Denver Broncos running backs Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams carried the team’s offense in a 38-10 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 14.
Gordon and Williams combined for 194 yards from scrimmage and scored four total touchdowns on Sunday, bringing back memories of Denver’s old-style football of the 1960s.
Gordon and Williams became the first Broncos RB duo to each score twice in a single game since Gene Mingo and Al Frazier in 1962. Fred Bukaty and Donnie Stone also accomplished that feat in 1961, and Gordon and Williams became the third duo on Sunday.
It was an impressive showing from the talented running backs, but credit also goes to their teammates.
“Our two running backs have been doing that all year, but I think a good bit of credit needs to go to the o-line and the tight ends,” coach Vic Fangio said after the game. “You know, anytime you hand it off 39 times and the other team knows you’re handing it off that many times, and you are able to grind out the yards — credit to the guys doing the blocking.
“But our two [running] backs are really, really good, and I love them both and glad we have them both. You know, no one is going to carry it 39 times by themselves.”
Gordon now has 882 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns this season while Williams has 1,022 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns.
Gordon is on pace to finish the year with 954 rushing yards and Williams is on pace to end his rookie season with 971 rushing yards. If they can improve their respective paces and each finish the year with 1,000 rushing yards, they would become just the eighth duo to accomplish that feat in NFL history.
To do that, they’ll need their teammates to continue blocking like they did against Detroit.
“We gave credit in the team locker room to the offensive linemen — as we should — but I just want to give just a brief moment to thank the tight ends and the wide receivers,” Gordon said after the game. “Those guys fight their butt off to make plays. We’re fighting as a unit right now. I love to see it, and hopefully they hear this because I didn’t get to say it in there.
“I’m thankful for those guys as well because those guys help create the lanes and the receivers help really make the explosive runs — if you didn’t know. The line absolutely did their thing today and hopefully we can continue to finish this thing out the right way.”
It’s clear that Denver’s plan of attack on offense is a run-heavy approach, and Gordon and Williams have been up to the task.
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