After registering a season-high 190 yards of rushing offense in a Week 7 win against the Houston Texans, the Denver Broncos run game took a step backwards on Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. Playing without C.J. Anderson, who will likely miss at least the remainder of the regular season as he rehabs from a torn meniscus, Denver generated just 57 total yards on the ground – although they did find the end zone twice in a 27-19 victory.
From the first series of the game it was evident that head coach Gary Kubiak was leery about the running game in the absence of his lead tailback. Denver opened with five consecutive passes to start the game and seven of the eight plays before Brandon McManus kicked a field goal to give Denver a 3-0 lead on the first drive.
When Devontae Booker left the game briefly in the first quarter, Kubiak had to move even more away from the run game. Kapri Bibbs muffed his first touch and from there Kubiak wasn’t going to take any risks. On the next three drives, all three-and-outs, Denver made just one rushing attempt. They would end the first half with just 19 total yards rushing on seven attempts.
For an offense whose run game is supposed to set up the passing game, it appeared Kubiak tried to employ the inverse strategy against San Diego. Denver elected to throw the ball 38 times compared to 25 rush attempts (three of which were credited to quarterback Trevor Siemian for minus-2 yards).
Even when Denver needed a sustained drive with 8:02 remaining in the fourth quarter after they gave up a pick-six that brought San Diego within five points of tying the game, Kubiak went to the air. The play calling worked out in Denver’s favor, as Siemian found Virgil Green for 31 yards and Demaryius Thomas for 40 to put Denver in goal-to-go, but the running game failed to punch it in from the 4-yard line, leaving the door open for San Diego.
Luckily, the Denver defense made a four-down stop on their own 2-yard line to keep the Chargers out of the end zone on a potentially game tying drive, but it was the second instance in which the Denver rushing attack could have put the game out of reach and failed to do so.
In the third quarter, Devontae Booker fumbled at the San Diego 2-yard line following Denver’s third interception of the game. A touchdown would have made it a 24-7 game. Instead, San Diego drove 98 yards for a touchdown of their own. A blocked PAT was the only thing that kept the game more than a field goal difference.
Credit Booker and running back Juwan Thompson for the two scores they did register. Booker had a nice 3-yard run around the edge after a Darian Stewart interception gave them the ball on the 10. Booker’s 7-yard run set up the score. Thompson, meanwhile, had a grinding score on his only touch of the day. A second effort put the ball just over the goal line to cap a 13-play, 75-yard drive to keep Denver ahead by two scores.
It’s hard to be too critical in a win, but the Denver offense once again struggled to find rhythm – especially early in the game – and the run game was virtually non-existent in first half. A 10-7 halftime lead was only the result of a defensive touchdown by Denver and missed field goal by San Diego.
With games against the Raiders, Saints and Chiefs coming up, the running game will need to get back on track despite Anderson’s absence.
Here’s what the team at Mile High Sports, along with some of our favorite follows in the Denver media, had to say about the run game minus Anderson…
The concerns for the run game started early…
https://twitter.com/davidlukeramsey/status/792823204385402881
Kapri Bibbs didn’t help instill any confidence…
Kapri Bibbs in at RB for #Broncos and muffs his first carry (pitch play) of the game.
— Nick Griffith (@NickGriffithTV) October 30, 2016
Booker returned to the game, but saw limited first-half action with concerns for his shoulder…
Booker coming back in with a banged up shoulder is a little nerve-racking for ball security reasons. Hopefully the kids ready to roll!
— J D T (@BroadcastJesse) October 30, 2016
The play calling became predictable early…
Do the @Broncos realize they've thrown the ball 14 times already and have run the ball (I think) 3 times. I don't get it. #Broncos
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) October 30, 2016
Through the first quarter, Denver had yet to gain positive yardage on the ground…
Think #Broncos' offense misses @cjandersonb22? pic.twitter.com/aKIRwlpQ2W
— Jon Heath (@ByJonHeath) October 30, 2016
Things did not get much better from there…
4 carries for 7 yards. I'm sorry but you can't win football games this way. #Broncos
— Chad Brown (@chadbrown94) October 30, 2016
Denver missed a big opportunity to put the game away in the third quarter…
https://twitter.com/RonnieKRadio/status/792854090929741824
Through three quarters, the run game still hadn’t found rhythm…
@Broncos have run for only 25 yards through almost 3 full quarters. That ain't gonna get 'er done. #Broncos
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) October 30, 2016
Despite Booker’s fumble, Kubiak went back to his rookie…
You have to show confidence in your top RB, even after a fumble. Good to see Broncos feeding Booker on this series.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 30, 2016
Booker responded to the challenge and put together his best drive of the game…
FANTASTIC run by Devontae Booker. Through the hole, cutting back, three defenders miss diving tackles, and he drags a defender to the 8.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 30, 2016
Juwan Thompson capped the drive with a score…
@Broncos lined up and, basically, told @chargers, "we're runnin' it up the gut. Try to stop it." And Juwan Thompson, his 1st carry, gets it.
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) October 30, 2016
Great second effort by Thompson to juuuuuuuust get across the line. #SDvsDEN
— Casey Light (@lightonhisfeet) October 30, 2016
