The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans 27-19 in a Saturday showdown between two playoff-bound teams. The win kept the Chiefs in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and gives them a chance to close out the conference with a win in Wednesday’s Christmas game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Chiefs offense played its best game in weeks, and the running back room was a big part of that.

Over the course of the season, the Chiefs trio of Isiah Pacheco, Samaje Perine and Kareem Hunt have all shown different skills that will make them valuable as the team heads into its final attempt at a three-peat.

Best use for Pacheco

After returning to the Chiefs lineup from injury in Week 13, Pacheco showed flashes of his previous form, but still appears to be on the rise at times. After looking solid in Weeks 13 and 14, his production was – and use – dipped something.

Against the Texans, Pacheco only had 26 yards on nine rushing attempts, but he struggled in short-yard situations.

On the fourth-and-1, the Chiefs tried to shift the zone to the left, but Jawaan Taylor and Trey Smith’s poor blocking at the end of the play didn’t give Pacheco much of a chance. A small hole opened up along the front of the play in the B gap, but Pacheco decided to try to force his way through the middle.

The Texans’ frontline penetration was too great and Pacheco was utilized, forcing a turnover on downs.

Pacheco was a powerhouse in his first three years in Kansas City and set the tone for the Chiefs’ back-to-back championships, but at this point the team must relinquish the reins in the short-yardage chase.

This isn’t a blow to Pacheco; Hunt has been outstanding in short-distance running and could give the team a chance to try him out in different looks.

Pacheco is a hit-the-hole-and-run type player, and while this isn’t always conducive to successful inside run plays, it is good for perimeter runs.

The Chiefs’ options outside of the tackles have been limited in recent seasons due to the mobility of their tackles, but with Joe Thuney playing left tackle, this could open up opportunities for the team to run outside of the tackles. This look is great for a player like Pacheco and allows him to build momentum and make quick decisions on one-read plays.

Best use for Hunt

After Pacheco’s injury, the team reunited with Hunt, and his performance this season has made a huge difference for the Chiefs. Hunt returned to the Chiefs as a strong runner and showed his physical ability on Saturday.

Hunt follows his blocks and makes some nice cuts as he looks for a lane to the end zone. He finds one, but he has to get past two defenders first. Hunt lowers his shoulders and, while pushing his feet forward, shoots into the end zone for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season.

Not only has Hunt been great as a goalie and short-yardage defender, but he has also become the team’s most effective closer.

Late in the game, the Chiefs came out of one of their heavier personnel packages and still had a zone left to look at Hunt. After making his read and using a smooth cut to find green grass, Hunt breaks an arm tackle, maintains his balance, makes another cut and could have scored a touchdown.

Hunt opted to slide and keep the clock ticking, sealing the Chiefs’ 14th win of the season.

With his veteran experience and physical running style, Hunt was a perfect fit this season and was an unsung hero for the team. Moving forward, he more than deserves to get most of the starting shots, but he must remain the team’s short-yardage defender. A snap split with Pacheco on early downs is fine and could even make the duo dangerous with different running styles, but Hunt has earned the right to convert runs at close range.

Best use for Perine

Perine, another late-summer signing, has completed fewer than 20 handoffs for the Chiefs this season, but his impact came on third downs, where he helped keep Patrick Mahomes clean and caught key passes.

Perine finished the game with three catches for 50 yards, including a 36-yard wheel route that was perfect.

While he’s spent most of the season trying to eliminate obvious failures, the veteran has had a chance to show he still has a lot left in the tank.

At the snap, Perine goes wide to the other side and moves slowly to sell the idea that he could step in and support Thuney on the left side. After a few well-sold steps, it enters the B gap and quickly flows into the flats.

The Texans linebacker, who is responsible for Perine and plays man defense, has to run across the field – and through the receivers’ running paths – and eventually loses his footing and falls. Perien grabs hold and charges forward more yards to keep the chains moving in the four-minute drill.

Perine hasn’t allowed any pressure since Week 5, and with 37 pass-blocking snaps so far this season, he’s on pace for one of his highest-performing seasons. He’s also on pace for one of his best seasons as a pass catcher. With 289 yards with two weeks left, he should finish with over 300 yards and finish with the second-most passing yards in a single season of his career.

Perine has only played a small role so far, but his utility and importance will continue to increase as the playoffs approach.