Stark contrast between Browns and Broncos rushing attacks
Oct 22, 2021, 6:39 AM
Perhaps the starkest difference between the Denver Broncos and the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night was in the running game.
Despite having its top-two running backs — Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt — out due to injuries, Cleveland still managed to rush for 182 yards at a 5.5 yards per carry clip.
To add insult to injury, Denver was gashed for 146 yards by a running back — D’Ernest Johnson — who went from working on a fishing boat in Florida just a few years ago to making his NFL starting debut on Thursday night.
“Even though they were missing their two backs (Chubb and Hunt), any good running game starts with the offensive line,” Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said after the game. “They have a good line, and they do a good job of blocking. They have a good scheme.”
In contrast, it was tough sledding for Denver on Thursday despite having a healthy one-two punch in Melvin Gordon III and Javonte Williams.
Though each had a receiving touchdown on the night, Gordon and Williams combined to rush for just 38 yards.
When asked after the game what was the cause for the anemic rushing totals, Fangio pointed out to the team’s slow start — a problem Denver’s been suffering from during its four-game losing skid.
“In the first half, we just could not get anything going,” Fangio said. “The quickest way to get out of that … is to convert some third downs and give yourself a new set of downs to get a running game going, to get a first- and second-down passing game going. We did neither.”
Echoing Fangio’s comments, Gordon said the key to sparking the Broncos running game is to “stay on the field.”
“We have to convert on the third downs. It is tough when you are getting behind, but we have to figure out a way to be able to run the ball, because when we run the ball effectively, we open up everything,” Gordon said. “Me and Javonte, we are pretty good runners. We can make it go. We can make it happen.
“But it is different when you get behind the chain, you are down, and you are just put in sticky situations — that is how it has been for us the last couple of weeks, considering us getting down and having slow starts.”
On the opposite side of the ball, Denver defensive end Shelby Harris just said he must give Cleveland “kudos” for their rushing attack.
“They had a good scheme, and we didn’t execute ours to the best of our ability,” Harris said. “That’s winning the game — who executes their scheme the best.”
