Broncos RB Melvin Gordon finally getting a revenge game
Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon is finally getting the chance to play a home game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
For Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon, Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers is first and foremost an opportunity for redemption.
It’s been nearly two weeks since Gordon’s extremely untimely fumble against the Philadelphia Eagles. For those who enjoy pain, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane.
Down by seven late in the third quarter with a chance to tie things up and a solid drive working into the Eagles’ side of the field, the Denver Broncos faced a fourth-and-short. Vic Fangio opted to go for it, and understandably so as solid drives had been very hard to come by at this point in the game.
It’s time for Melvin Gordon to give the Broncos his best game
The Broncos opted to hand the ball off to Melvin Gordon, who appeared to have the first down but someone on the Eagles came in and jarred the ball loose. The return that ensued involved the now-infamous Teddy Bridgewater business decision, and Bridgewater’s effort on the play was so bad that many seem to have forgotten that Gordon fumbled the ball in the first place.
That play effectively lost the Broncos the momentum they had working and was a mistake the team couldn’t overcome.
Gordon’s fumbles as a Bronco have all been extremely inconvenient, as if there is really a convenient time to fumble at all.
As I said, this game against the Chargers on Sunday is, first and foremost, a chance at redemption for Gordon.
After redemption, Gordon has a shot in this game at some substantial revenge against his former team.
Gordon was a first-round pick for the Chargers back in 2015, and he played five seasons with the team before signing with one of the Chargers’ rivals in 2020 free agency.
Due to protocol during the pandemic, Gordon hasn’t really gotten the chance to do something he has hoped to do since signing in Denver — play a home game against his former team in front of an actual home crowd.
When he was a member of the Los Angeles Chargers, every home game felt like an away game because of the massive influx of opposing fans that occupied the stands. Especially when Denver came to San Diego or Los Angeles, the orange and blue faithful made their presence felt.
Gordon has understandably wanted to feel what it was like to be in front of that crowd and he’s gotten 10 games of that this season in Denver, but now he gets to do it against the team that let him go in free agency.
This is a massive game for the Denver Broncos, one in which the running game has to be on point. The Broncos don’t need Justin Herbert dominating time of possession and having the ball a bunch, so executing in the running game offensively and playing ball control is crucial.
Gordon has a real shot to make his biggest difference as a Bronco yet against his former team, and he can do it while also totally redeeming himself from the fumble against Philadelphia.