Kansas
Kansas City Chiefs’ run game hits new high in Mahomes era
LAS VEGAS — Kareem Hunt had modest expectations for himself when he rejoined the Kansas City Chiefs last month after a six-year break.
“My goal was to get back in football shape and just go out there and give it everything I got, and any opportunity I get, make the most of it,” Hunt said. “I do believe that I’ve done that.”
Hunt has actually done more than that. He’s brought the Chiefs’ running game to life.
The Chiefs are averaging 122 rushing yards per game, their best since 2015, better than any season since Patrick Mahomes became their starting quarterback. The improved running game is one of the biggest reasons the Chiefs are 7-0 and the NFL’s last remaining unbeaten team, particularly in a season when Mahomes has thrown more interceptions (nine) than touchdown passes (eight) and the Chiefs have gone through a rash of injuries at wide receiver.
Statistically, Hunt and the running game weren’t great in Sunday’s 27-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Hunt rushed for 59 yards on 21 carries.
But Hunt, who scored the Chiefs’ first touchdown on a one-yard run, was effective enough.
“There wasn’t a lot of room in there, so that’s OK,” coach Andy Reid said of Hunt’s statistical day. “He pounds it in there and normally he’s going forward, so that’s a good thing.”
Hunt led the NFL in rushing as a rookie for the Chiefs in 2017 and was having another big season the following year when he was released. But the Chiefs didn’t average as many rushing yards in those seasons as they are this year (118.9 in 2017 and 115.9 in 2018).
It’s also happening after the Chiefs expected to get more big plays from their passing game, which hasn’t been what the team hoped after several key receivers went down with injuries. But the spike in the run game has made up for the lack of big plays. That’s in large part because of the arrival of Hunt, who was signed when the Chiefs lost Isiah Pacheco to a broken leg. Hunt has 84 carries in four games, or 21 per game.
“I can’t imagine what he feels like on a Monday,” offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said of Hunt’s heavy workload. “It cannot feel very good, but it’s a sacrifice he does for this team. He’s loving it. We’re loving handing him the ball. The offensive line is blocking their tail off with the tight ends. It’s a really good thing for the offense right now.
“I was here with him in ’17 and he reminds me a lot of that same player. We love where he’s at. He’s physical, and usually when we ask him to get three, he gets us four. And when we ask him to get four, he gets five.”
The Chiefs are running well with a group of backs that went largely unwanted by other teams when they arrived. Hunt was a free agent all summer. Samaje Perine was released after training camp by the Denver Broncos. Carson Steele is an undrafted rookie.
Even Pacheco came to the Chiefs as a seventh-round draft pick in 2022.
“[Hunt] is just a different style,” Reid said. “They’re all actually different, but he has got that pound-it-in-at-you style and it’s helped us that way. So you lose a great player like we did with Pacheco and these other guys step up and Kareem comes off the street and helps us out. That’s great. And we still have [Clyde Edwards-Helaire] sitting back there, who was a great player too.”
It’s mostly been Hunt’s position. Steele had two carries and Perine two pass receptions against the Raiders, but otherwise Hunt has been carrying the workload.
“He’s done a great job of getting what’s there and then making plays when his number’s called,” Mahomes said. “It seems like every single time he’s falling forward and getting five yards, six yards, whatever it is. That makes my job easier at the quarterback position and for the offense in general when you’re in those advantageous situations with down and distance.
“As we start getting more and more guys back and healthier, he might not have to have 30 carries, [but] whenever he gets the opportunity, he’s going to go out there and make it count.”
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – A statewide alert sent to smartphones across Kansas urges drivers to stay off of Kansas roads unless there’s an emergency. The alert follows numerous closures across the state, including in Harvey County where the sheriff’s office issued a travel alert, advising that all state highways in the county are closing “due to the impacts of the winter storm. In Harvey County, the state highway closures include Interstate I-135, U.S. 50, K-196 and K-15.
“These State-maintained roadways, and we do not have a timeline when they will reopen. We will share updates as they are made available to us,” the county explained.
On Sunday afternoon, the Kansas Department of Transportation advised that due to low visibility and impassable conditions, Interstate 70 was closed in both directions from the Missouri state line in Kansas City west to the Ellsworth County line and that eastbound I-70 was also closed from Hays to the Missouri state line.
Joining Harvey County, KDOT said that all highways were closed in Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Doniphan, Riley, Pottawatomie, Johnson, Jackson, Atchison, Wabaunsee, Shawnee, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Lyon, Osage, Douglas, Wyandotte, Washington, Clay, Geary, Dickinson, Morris, Marion, Chase, McPherson, Saline, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Ottawa, Mitchell, Republic, Cloud and Jewell counties.
Representing central Kansas and some of the areas most heavily impacted by the ice and snow, including Salina, Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C shed light on what troopers are dealing with.
“Due to untreated roadways and hazardous conditions, some motorists may be stuck for extended periods of time,” KHP Trooper Ben Gardner posted on the troop’s Facebook page a little after 5 p.m. Sunday. “Emergency response is extremely difficult, and we ask for your patience as troopers work to assist those in need. Please avoid travel if possible to help keep everyone safe.”
The first winter storm of 2025 prompted numerous closures to schools, businesses and local government facilities across Kansas. You can keep up with the full list of closures and delays here: https://www.kwch.com/weather/closings/. While temperatures will be dangerously cold on Monday, conditions are expected to improve enough throughout the day for most if not everyone to open again on Tuesday.
You can catch updates on highway conditions across Kansas here: www.kandrive.gov.
Copyright 2025 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Travelers trying to get in and out of Kansas City International Airport have long delays in front of them.
While the airport itself remains open, flights are not leaving or arriving Sunday.
According to flykc.com, airlines have canceled every flight leaving Kansas City before 5 p.m. There are no incoming flights expected to land at KCI Airport before 5:45 p.m. Sunday evening.
The airport told all impacted travelers Saturday to check with their airline for updates on flights and rescheduling options.
ALSO READ: Chiefs land in Denver after hours-long winter storm delay in Kansas City
KCI Airport closed for several hours Saturday afternoon because ice accumulated quickly. The airport eventually reopened, but travelers faced delays and cancelations.
Kansas City leaders are expected to provide updates concerning KCI Airport at 1 p.m. Sunday. Any information will be updated in this article.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Kansas basketball’s Zeke Mayo, Hunter Dickinson react to WVU defeat
Check out everything Kansas basketball players Zeke Mayo and Hunter Dickinson had to say following Tuesday’s loss at home against West Virginia.
LAWRENCE — Kansas basketball continues Big 12 Conference play on Sunday on the road against UCF.
The No. 7 Jayhawks (9-3, 0-1 in Big 12) are coming off of a loss at home against West Virginia. UCF (10-2, 1-0 in Big 12) just beat Texas Tech on the road. It’s an opportunity for a rebound for KU, but coach Bill Self’s squad did lose this matchup last season.
Here’s how fans can follow, watch and stream the game against UCF, which is scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m. (CT):
What channel is Kansas basketball vs UCF on today?
Kansas basketball vs UCF time today
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 5
- Start time: 3 p.m. (CT)
Kansas basketball will play UCF at 3 p.m. (CT) at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando.
Kansas basketball vs UCF prediction
The Jayhawks are in a tough position this week after losing their Big 12 opener at home against West Virginia. It’s not as if making the trip to face UCF this weekend will be some break for Kansas. But this could be the wake-up call that KU needs on the way to a 74-67 win in front of a hostile crowd.
Kansas basketball 2024-25 schedule
Here’s a look at the last three games Kansas has played during the regular season. The full schedule is available online.
- Dec. 14 (home): NC State — Kansas won 75-60
- Dec. 22 (home): Brown — Kansas won 87-53
- Dec. 31 (home): West Virginia — Kansas lost 62-61
UCF basketball 2024-25 schedule
Here’s a look at the last three games UCF has played during the regular season. The full schedule is available online.
- Dec. 14 (neutral): Tulsa — UCF won 88-75
- Dec. 21 (home): Jacksonville — UCF won 86-66
- Dec. 31 (away): Texas Tech — UCF won 87-83
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
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