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Denver Broncos: Top 4 performances in Thanksgiving games

By Travis Wakeman

IRVING, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Running back Ron Dayne #33 of the Denver Broncos is tackled by Roy Williams #31 of the Dallas Cowboys on November 24, 2005 at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
IRVING, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Running back Ron Dayne #33 of the Denver Broncos is tackled by Roy Williams #31 of the Dallas Cowboys on November 24, 2005 at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos, Mike Anderson
Mike Anderson leaves the field. The Denver Broncos Beat the New England Patriots by a score of 27 to 13 at Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver CO, January 14, 2006. (Photo by Rich Gabrielson/NFLPhotoLibrary) /

Mike Anderson

After winning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award as a sixth-round pick in 2000, Mike Anderson didn’t have a great encore in 2001, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards less than he did the year before.

But his effort against the Cowboys in that 2001 season was particularly great.

The Broncos came into  the game at 5-5 and needed a win over the struggling Cowboys, who were sitting at 2-7. The Broncos were coming off of a disappointing loss to Washington just days earlier and were looking to bounce back.

There wasn’t much to be had through the air in this game as Brian Griese threw for just 171 yards. The Broncos chose to ride No. 38, handing him the ball 33 times in the game. He responded by gaining 118 yards on the ground as well as scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run.

The Broncos had to hold off a late rally from the Cowboys in order to get the 26-24 victory, but Anderson was clearly the man of the day for the team.

Unfortunately, Anderson only had two 100-yard rushing games that season and following the Thanksgiving performance, gained a total of just 64 yards in five games the remainder of that season.

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