Just like that, the Broncos have an incredible one-two punch at running back.
The Broncos entered the third game in the regular season with one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, led primarily on the legs of C.J. Anderson. While Anderson had himself a rather quiet performance on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, it was fellow running back Jamaal Charles who was the star in the backfield for the Broncos.
Even though the Broncos may have lost the game 26-16, Charles turned back the clock to deliver a vintage performance against the Bills.
The offense as a whole struggled to put consistent points on the board, settling for field goals in three out of four red-zone trips. Their lone touchdown came on a 12-yard run from Charles, who showed quickness and the breathtaking change of direction that made him a star during his years in Kansas City. It was Charles’ first touchdown as a member of the Broncos and his first since 2014.
Charles finished the game with nine rushes for 56 yards – a 6.2 average. Showing the “hot hand” at running back all day, he out-touched Anderson, who only saw eight carries throughout the game.
It could have been an even bigger day for Charles, who most of his damage in the first half, as the Broncos’ offense sputtered and struggled with a pair of Trevor Siemian interceptions in the second half that left the team playing from behind.
As the Broncos suffered their first loss of the season, the team will need to regroup and go back to the drawing board to figure out how to generate more points throughout the game.
This could lead to more playing time for Charles, who displayed quickness and burst in all of his carries. At no point did Charles show any sort of limitation or lingering ailment from his knee injuries that led to his release by the Chiefs.
The Broncos signed Charles late in the offseason as a low-risk, high-reward option to play alongside Anderson. Throughout training camp, Charles saw limited action recovering from his second season-ending knee surgery. After making the initial 53-man roster, it appears that the Broncos are currently reaping the rewards of the chance they took on Charles.
Now, the team will return home for a week of preparation for when the Raiders come to town in an early division rivalry game at Mile High. It’s quite clear that Charles still has something left in the tank. After scoring only 16 points against the Bills, it’s more apparent than ever that the Broncos will need Charles to continue this level of play if the team is going to continue its journey back to the playoffs.
