Kansas City Chiefs find success in bringing back Hunt, Smith-Schuster - ESPN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs didn't bill their recent game against the New Orleans Saints as Turn-Back-the-Clock Night, but it had that look.

It looked like 2018 when running back Kareem Hunt scored a touchdown and ran for more than 100 yards for the Chiefs for the first time in six years. It looked like 2022 when JuJu Smith-Schuster led the team's wide receivers with seven catches and 130 yards. It looked like 2019 when Mecole Hardman caught four passes.

But it's 2024 and the 7-0 Chiefs, seeking an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl championship, are the NFL's last remaining unbeaten team heading into Monday night's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN+) at Arrowhead Stadium. They are getting significant contributions from former stars who left for other teams only to return as if time stood still.

«Coach [Andy] Reid has a knack for putting in plays that suit the player,'' Hardman said. „He gave me some quick screens to get the ball in my hands to make something happen. He got the ball to JuJu across the middle, which he's good at.

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“We've been with him before so he knows what we can do. No matter if it's one, two or three plays, he's thinking about how he can get everybody involved.''

Hunt, despite not playing until Week 4, leads the Chiefs in rushing with 308 yards. Smith-Schuster, despite not signing until training camp was over, had more receiving yards against the Saints than any Chiefs player in any one game this season. Hardman was the Chiefs' biggest threat in their Week 7 win over the San