Tyler Thigpen entered Sunday as the NFL’s leading rusher among quarterbacks. He proved his versatility against the Broncos, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. But the Chiefs’ quarterback fell a yard short of possibly sending the game into overtime.
With 4:44 remaining and the Broncos leading 24-17, Kansas City faced fourth-and-goal from Denver’s 5. Operating out of the shotgun, Thigpen looked off his primary target, tight end Tony Gonzalez, who he felt was covered, and ran through a gap over left guard. He was hit at about the 3-yard line and made it to the 1 before being wrestled down by cornerback Dre Bly.
“We were trying to get Tony isolated one-on-one,” Thigpen said. “Their D-end had a good rush, and Tony was getting mobbed. I just decided to take off, me one-on-one, and we came up a yard short. . . . (Bly) made a good play. He was able to take my feet out from under me, where I couldn’t keep driving. Give him some credit.”
Kansas City coach Herm Edwards doesn’t regret going for it on fourth down, or giving Thigpen the green light to run. The 24-year-old from Coastal Carolina came into the game with 251 yards rushing. He had 34 yards Sunday, just 2 shy of the team lead.
“It was a pass play, but he figured he couldn’t fit it in there and took off running,” Edwards said. “I thought he played OK, for the most part. He made some decisions sometimes to where he got hooked on Tony a little too much at times. But that’s him being a young quarterback.”
Thigpen, who was 17-of-32 passing for 187 yards, threw to Gonzalez five times for 73 yards. He gives Chiefs fans hope for the future in a season long since gone sour as Kansas City attempts to rebuild from the ground up. The Chiefs dropped to 2-11.
The former high school running back, wide receiver and punter became the starter after season-ending injuries to Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle.
“We’re pleasantly surprised,” Kansas City president Carl Peterson said of Thigpen. “He came into the season as our third quarterback. He’s done some very good things. The key is (offensive coordinator) Chan Gailey has put him in position to do the things he’s comfortable with, and athletic enough to do.
“That’s why we went to the spread, shotgun, pistol (offensive formations). I like what I see with him. He’s got poise, he’s certainly mobile, and has a very good arm. He’s learning how to play the position of quarterback, as far as managing the game. He’s come a long way.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
