The Denver Broncos’ ground game stumbled hard against the Green Bay Packers last Friday, managing a dismal 70 total yards and barely 3 yards per carry. Now, with the preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings looming, Offensive Coordinator Davis Webb isn’t pulling any punches about what needs to change. This Friday is the last chance for players to show why they belong on the final 53-man roster, and a massive opportunity for the coaches to fix the issues seen throughout training camp and the first two preseason games.
What Went Wrong Against Green Bay?
Seriously, watching the Broncos run game last Friday was rough. Averaging barely 3 yards per carry and gaining only 70 total yards on the ground is a far cry from their win against the Atlanta Falcons, where they exploded for over 160 rushing yards. After practice yesterday, Webb spoke out about the problem, though he still expressed confidence in his offensive line and running backs to step up this week. He chalked up some of the Packers game struggles to their opponent playing “really, really well,” but also pointed to self-inflicted wounds. “I thought there were a few flashes in the run game,” Webb said, “Then we got called back for holding or something happened, we were second-and-long, or we just got into really bad situations down and distance-wise. That was good for me to learn from as a play caller for upcoming weeks, and I’m sure our offensive line and runners will get it going this week.” Sounds like Webb’s taking some of that responsibility, which is big for a coordinator.
The Rushing Attack’s Long Road Back
Let’s be real, consistency in the run game has been a bit of a rollercoaster for the Broncos. Over the past three years, they’ve been squarely in the middle of the pack for total rushing yards, yards per carry, and rushing yards per game across the NFL. And in 2023 and 2024? Forget about rushing touchdowns, they were well below average. But hold up, last season they made some serious noise, notching 18 total touchdowns on the ground! So the potential is there, no doubt. For this offense to hit its true stride, they absolutely need to establish a consistent, formidable rushing attack. That’s why adding Jonah Coleman in the draft was such a smart move, bringing his toughness, vision between the tackles, and knack for red zone touchdowns. Plus, the continuity on the offensive line is a huge advantage, with every starter from the last two seasons returning, along with some promising backups. Webb lauded the offensive line’s abilities, telling reporters, “I’ve never been around somewhere that’s been about to be four straight years of basically the same offensive line. It’s such a blessing because they’re good dudes, they’re coached well, they’re nasty, they take things personal.” He clearly believes in them, but also knows they’ve got to step it up in the run game.
The Broncos have one last shot this Friday against the Minnesota Vikings to iron out these kinks before the regular season hits. For many players, it’s the final audition for that 53-man roster. For the offense, it’s about proving Davis Webb’s confidence in their ability to establish a consistent ground game isn’t just talk. We’ll be watching to see if they can finally get it going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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