The Denver Broncos have struggled to run the ball in their two games since the J.K. Dobbins injury.
Before their bye, the Broncos averaged 2.8 yards per carry against the Kansas City Chiefs. RJ Harvey averaged 2.7 YPC and Jaleel McLaughlin wasn’t much better at 3.2 YPC.
Against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Denver’s average improved to 3.8 YPC, but that number was a bit inflated by quarterback Bo Nix and receiver Marvin Mims averaging 8.0 and 9.0 YPC, respectively, on small sample sizes.
“Yeah, I mean, it was one of those frustrating nights running the ball,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after a 27-26 win over the Commanders. “They did a few things differently by staying in their heavy personnel. Teams have been able to run the ball in sub against them. And to Dan [Quinn]’s credit, they didn’t allow that. So, like we then started checking into some, like scattering out of some of our one back runs to throw it against their base to try to counteract that. But our guys adjusted well.”
Harvey averaged 2.7 YPC against Washington. McLaughlin had a better night with 4.0 YPC. Payton insisted after the game that the team’s lack of production on the ground was not the fault of the team’s running backs.
“It’s nothing to do with the [running backs],” Payton said. “We’re gonna watch the tape, but trust me, it was just some looks where the evaluation will be on how we blocked it and then the scheme relative to what we were seeing defensively. The runners were good.”
Payton suggested that the blocking from the offensive line and the offensive game plan were to blame against an underrated Commanders defense. The unit will aim to bounce back this week against a Las Vegas Raiders defense that allows 110.8 rushing yards per game.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Broncos struggling on the ground since the J.K. Dobbins injury
