Denver Broncos top 3 offensive performers against the Titans

1. Melvin Gordon, RB

Melvin Gordon had a costly fumble that set the Titans up for their first touchdown of the game, and all fumbles are inexcusable mistakes, no question about it.

With that said, Gordon bounced back after the fumble and had one of the best nights of any Broncos offensive player on Monday night, scoring a touchdown in his debut with Denver and taking over full-time rushing duties after Phillip Lindsay’s turf toe injury.

Gordon finished this game for the Broncos with 15 carries for 78 yards and three receptions, as well as his one-yard rushing touchdown, but what was most impressive was how he reached those 78 rushing yards.

Gordon averaged 5.2 yards per carry and according to NFL.com’s Next-Gen Stats, he was 20 yards over expected, good for fifth-best in the league at the time (since surpassed by Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, who have played two games).

That statistic shows that Gordon was elusive, breaking tackles, and making plays on the ground after contact.

Many fans were not happy with the Broncos paying Gordon $16 million over two years, a contract that looks like more and more of a bargain with all of the other top running backs around the league signing major extensions, but Gordon proved his worth in week one with one glaring mistake.