In his first game back since breaking his right fibula, Isiah Pacheco played early and often.

“It was good to get Pacheco some reps,” Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said. “He did a good job.”

During the Chiefs’ 19-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the third-year running back played on every offensive series except the third-to-last drive and the final kneedown.

He and Kareem Hunt both received seven carries each. Pacheco rushed for 44 yards and added a reception for five yards.

His first play since his injury in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals was a four-yard run up the middle with 12:53 left in the first quarter.

Two plays later, a 3rd and 2, the Chiefs lined Pacheco up in the backfield as well in an interesting combination with Carson Steele and Travis Kelce, and Pacheco got two yards for the first down.

The offense as a whole was subpar and the running game only gained 63 yards on 16 carries, but Pacheco showed on the Chiefs’ third offensive play of the second half that he still has that explosive shot.

On that 1st-and-10 play, he started with an inside run before breaking outside for 34 yards. Those, along with a catch by DeAndre Hopkins, were Kansas City’s longest plays from scrimmage.

“I wasn’t trying to hit a home run or a touchdown,” Pacheco said. “I just wanted to make the first descent.”

But that breakaway ability could add another dimension to the Chiefs when paired with Kareem Hunt, who at 29 is more of a plodding-yet-painful defender.

Hunt started the Week 13 game, but was the No. 2 prospect behind Nick Chubb with the Cleveland Browns before this season.

“I’m used to working with other great defensemen,” Hunt said.

Pacheco also offers excellent value for money. Despite amassing more than 800 rushing yards in the previous two seasons, he is in the third year of a four-year, $3.7 million contract with the Chiefs on a rookie contract that is scheduled to go in the seventh round .

The Chiefs’ win over the Raiders also marked the return of Charles Omenihu, who suffered a torn ACL in last year’s AFC Championship Game.

“It was good to get Omenihu fit and playing,” Reid said.

On the first series of the second half, he and Nick Bolton helped stop running back Ameer Abdullah on a crucial 4th-and-1 play for no gain.

But Omenihu, who is in the final year of his two-year, $16 million contract, could help the Chiefs the most in passing. The Chiefs are well below their pace from the previous two championship seasons.

But Omenihu, who had seven sacks in 11 games last season, already appears to be helping. The Chiefs had three sacks, including two by Chris Jones.

However, sacks were a concern on the other side of the ball, as Patrick Mahomes was knocked down five times, resulting in left tackle Wanya Morris being benched.

“Pat took a few hits there,” Reid said. “We had problems at times.”

And it was all part of a second straight poor performance against a team with a losing record, and the game once again ended on the last possession.

The upside, however, is that the Chiefs have officially clinched a playoff spot at 11-1 and their explosive backs have returned.

“It felt great,” Pacheco said.