The Kansas City Chiefs sit at 5-5 with their playoff hopes dwindling with each loss heading into their Week 12 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Chiefs are currently the ninth seed in the playoff picture, one-and-a-half-games behind the 6-4 Jacksonville Jaguars and one game behind the 6-5 Houston Texans. Kansas City is desperate for as many wins as possible over the final seven games.

It starts with the offense. The Chiefs need to find a way to run the ball efficiently and consistently, which has been a big story surrounding the team this season. Starter Isiah Pacheco has missed the last couple of weeks with a knee injury but has returned to practice this week with a large brace on his right knee. His status for Sunday is in the air, but he should be returning next week if not this week.

Kareem Hunt has stepped in as the starter and hasn’t been bad, but he lacks explosiveness that this offense desperately needs on the ground. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has essentially been Kansas City’s leading rusher, which could be a reason for why the Chiefs aren’t winning as many games as they have in the past.

Mahomes commented on his team’s 5-5 start and the sense of urgency surrounding the team going forward.

“The Chiefs are expressing plenty of urgency for their final seven games of the regular season and hope a win can propel them to make a run to clinch a playoff spot,” ESPN’s Nate Taylor wrote Friday. “Mahomes essentially said the Chiefs' season comes down to the next seven weeks. ‘Obviously we're 5-5 and not where we want to be at, but we get to write the rest of this season's story -- it starts this week against the Colts at Arrowhead,’ Mahomes said. ‘I'm excited for us to go out there and do it.’”

Mahomes and the offense may be facing a full-strength Colts secondary for the first time this season since acquiring star cornerback Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline.

“The Colts could have their full, revamped secondary intact for the first time this season with CB Charvarius Ward nearing his return from injured reserve (concussion),” wrote ESPN’s Stephen Holder. “That could give the Colts a lineup of Ward, Sauce Gardner and Kenny Moore II (slot) at CB, with Cam Bynum and Nick Cross at safety. It gives the Colts unlimited flexibility in terms of matchups and coverages and comes just in time to face QB Patrick Mahomes on the road.”

This is an absolute must-win for the Chiefs, so expect the team to come out with extra juice this week and the rest of the season.