It's been a season to remember for Kansas City Chiefs' rookie running back Kareem Hunt.
A third-round pick out of the University of Toledo, Hunt was thrust into the starting lineup just two weeks prior to the season after veteran tailback Spencer Ware was lost for the year.
Thirteen games and a divvy of records later, it's clear that Hunt was up for the challenge.
That was evident in Sunday's win over the Oakland Raiders, as Hunt became just the second rookie to rush for 1,000 yards in franchise history, joining the late Joe Delaney.
"It's a big accomplishment, nobody can ever take that away from me," Hunt said. "I just want to thank those guys up front. They've done a great job all season of helping me grind out those tough yards."
Fighting for the tough yards has been Hunt's mantra throughout his rookie campaign, and he was at it again on Sunday, handling 25 carries for 116 yards and a score.
His touchdown marked his first trip to the end zone since Week 3 and was instrumental in Kansas City's construction of an early lead.
It was all part of a concerted effort to run the ball as the Chiefs finished the afternoon about as balanced as a team could possibly be, running on 33 of 67 offensive plays.
That commitment to the running game was rewarded with Hunt's fifth game with 100 or more rushing yards this year – matching Delaney for the most by a rookie in team history.
And now with 1,046 yards on the season, Hunt is just 76 yards shy of passing Delaney for the most rushing yards ever by a rookie clad in the red and gold.
Though while Hunt receives the accolades, his success is also a testament to the Chiefs' offensive line.
"Those guys were just doing a great job all day," Hunt said. "They opened holes for Charcandrick (West) and I and we were just able to hit them. We were running hard and the line just did a nice job of opening some lanes for us."
Head Coach Andy Reid – a former offensive lineman himself – agreed with Hunt's sentiment.
"I was proud of them and how they handled that," Reid said. "You have to come in with an attitude and I thought the guys did that. They did really well."
That attitude was felt in the second half, when the Chiefs tallied a bruising 71 yards on the ground.
Kansas City had the lead, and if the Raiders wanted a chance, they had to stop the Chiefs' running game.
At the end of the day, they couldn't.
The Chiefs ran for their most yards since Week 4, and it translated into a win.
And despite his big day, that's all that mattered to Hunt.
"I'll feel this way if we win, no matter what my numbers look like," Hunt said. "It's huge to go out there and to get a big time win. Now we just have to keep doing what we're doing."
