Javonte Williams the real deal for Broncos, Teddy Bridgewater is not
Running back Javonte Williams proved why the Denver Broncos took him in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft on Sunday Night Football.
While the Denver Broncos lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, it was not due to rookie running back Javonte Williams. In fact, Williams had a phenomenal day as the lead back for the Broncos.
The other day, I had posed the question of whether or not Javonte Williams would have a big day against the Chiefs. The answer ended up being yes.
With Melvin Gordon out for this game due to injury, the Broncos turned to Williams. The former North Carolina Tarheels star lived up to expectations. The Broncos handed Williams the football 23 times on Sunday night, and Williams ran the ball for 102 yards for an average of 4.4 yards per carry.
Here’s the thing. I know what you’re thinking: The Broncos still came up short in their quest to beat the Chiefs. That is true, but there is a lot of football to be played yet.
On Sunday night, Williams set a franchise record for being the first rookie on the team to pass 100 rushing yards and 75 receiving yards in the same game.
Williams also put up six receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown on nine targets.
So, why does it matter? They still lost, didn’t they?
While the Denver Broncos are still fighting for a playoff spot, this year is not the only thing to keep an eye on. The development of the team’s young players for the future is something that everybody should analyze.
While Williams did get stuffed at the line of scrimmage sometimes against Kansas City, he looked to have improved significantly in a featured back sort of role.
In an offense with better play-calling and improved quarterback play, Williams could easily be considered a game-changer. He absolutely deserves more snaps going forward. I’ll pound the table for making that happen.
There are things holding the Denver Broncos back from being successful, and running back Javonte Williams is not one of them.
Melvin Gordon is scheduled to become a free agent following the 2021 season. While he’s had a significant role on the offense, the emergence of not only Williams but also Mike Boone might be something to consider when deciding whether or not to re-sign Gordon.
Gordon’s future also might be determined by a new coaching staff in 2022. If the team decides to let him walk, Williams appears to be on his way to becoming a full-time star.
Teddy Bridgewater, unlike Javonte Williams, shows that he’s not the answer.
Yet again, the Denver Broncos continue to be proven wrong with another quarterback failure on its hands.
Bridgewater just kept missing throws and made some boneheaded mistakes. Some of the throws that he attempted really should not have been.
It’s also hard to win football games when you’re not getting the football to your best players. Sunday Night marked the fifth-straight game in which wide receiver Courtland Sutton had less than three receptions. While he did have a respectable six targets, the execution needs to be a whole lot better.
With a much better quarterback, Sutton can thrive. Even with five games left of the 2021 season, it’s obvious that Bridgewater is not the answer. This coaching staff is not the answer.