Kansas City’s Hunt back on track in win over Raiders

KANSAS CITY, MO. Kareem Hunt’s eyes must have got wide when he took a handoff from Alex Smith and plunged toward the line of scrimmage in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders.

For once, he didn’t have a massive defensive tackle ready to give him a bear hug.

Hunt picked up a six-yard gain, a modest success by some standards, but a run that must have felt like freedom.

It was a third of his total two weeks ago against Buffalo, and set the tone for what would be a massive bounce-back performance.

Hunt finished the day rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown, and caught three passes for 22 yards to help the Chiefs to a 26-15 victory in a crucial showdown in the AFC West.

“Honestly, I would feel this way if we win no matter what my numbers look like. It is just huge to go out there and get a big-time win and keep it going,” said Hunt, who had not eclipsed the 100-yard mark since Week 5.

It wasn’t just a bounce-back performance for Hunt, of course. The victory snapped Kansas City ’s four-game skid and put the Chiefs in solid position with the Chargers coming to town Saturday.

Those teams are 7-6 and tied atop the AFC West.

The Chiefs won their first meeting in Los Angeles, and Hunt was a big reason. The rookie with the wide smile and never-go-down attitude churned 17 times for 172 yards and the clinching touchdown in a 24-10 victory, one of many highlights during the team’s 5-0 start.

Despite being 2-6 in their past eight games, the Chiefs kept going to him.

It was only a matter of time, quarterback Alex Smith said, until Hunt broke loose again.

He finally did on Sunday.