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KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Kareem Hunt waited his turn and never complained. He could have moaned, shake, compote or sulk. Instead, he wisely understood where the Kansas City attack was heading, that something special would flourish every week. His own opportunities would eventually arise and leaders in the campaign would do their part at the right time.
It was obvious long ago that Kansas City had the most explosive offensive of the NFL this season, a unit that has just won a 45-10 win against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night. What was not so obvious was how the leaders would keep all their star players satisfied with the firepower to release. Hunt was the first to learn what it means to live with limited touches, since he has accumulated only 173 total yards in the first three games of Kansas City. He has accumulated 595 total yards in four games since, including 141 in the win over the Bengals.
It's easy to say that Hunt is booming just because defenses are obsessed with keeping featured quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In fact, he also succeeds because he's done a great job as a real team player. "People are watching movies on Pat now, so I'm going to make it easier for him," said Hunt, who had 86 rushing yards in 15 attempts, five receptions for 55 yards and three touchdowns against Cincinnati. "I told him you do all those cute things, I'll handle all the dirty work."
To understand the true beauty of Hunt's recent success, you must first remember what he did last season. He ran for a 1,327-yard NFL record, captured 53 passes for an additional 455 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Most people did not know who Hunt was when the leaders selected him for the third round of the 2017 project. He ended up playing in the Pro Bowl, becoming a fantastic football fan and eventually signing a contract of approval with Under Armor this past season.
Normally, a player like Hunt was entering his second season looking for an even bigger impact. He ended up looking for the best way to integrate. It was a necessary approach for a team that started a second-year quarter, a team that would be surrounded by a panoply of weapons including the best shooter in the league (Travis Kelce), his most dynamic receiver (Tyreek Hill) and another quick doubled that came in free mode (Sammy Watkins). Instead of relying on his new fame, Hunt had to learn a little more about sharing wealth.
Yes, the offense of the chiefs is extraordinary because Mahomes is practically superhuman. A more underrated aspect of what makes this special team is the selflessness that is best illustrated by Hunt. "We play ball here," said Chief Ranger Cam Erving. "Guys do not count a lot, when a team plans one thing, we have another thing to come back to." Kareem did a great job staying patient and waiting for his moments to come in. He captures those moments when they do come and he finishes. "
"He takes this offense to the next level," added Mahomes. "Being able to run hard and be able to catch the ball out of the back of the field when he's not counted, I can just throw him a checkdown and he can break three tackles and get into the end zone. Is a special player I think the hype will not happen. "
Hunt set the tone from the start against the Bengals. He scored the first two touchdowns of Kansas City, one on a six-yard reception from Mahomes and the other on a 15-yard quarterback catcher. Hunt also had one of the most spectacular moments of the game in the first half, when he jumped right, conceded two tackles, blocked another defenseman and finished with a 21-yard win. This effort has touched all that has made Hunt an instant hit in the league: tenacity, determination, ability to make the most of the opportunities that come its way.
Even if the Chiefs have the wind in their sails any afternoon, the gravity that Hunt brings to this attack is a necessary part of everything they hope to accomplish this season. Hunt will receive more hits in the coming weeks as the defenses have literally no way to stop the Kansas City pass. Mahomes has too much play and speed around him. No league team can score as fast as this one when their quarterback starts throwing down regularly.
Hunt does not offend the idea that if the opponent has to choose his poison against the leaders, he is the most likely option. In fact, this gives him another opportunity to prove why he is so keen on Kansas City. The Denver Broncos realized that when Hunt had earned 121 yards in 19 races and added 54 receiving yards in a 27-23 win. He beat the Jaguars a week after that win (with 22 runs for 87 yards) and was just as deadly in the 43-40 loss to New England (80 yards in the 105-yard run at the front desk) in five receptions).
When asked if his latest games had increased his self-confidence, Hunt acknowledged that he had never had a problem with insurance. "It's not even about me, it's about the winning team," Hunt said. "All I can do to help the team win, I'm a team guy, I have to do whatever."
Chefs will surely appreciate this attitude in the coming weeks. At 6-1, they have already gone through the toughest part of their calendar, a course that included victories on the road in San Diego, Pittsburgh and Denver and that close defeat in New England. They will now have the opportunity to play three consecutive games against teams with defeat records, including two (Denver and Arizona) at Arrowhead Stadium. Given the ease with which leaders can score, they will likely flirt with the score of 50 points at least twice more.
This explosive potential in the coming weeks could make people forget how difficult it is to keep everyone happy in an offense as multifaceted as this one. As head coach Chiefs Andy Reid said throughout the year, everyone must be ready when his number is called in this system. Fortunately for the leaders, Hunt has already shown that he did not really care about the arrival of his keys. The only thing that really matters, as far as he is concerned, is what he will do with them.
Follow Jeffri Chadiha on Twitter @jeffrichadiha.
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