This is exactly what the Broncos had envisioned when they acquired running back Melvin Gordon over the summer.
Having multiple weapons in the backfield, with Gordon and Phillip Lindsay, was supposed to give Denver an opportunity to utilize these weapons to give them a stronger offense. Considering the recent struggles of quarterback Drew Lock, the Broncos run game was the difference in Denver’s victory over a Dolphins team that had won five straight games.
“At the end of the day, we came with attitude,” Lindsay said. “You have to be able to remain consistent with the run game. That’s what it comes down to.”
Lindsay rushed for 82 yards while Gordon added another 84. The pair had a combined 31 carries and an efficient 5.4 yards per carry.
“When there’s a bad play, you still do it. When there’s a good play, you go back to it,” Lindsay added. “You’ve got to stay consistent no matter what you do because you never know when you’re going to break one. Plus, it gets your offensive line in a groove.”
Lindsay broke through for an important 20-yard carry. Gordon added a 25-yard carry along with a 20-yard rush to the endzone early in the third quarter. The duo were catalysts of a struggling offense that later saw Lock start to pick up his game as it ensued.
Even though Lock finished the game with zero touchdowns, the youngster threw for 270 yards. If his game can match the efforts of Lindsay and Gordon, the Broncos can likely add more impressive victories in the coming weeks.
“They were awesome,” Lock said the duo. “Phil is — I don’t really know how much Phil gets talked about in the media or if he gets pumped up or shot down, but he deserves a whole lot of credit for this run game and this offense. You guys see the plays on the field but him in the locker room — him in the huddle from last year to this year — it’s a completely different Phil. I’ve been extremely impressed with how he’s progressed as a leader for this offense and just as a football player in general.”
Lindsay added: “We can win all the rest of these games. It’s the NFL. We all do the same thing. It’s about executing. There’s no science to this. You can put all the cute things together but at the end of the day, can you beat them in the front? Can you get five yards? Can you get 10 yards? Can you get 15? Can you get a touchdown? Can you make those first downs turn into touchdowns? You do that, that’s all there is.”
The Broncos have a chance to continue their strong run game against The 7-3 New Orleans Saints on Sunday, who will be without star quarterback Drew Brees.
