The Denver Broncos handily beat the Dallas Cowboys at their own game on Sunday, utilizing the physicality of smash-mouth football.

The fact that Denver was able to go into Dallas and dominate the Cowboys 30-16 (and it wasn’t that close) was spectacular. But the exact way they did it is even more special.

That’s because the Broncos came into the game missing starting left tackle Garett Bolles, and then Graham Glasgow was injured during the contest, too, meaning Denver’s offensive line was operating with three backups (Bobbie Massie at RT was the other). And yet, the orange and blue rushed for 191 yards, which is tied for the most in a single game under Vic Fangio, and they did it with style.

Now, Melvin Gordon was good. But rookie Javonte Williams was even better.

Gordon enjoyed 80 yards of rushing on 21 attempts, including the touchdown that…. And really, Gordon has been solid for the Broncos this year, with 477 yards on 109 carries and 4 touchdowns at basically the halfway point of the season.

But ever since his first carry in the preseason, Broncos fans have really been clamoring for more Javonte Williams.

On Sunday, Williams enjoyed his first 100-yard game, rushing for 111 on 17 carries. That’s an explosive 6.53 yards per carry, and it included many bruising runs.

In the second quarter, though, Williams enjoyed a 17-yard run in which he bounced it outside with little contact. However, his signature run of the game came in the third quarter, when Quinn Meinerz pulled and pushed to open a small hole where Williams was met by Dallas tackle Antwaun Woods. But Williams didn’t go down, he ran though Woods’ chest, and through a tackle for a spectacular 31-yard run.

Why Broncos fans have fallen in love with Williams is his ability to fight through tackles in every, single game. In fact, he leads the entire NFL in missed tackles, with 35, or nearly four per game:

As one can see from the graphic by Pro Football Focus, that’s more missed tackles than 23 teams have at this point in the year.

Beyond that, Williams also leads the NFL in forced missed tackle percentage, with 37%:

Those big-time, incredible runs in which it looks like he should be down but his legs keep churning, they’ve turned him into a fan-favorite in Broncos Country.

And for Williams, he’s pushed himself to 466 yards on 95 carries, with one score. That gives him a stellar 4.9 yard per carry average, which is 11th-best in the NFL.

Truly, Williams is playing so well some are wondering how the Broncos were able to draft him in the second round. In fact, Doug Farrar wrote about it back in May — Williams being a 2nd round Draft day steal — and others are also starting to see that George Paton found a diamond who could’ve gone in the first round.

Williams and Gordon provide a solid 1-2 punch, even if their styles are more similar than other complimentary back combos we’ve seen in the past. Still, some want to see Williams run with the pigskin more.

And considering his abilities, we may just see it.

For now, Denver is 13th in the NFL in rushing yards and 11th in yards per carry (4.4). Going forward, Pat Shurmur knows both backs will be needed to take the pressure off of Teddy Bridgewater and that banged-up offensive line which lost Glasgow at right guard for the season this week.

Looking towards the future, Williams should be the featured, 3-down back in the Mile High City starting in 2022. But first, enjoy the rest of “Pookie’s” rookie season, Broncos fans.