Running back Kareem Hunt hardly expected to the play the last time Kansas City traveled to Denver, in Week 17 last year with a Wild Card berth in check, but he did receive one first-quarter carry in a tight Chiefs victory to close a dreadful Broncos season.

Hunt ran 35 yards, cementing himself as the NFL’s rushing champion (1,327), and then into the Mile High end zone.

“He’s a guy that can run between and outside the tackles, can catch the ball, get to the sideline and turn up-field before your guy — and everything else,” defensive end Adam Gotsis said.

Hunt returns to Broncos Stadium on Monday night after a breakout rookie season but is still gaining traction in Year 2. He’s averaged a paltry 3.2 yards per carry and has yet to crack the century mark in three games. That hasn’t softened the Broncos’ approach in containing the 23-year-old former Toledo star. Denver is rightfully optimistic they’ll get the job done, because a shaky pass defense has given way to a stout rush stop entering Week 4.

“Our front seven has played very well in all three games, as far as keeping the run to a minimum,” coach Vance Joseph said. “That’s putting more burden on the back end. We have to go continue to stop the run and obviously play better in the back end.”

Denver has allowed only two runs of 12-plus yards — Chris Carson of Seattle (24) and Alex Collins of Baltimore (14). And, per Denver Post game charting, the Broncos have recorded 36 combined “run stuffs” or gains of three-or-fewer yards — not counting short-yardage or kneel-downs. Among Denver’s more active stuffers are nose tackle Domata Peko (4) and linebacker Todd Davis (6-1/2).

“We’ve got solid players like (Derek) Wolfe, Adam, big Shelby (Harris) and Zach (Kerr) — all veteran players who are really stingy against the run,” Peko said. “We don’t like people to run on us. When people run on you, they’re controlling you.”

The Broncos’ run-D has excelled when most required early in drives. They’ve allowed opponents 3.74 yards per rush on first-down attempts, according to STATS, as the 11th-best mark in the NFL.

“If you can’t put them behind the sticks on first down, it puts them in a tough situation,” Gotsis said. “Second-and-long is not where a lot of teams want to be. It makes them more predictable and the play-calling a bit easy. We’ve got to dominate KC early, shut them down and see which way the game flows. But winning first down is the most important thing.”

Denver’s attention to rush defense must also extend to second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes, whose pocket mobility has created broken-play magic on more than one occasion this season. The Broncos blueprint for Russell Wilson‘s feet worked wonders in the opener (five yards rushing and six sacks). More of the same is expected against Kansas City.

“We’re ready to go in there and be dominant,” Gotsis said.