Chiefs running back Hunt likes challenge
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kareem Hunt has been running through challenges all season.
First, there was the challenge of taking over the starting job in Kansas City when veteran running back Spencer Ware, who was supposed to form a two-headed monster with him, went down with a season-ending injury during a preseason game against Seattle.
Then there was the challenge of living up to expectations, which soared after Hunt ran roughshod over New England in the season opener and kept climbing after a string of incredible performances.
There was the inevitable challenge of breaking through the rookie wall, too. Hunt struggled along with the rest of the Chiefs during a midseason swoon that saw them lose six out of seven, putting their onceiron grip on the AFC West in jeopardy with a few games left in the regular season.
The next challenge: The Titans’ bruising rush defense, now that Hunt has led the Chiefs to their second straight division title and into a wild-card game on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I always believe in myself. I always think I’m going to make something happen,” said Hunt, a third-round pick out of Toledo. “When Ware went down, I had an opportunity to step in and fill a role.”
He filled that role in recordsetting fashion, too.
Hunt successfully persuaded coach Andy Reid to let him play last week against the Broncos, even though the division had been decided and playoff position set, so that he could take aim at the league rushing title.
Hunt only needed one carry to scamper 35 yards for an early touchdown, enough yardage to send him past the Rams’ Todd Gurley with 1,327 yards in just over 15 games.
Hunt is the second straight rookie to win the rushing title, following the Cowboys’ Zeke Elliott, and the sixth to accomplish the feat in the Super Bowl era.
Gruden: A ‘good chance’ he’ll return to Raiders
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Jon Gruden says he had a good talk with Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis about returning to the organization for a second stint as coach and believes there is a “good chance” it will happen.
Gruden gave an interview to ESPN Radio on Wednesday to discuss his pursuit of the Raiders job that opened when Jack Del Rio was fired after a disappointing six-win season.
“It’s been a long couple of weeks,” Gruden said. “I know they’ve gone through their process of interviewing candidates and until they’re done I won’t know. I did have a good meeting with Mark. I’ve known him a long time and got a lot of respect for the Raiders football organization.”
Gruden has been out of coaching the past nine years while serving as ESPN’s analyst for “Monday Night Football.” He is scheduled to work the network’s playoff game Saturday in Kansas City between the Chiefs and Tennessee Titans and could come back to the Raiders as soon as next week.
“I think there’s a good chance,” he said. “I’m excited about where I’m at in terms of studying the game and preparing to come back and coach. I just don’t want to sit here and speculate.”
Bengals stick with Marvin Lewis
CINCINNATI — The assistant head coach is gone, but the head coach is coming back for a 16th try at a playoff victory. And so it goes in Cincinnati.
In a what-have-you-done lately league, the Bengals remain the outlier. Marvin Lewis met with the media on Wednesday, a day after getting a two-year extension, and talked in general terms about how his team needs to change.
He said the things he’s said many times during the secondlongest active coaching tenure in the NFL, behind only Bill Belichick. Unlike the New England coach, Lewis has yet to win a playoff game.
One change: Lewis wanted more control over the coaching staff. Paul Alexander, the assistant head coach and offensive line coach for 23 seasons, was fired.
Bills RB LeSean McCoy listed as day to day
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills running back LeSean McCoy missed practice Wednesday because of a right ankle injury and it’s uncertain whether he can play Sunday at Jacksonville in Buffalo’s first playoff game in 18 years.
Coach Sean McDermott would only list the Bills’ top offensive threat as day to day and declined to say whether McCoy would be able to practice at all this week. McCoy did not speak with reporters during time designated for interviews, as team officials said he was being treated by trainers.
McCoy was carted off the field after being hurt on the opening drive of the second half of Buffalo’s 22-16 win at Miami on Sunday.
McCoy leads Buffalo with 1,138 yards rushing, 59 catches and eight touchdowns, including two receiving. Overall, his 1,586 yards from scrimmage account for 33 percent of the Bills’ total.
Cam Newton key to Panthers playoffs hopes
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton said he lives for pressure-packed moments.
But so far the Panthers seventh-year quarterback has been mediocre in the postseason, something he hopes to improve upon when the Panthers visit the Saints on Sunday in the NFC playoffs.
Newton is 3-3 all-time in the postseason, with his last playoff game culminating in an emotionally devastating 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
Outside of a riveting performance in a 49-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals in the 2015 NFC championship game, Newton’s statistics in the postseason have been average. He has completed just 59.7 percent of his passes for eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s run for only two TDs, both of those coming in the playoff rout of the Cardinals.
“This is when the real football starts,” Newton said after Wednesday’s practice. “This is where you’re made or you’re broke — and I look forward to these moments because it brings out the best in the individual because there is so much pressure. And we all know pressure does one of two things. We’re hoping to shine like diamonds on Sunday.”
The Saints (11-5) have already defeated Carolina (11-5) twice this season, including a 31-21 victory on Dec. 3.