In a pivotal Thursday Night Football clash, the Denver Broncos charged out of the gates with a potent rushing attack against their AFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers. Rookie running back Audric Estime capped a dominant 10-play, 72-yard opening drive with a punishing 3-yard touchdown run, setting the tone for what appeared to be a ground-and-pound game plan from head coach Sean Payton.
The Broncos called runs on a staggering seven of their first 10 plays, amassing 43 of their 72 yards on the march via the run game. It was a clear statement of intent from Payton, whose laminated play sheet was caught by the Amazon Prime cameras with “Run It!” scrawled across the top in bold letters.
But just as quickly as they established the run, the Broncos bizarrely abandoned it. Denver called only 14 designed runs the rest of the game, including a mere eight rushes in the second half as they watched an 11-point lead evaporate in an eventual 34-27 loss.
Payton’s Perplexing Play-Calling
The Broncos’ shift away from the run was especially puzzling given Payton’s repeated emphasis on offensive balance and the rushing attack being a young quarterback’s best friend. Rookie signal-caller Bo Nix, while impressive overall in his first season, is still developing and would benefit immensely from a consistent ground game to lean on.
Payton seemed to lament his own play-calling after the game, admitting there were “two series I kind of kick myself” and that the Broncos “had ample opportunities in that second half” to stick with the run. But he also pointed to the challenges of feeding a three-man backfield rotation between Estime, Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin, who was inactive with a thigh injury.
“I’ve said this before: Two is easy, three — it’s just hard to feed three.”
— Sean Payton on managing the Broncos’ running back rotation
Javonte Williams’ Diminished Role
The Broncos’ backfield distribution was especially eyebrow-raising considering the decreased role of Javonte Williams. The third-year pro has been Denver’s lead back when healthy but played just 33 snaps against the Chargers, rushing four times for 24 yards. He was more involved as a receiver with seven catches for 29 yards but has now failed to reach double-digit carries in five straight games.
Meanwhile, Estime looked explosive in limited work, gaining 48 yards on just nine carries. Undrafted rookie Blake Watson, elevated from the practice squad to replace McLaughlin, showed promise with 40 yards on only four attempts. Their efficiency begs the question of why Payton didn’t lean on them more, especially with the Broncos playing from ahead most of the game.
Playoff Implications
The consequences of the Broncos’ abandoning the run could be massive. The loss dropped Denver to 9-6 and the 7th seed in the AFC, as they fell behind the Chargers based on the head-to-head tiebreaker. With tough matchups against the Bengals and Chiefs remaining, the Broncos no longer control their own destiny.
If the Broncos miss the playoffs, they’ll undoubtedly look back on this Chargers game as a missed opportunity. Payton’s team had the formula for success on their opening drive but inexplicably strayed from it, putting more on Nix’s shoulders than necessary. In high-stakes December football, that’s a recipe for disaster.
Looking Ahead
As the Broncos enter the final two weeks fighting for their playoff lives, Payton must find a way to commit to the run game and sustain a more balanced attack. The onus is also on Nix to make quicker decisions and be willing to take checkdowns rather than holding the ball and inviting pressure.
Denver’s defense, while shaky in the second half against the Chargers, remains championship-caliber. But they can’t carry the team if the offense continues to be boom-or-bust. Establishing the run with Estime, Williams and Watson would go a long way in controlling the clock, keeping the defense fresh, and opening up play-action for Nix.
Payton is one of the NFL’s brightest offensive minds, but his teams have always been at their best with a punishing ground game setting up the pass. It’s a formula that’s brought him success dating back to his days with the Saints and Alvin Kamara.
If the Broncos are to make the playoffs – and make some noise once they get there – they’ll need Payton to rediscover that rushing blueprint. The talent is there in the backfield. The coach just has to trust his initial instincts, stop being cute, and pound the rock with authority.
Otherwise, Denver could be looking at another offseason of soul-searching, just one year into the Payton era. For a team and fanbase that’s waited seven years and counting to get back to the postseason, that’s a bitter pill to swallow.
The path forward is clear. Run the ball, Sean. Run it like you did on that magical opening drive. Run it like you know you should. Your playoff fate depends on it.
