Nobody’s taking this ball from Kapri Bibbs.

The Broncos running back, one of Denver’s few bright spots in a gloomy 30-20 loss at Oakland on Sunday night, held his first career touchdown ball close to his chest Monday as though he were ready to take on an oncoming linebacker. Bibbs will put the ball in a frame and hang it up in his apartment. It’s now a prized possession.

Bibbs has been waiting for this moment since he first took to football as one of 23 kids in his uncle’s house trying to find a way out of the crime-stricken Chicago area.

“A Tecmo Bowl run,” one friend texted, referring to the 1980s-era video game.

Bibbs said he had 200 text messages after his career-best performance, highlighted by his 69-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass on which he made seven defenders miss. Related Articles November 8, 2016 Broncos Mailbag: Is it Paxton Lynch time for Denver?

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Afterward, Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said Bibbs deserved more opportunities to touch the football and bring a spark to an offense that has lacked big plays.

“That was just a little bit of what they’re about to experience,” said Bibbs, who fulfilled his mother’s early birthday wish with his showing Sunday. “The more I get the ball, the more successful we’ll be. And that’s not me tooting my own horn, I think I’m a home run hitter, and I think I can do that all the time.”

Bibbs finished with 80 total yards, a Broncos game high, on just three offensive touches.

“Kid’s been working his tail off, doing some good stuff. We want to give him opportunities. He had a big run on a third-and-1 that I’m thinking of,” said Kubiak, referring to Bibbs’ 10-yard rush on a pitch play that led to Jordan Norwood’s 36-yard touchdown reception one play later. “(Kapri) makes a play, and then I look up and he jumps out there to cover the kick. That’s the kind of players you need, so I’m proud of him. He’s done a good job. He deserves some more (playing time).”

Kubiak’s pledge to enhance the role for the former Colorado State star only increases Bibbs’ hunger to prove he belongs. After two years on the Broncos’ practice squad, Bibbs is in his first full year on the active roster. He’s well aware of the opportunity in front of him.

“I thought it was going to come last year, but it’s now. God won’t let anything happen a second sooner or a second later,” Bibbs said. “When I know a coach trusts in me and believes in me, I don’t want to let them down.”

Bibbs has been a regular on special teams all season, but he had only five offensive touches before C.J. Anderson tore meniscus two weeks ago and more playing time opened up.

With Anderson down, the starting running back job went to rookie Devontae Booker, who has struggled in his two weeks in the lead role. Booker remains the starter, but the workload is likely to be more balanced going forward. Booker has played 100-of-121 offensive snaps over the past two games. Bibbs has played just 17 offensive snaps in that stretch.

The Broncos have 75 passes compared to 37 runs over their last two games, a proportion that Kubiak would like to bring back toward 50-50. Denver’s best offensive performances have come when it has run more than 25 times and established a better rhythm.

“Once you get one run and you don’t get anything until later on in the drive, or the next series, you’re not really into a rhythm,” Booker said. “You’re getting a couple of yards, 4 or 5 yards, and they give you another carry and get 10. You start getting into a rhythm quickly. I wasn’t really able to get into a rhythm just based on how the game was being played.”

Booker and Bibbs, both seeing their first NFL action, are now viewed as catalysts to ignite a struggling offense.

“Those are our two guys here down the stretch,” Kubiak said. “They have to play well, and we have to trust both of them to play.”