DENVER — Who knew the new identity for offensive guru Sean Payton is 3.1 yards and a cloud of dust?
Or did you not see Javonte Williams gain 85 tough yards on 27 carries (3.1 per) in the Denver Broncos’ 24-9 win against the Kansas City Chiefs?
To think, all those new rules the NFL implemented in recent years to help the passing game. Can’t hit the quarterback without a roughing the passer penalty. Can’t hit the receiver without an unnecessary roughness penalty. How many drives are kept alive by third-and-long defensive holding calls?
Yet, the Broncos with Payton orchestrating the offense had four straight games where they rushed for at least 5.0 yards per carry, until Sunday, when they grinded out 3.8 yards per carry – on eye-popping, season-highs of 40 carries for 153 yards.
And it’s not just the Broncos who have been running the ball better than they’ve been passing it the past five weeks or so. It’s teams like the 6-2 Dolphins, 6-2 Ravens, 5-3 49ers and 7-1 Eagles who are top seven rushing teams.
Either the running game is back or the league has become a throwback to the ‘70s.
“It may seem that way,’’ Payton said in his day-after-beating-the-Chiefs’ news conference Monday via Zoom. “I think we can find examples last year of the better teams – Philadelphia, I think Kansas City a year ago was running the ball much better than maybe they had. San Francisco. Those contending teams, if we looked up the numbers were all top 15 rushing teams, many of them top 10.”
Payton in 15 previous years as the New Orleans Saints’ head coach had top 10 offenses 12 times. During that run they were Top 5 in rushing once and Top 5 in passing 11 times. But Drew Brees is retired and he’s not coming back, so Payton is adjusting.
“In the end, it doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing to be effective," Payton said. "I think the key is winning. Now sometimes that’s going to require there be more balls thrown than others. …
“It’s the one way where you get to control the game relative to the clock and how it’s played," he said. "Where the other scenarios, there’s a little bit less control. Incomplete, clock stops. But I’m pleased with how that front’s playing, we have to continue to build on that with the play-action game. And of course our third-down numbers were better yesterday, that was important. It’s hard to have a good rushing day if you’re third-down numbers aren’t good.”
Broncos' rush by game:
G, .................... C ... Y ... AVG
1. L, LV, ....... 22 ...... 94 ... 4.3
2. L, WAS ... 23 ... 122 ... 5.3
3. L, MIA ....... 20 ..... 69 ... 3.5
4. W, CHI ..... 19 ...... 97 ... 5.1
5. L, NYJ ........ 22 ... 139 ... 6.3
6. L, KC .......... 23 ... 115 ... 5.0
7. W, GB ....... 25 ... 145 ... 5.8
8. W, KC ........ 40 ... 153 ... 3.8
Totals .......... 194 ... 934 ... 4.8
Silencing trade talk
For all the newspaper print and local radio, TV and podcast chatter on trade possibilities since the Broncos lost to the Miami Dolphins by 50 to fall to 0-3, here it is: the deadline is upon us, and the Broncos may do nothing.
Yes, they technically traded edge rusher Randy Gregory to the 49ers, but that was more of a release than a swap. Indeed, Gregory was first informed he was getting released, then dealt for a near nothing swap of sixth and seventh round draft picks.
“We’re not openly or even remotely shopping anyone,’’ Payton said. “Have people called? Sure they have. And typically the buyer wants the media to know they called. Not the seller. And so we’re preparing right now, I have a (next opponent) Buffalo cutup that I’m going to look at. I’m going to look at the league’s touchdowns from yesterday. And I’m sure at some point I’ll meet with George but we’re looking at the next opponent.”
Thanks again, Andy Reid
When the NFL first started giving teams bye weeks, it was customary for the players to practice some Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before getting the mandatory Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday days off.
Payton had his Broncos players come in Monday to watch the game film of their win against the Chiefs, then dismissed them for the rest of the week. He got this plan a few years back from when Andy Reid, who is 27-4 after bye weeks in his head coaching career with the Eagles and Chiefs.
“Andy said I get them out of here after Monday and if they win the game sometimes I don’t even have them come in Monday,’’ Payton said. “So, we started doing that in New Orleans and we started having some success.
“Our guys are all in here today, we’re meeting on the game, watching film of the game. They’ll have a good break here. Everyone will be back in (next) Monday. We’ll have a bonus prep day Tuesday because we’re playing on Monday night (Nov. 13 in Buffalo).”
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