Denver Broncos: RB C.J. Anderson phenomenal in victory

Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson was phenomenal in the team’s season opening victory against the Carolina Panthers…

The Denver Broncos emerged victorious from a phenomenal game to open the season against the Carolina Panthers, and running back C.J. Anderson is a primary reason why.

Anderson had a newfound burst that we haven’t seen from him — at least in my opinion — even at his best with the Broncos. He looks quicker, he looks faster, and he looks incredibly motivated.

He has plenty of reason to be…

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Anderson finished this game with 20 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown, and he added four receptions for 47 yards and another touchdown. It was a vintage performance for Anderson, who has always been considered a ‘second-half’ player.

The Broncos didn’t pay for a second half player, they paid (big money) for a guy to be their lead back. Anderson didn’t take that vote of confidence lightly.

A strange offseason for Anderson started with the Broncos giving him the low restricted free agent tender, essentially making him an unrestricted free agent with the opportunity to match any offer he received. The Miami Dolphins made Anderson an offer that was front-loaded, and the Broncos shockingly matched it.

Some chalked it up as a mistake, but is anyone complaining this morning? I certainly don’t hear them…

Anderson’s performance against the Panthers on Thursday night was a sign of the type of things I think we can expect from him all year, not just the final eight or 10 games this season. It helps that the Broncos appeared much more physical on the offensive line, but Anderson was bursting through holes and making guys miss. Here’s my favorite play of the night:

Perfectly executed, perfectly timed. That screen play was like watching poetry in motion.

The most critical run of the night for Anderson, however, came in the fourth quarter on third down. On third down, you need your primary offensive player to deliver in the clutch, and Anderson did just that.

This play was after a fourth down conversion by Anderson, where he and the offensive line were able to get the necessary push to put the Broncos into the end zone and give them their first lead of the game.

It was the same type of tough run we saw from Anderson to put the game on ice in the Super Bowl, but what was less common in the Super Bowl was this kind of run:

Anderson’s open-field quickness here is impressive, and his burst to the outside is something you don’t often see from a back of his build. He’s really a fun player to watch.

The Broncos have to feel great about the way Anderson played on Thursday night, proving he can be this team’s ‘bell-cow’ back. He looked phenomenal from the first carry of the game all the way to the last.