The Denver Broncos rolled over the Atlanta Falcons 27-7 in their preseason opener, with their defense forcing turnovers and Jarrett Stidham looking sharp at quarterback. Offensive Coordinator Davis Webb was dialing up creative plays, but what really grabbed attention was how their rushing attack exploded. They racked up a massive 162 yards on the ground, averaging a solid 4.2 yards per carry and churning out nine first downs. That ground game controlled the pace and the clock, sealing a decisive victory. Head Coach Sean Payton was clearly stoked with his stable of backs after that effort.
Last season, the Broncos’ run game struggled hard after J.K. Dobbins went down with an injury. To keep that from happening again, they drafted Washington standout Jonah Coleman in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. In his NFL debut against the Falcons, Coleman had only four carries, but he still busted out for 24 yards. That included an impressive 13-yard scamper where his vision, contact balance, and ability to break tackles really shined. Payton kept Coleman’s playing time limited, stating, “I didn’t need to see additional evidence of what I’ve been seeing for three weeks.” With Coleman on a short leash, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Adam Prentice, and Cody Schrader took the bulk of the 39 carries. Prentice looks set as the fullback, but the other three are duking it out for likely just one final roster spot.
Now, everyone is looking for a big jump from second-year running back RJ Harvey this season. The team’s 2025 second-round pick had only five carries for 16 yards against the Falcons, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry. During his rookie season, Harvey led all skill position players with 12 touchdowns. His big-play ability as a receiver out of the backfield and his added speed were a nice boost for the offense. However, his running was inconsistent, leaving a lot of yards on the field. This season, Harvey says he feels much more comfortable in the position.
What happens with this backfield is going to be huge for Denver. Can they maintain that ground game fire when the real games start? Keep an eye on how these young backs develop as they push through the rest of the preseason.
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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