The way Larry Johnson is running the football it does not matter who is playing quarterback for the Chiefs. The quarterback controversy in Kansas City is becoming a non-issue and it is not because one is outplaying the other. Johnson’s performance the last two weeks – and for a majority of the season – makes anyone think they can play quarterback in Kansas City. The NFL’s leading rusher added 157 more yards to his total leading the Chiefs to a 19-10 win over the Broncos.
The NFL’s leading rusher now has 1,202 yards on the season. Johnson is well on pace to enjoy the same type of 1800 yard season he experienced last year. His bullish running style only serves as a deception to his nimble feet and surprising speed. Just ask the Chiefs last two opponents. Oakland, who went into Arrowhead with a top-10 defense, surrendered 154 yards to Johnson. Denver, who had a top-15 defense and fifth against the run, gave up 157.
The win on Thanksgiving was something Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt had been virtually begging the NFL to bring a Thanksgiving Day game to KC. He got his wish this year, but was not able to see the game in person. Instead, the 74-year-old owner was admitted to a Dallas-area hospital Wednesday with a partially collapsed lung. Hunt had to listen to the game through his hospital telephone. The game was only televised on the NFL Network, in Kansas City, and in Denver. It was part of a trial experiment by the NFL to feature games on its network. Hunt’s hospital room was not hooked up to satellite cable.
A lot of people took time away from stuffing their faces full of Thanksgiving trimmings. There was a standing-room-only crowd of 80,866 in attendance, the largest crowd since 1972. It was the largest crowd since Arrowhead opened.
Johnson scored the team’s lone touchdown and Lawrence Tynes added four field goals to cap the scoring for KC. The Chiefs moved into a second-place tie with Denver.
