Chiefs embrace running game, and Charcandrick West

As is always the case with Charcandrick West, he felt better about his teammates than anything he did in the game.

Before commenting on his day Sunday, West dished out praise to his offensive line, to fullback Anthony Sherman — and on the occasion of the Chiefs’ 26-15 victory over the Oakland Raiders, fellow running back Kareem Hunt.

Hunt surpassed 1,000 yards for the season, becoming the Chiefs’ second rookie to surpass the milestone.

“That’s a big accomplishment,” West said. “Second rookie in (team) history, we’re going to celebrate that after the season.”

But Sunday’s game was an opportunity for his teammates to embrace West.

His 13-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, a play in which he powered through defenders into the end zone, was a highlight-reel moment, and it occurred in the first game since West missed practices the previous week and last Sunday’s game at the New York Jets because of a death in his family.

West didn’t elaborate, except to say he never felt alone while he was away.

“I was with family, but this is my family away from home, and to not be with them was hard last week,” West said. “It felt like a blessing to be here today.

“When I was gone, I was never without them. Every person on the team called to check on me, from the players to the coaches to the owner. To be part of an organization like this … I want to thank the Chiefs, this organization and the fans for sticking by me.”

West said he heard from several fans and well-wishers on social media, and that helped him get through the difficult time.

Sunday, he resumed his role primarily as a third-down back and helped the Chiefs reestablish their running game,

The 165 rushing yards was the most since the victory over Washington in the fourth week. That was also the last time the Chiefs scored a rushing touchdown. Quarterback Alex Smith scored that one.

The third-week victory at the Los Angeles Chargers was the last time a Chiefs running back had gotten into the end zone, and that stretch ended when Hunt bulled in from the 1 on the first play of the second quarter.

Hunt finished with 116 rushing yards to push his season total to 1,046. The only other Chiefs back to rush for 1,000 yards in a rookie season was Joe Delaney, with 1,121 in 1981.

West added 25 yards in three carries, none bigger than his touchdown. West started on Smith’s left, took the handoff and went right through a big hole. He collided with Raiders linebacker NaVorro Bowman at the 5 but West had the leverage and wouldn’t be stopped.

When he got to his feet, West pounded his chest and pointed toward the sky.

On the sideline West received hugs from teammates — and that feeling carried into the locker room.

“It feels good to come into the locker room and see everybody smiling,” West said. “We came together as a family.”

This story was originally published December 10, 2017 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Chiefs embrace running game, and Charcandrick West."