaDainian Tomlinson. “They can’t just keep running into a brick wall and expecting different results. They need to use motion, misdirection, and play-action to keep defenses off balance.” Tomlinson added, “And those running backs need to hit the hole HARD. No more hesitation.”

The Mahomes Factor

Of course, no discussion of the Chiefs can ignore the presence of Patrick Mahomes. While his brilliance has often masked the team’s deficiencies, even he can’t overcome such a glaring weakness in the running game. Defenses are now able to focus more of their attention on stopping Mahomes, knowing that the running threat is minimal.

“It’s frustrating,” Mahomes admitted after a recent loss. “We need to be able to run the ball effectively to take some pressure off the passing game. It makes my job a lot easier when we can establish the run.”

The Impact on the Chiefs’ Dynasty

The struggles of the running game have had a significant impact on the Chiefs’ overall performance. The team is no longer the dominant force it once was. They’re struggling to score points, control the clock, and close out games. The aura of invincibility that once surrounded them has vanished.

Many analysts believe that the Chiefs’ dynasty is in serious jeopardy. “They need to fix this problem, and they need to fix it fast,” warns ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. “Otherwise, they’re going to be watching other teams compete for championships.”

The problem is bigger than just this year, though. The inability to effectively run the ball will only limit them more and more as the years go on. It puts undue pressure on Mahomes to be perfect. And let’s face it, nobody can be perfect forever.

Possible Solutions and Future Outlook

So, what can the Chiefs do to turn things around? Here are a few potential solutions:

* Revamp the Offensive Line: The team needs to invest in improving the offensive line, either through free agency or the draft. They need to find players who can consistently win their matchups and create running lanes.
* Find a More Dynamic Running Back: The Chiefs may need to consider bringing in a more explosive and versatile running back. Someone who can not only run between the tackles but also catch passes out of the backfield.
* Adjust the Play-Calling: The coaching staff needs to get more creative with the play-calling. They need to incorporate more motion, misdirection, and play-action to keep defenses guessing.
* Develop a More Balanced Attack: Ultimately, the Chiefs need to strive for a more balanced offensive attack. They can’t rely solely on Mahomes to carry the team. They need to be able to run the ball effectively to keep defenses honest and control the clock.

The future of the Chiefs dynasty hinges on their ability to address this issue. If they can’t fix their running game woes, they risk falling behind in the competitive landscape of the NFL. It’s a daunting challenge, but one that the Chiefs must overcome if they want to remain a championship contender.

The question that hangs in the air is whether they *can* fix it. Are the problems fixable with coaching adjustments and personnel changes, or are they more deeply rooted? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: the 2025 Chiefs are on the precipice of making history for all the wrong reasons.

The Clock is Ticking

The pressure is mounting in Kansas City. The fans are growing restless, the media is relentless, and the players are feeling the weight of expectations. The Chiefs have a choice to make: either address their running game problems and reclaim their place as a dominant force in the NFL, or continue down this path of mediocrity and risk becoming a footnote in history. The clock is ticking.

In the end, the legacy of the 2025 Chiefs will be defined not only by their struggles but also by how they respond to them. Will they rise to the challenge and overcome their adversity, or will they succumb to the pressure and become the team that broke the wrong kind of NFL record? That’s the question that looms large over Kansas City as the season unfolds. Personally, I hope they figure it out. Seeing Mahomes on the sidelines looking dejected is not something I want to get used to.