Jeff Legwold
DENVER — Within the swirl of dialog concerning the Denver Broncos' lack of id on offense, and what was, at occasions, a tepid dedication to the run recreation, coach Sean Payton tweaked the method Monday night time towards the Cincinnati Bengals.
As an alternative of rotating the crew's high two working backs — J.Ok. Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey — Payton let every again keep within the recreation for the whole offensive collection.
The outcome was the primary 100-yard dashing recreation by a Broncos working again in over two years, 186 complete dashing yards, 512 yards of offense and a 28-3 victory at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive.
“One factor we did completely different [Monday] — there are particular tags that put both one in — however we gave them collection, and that helped them each,” Payton mentioned. “It is simpler to name performs, and each of them obtained in good rhythms. … These guys each ran arduous. I assumed we blocked them effectively; we pushed the [Bengals defense] effectively.”
“It was very useful,” Dobbins mentioned. “We're simply going to maintain getting higher. He'll determine me out. He'll determine us out.”
Dobbins completed with 101 yards on 16 carries in what he believes is a extra snug rotation for a working again. It was the primary time a Broncos again had topped 100 yards since Latavius Murray had 103 yards dashing within the 2022 season finale (Jan. 8, 2023) — a span of 37 regular-season video games, 38 video games total if final January's playoff loss to the Buffalo Payments is included.
It was additionally the primary 100-yard dashing recreation by a Denver again since Payton was employed by the Broncos simply over three weeks after Murray's effort.
“I am a kind of guys, if I get in a rhythm, if I can get consecutive carries, I will get higher,” Dobbins mentioned. “As the sport goes on, I get higher. I am positive each working again would most likely inform you that. So within the second half, that is what you noticed. Coach Payton is beginning to determine me out. … The collection, getting consecutive touches, you see what occurs.”
Because the crew's playcaller, Payton had brazenly mentioned all through final season and three video games into this one the Broncos' wrestle to search out the right combination within the run recreation. Dobbins had flashed loads of potential at occasions this season, together with a three-play, 66-yard landing drive in final week's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Dobbins carried the ball on all three performs of that drive, together with the 19-yard landing run.
The Broncos ran the ball simply 10 occasions within the the rest of that recreation after Dobbins' three-play outburst. And within the back-to-back losses over the earlier two weeks, to the Indianapolis Colts and Chargers, the Broncos' working backs had 20 and 13 carries, respectively, in contrast with 31 on Monday night time.
“Simply working the ball effectively actually helps,” Broncos quarterback Bo Nix mentioned. “These guys ran the ball powerful, we blocked it powerful. … Week 4 of the season, you type of know slightly bit extra of what you wish to be as a crew. First and second down had been so significantly better.”
The manufacturing on the bottom — granted towards a beleaguered Bengals protection — nonetheless fueled the Broncos' efficiency throughout the board. Nix's 326 passing yards marked his first 300-yard recreation of the season, 121 extra passing yards than in any of the earlier three video games.
And the Broncos' 512 yards on offense had been their most in a recreation throughout Payton's tenure.
Toss in a Broncos protection that gave up the Bengals 159 complete yards and did not enable Cincinnati a non-penalty snap on offense on Denver's facet of the sector within the Bengals' final 9 possessions — and it was simply what the Broncos wanted after two last-play losses.
“We're seeing a number of the arduous work begin to repay,” Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz mentioned. “It is the identical for working backs because the offensive line, you want the reps.”
“I have been working actually arduous to get [the 100-yard game],” Dobbins mentioned. “Our O-line was blocking unimaginable … it is an awesome feeling. Perhaps I can go back-to-back.”
Subsequent up for the Broncos is the defending Tremendous Bowl champion and 4-0 Philadelphia Eagles, who've allowed three of their 4 opponents to common no less than 4.7 yards per carry.
