The Denver Broncos lost their fifth straight game to the Las Vegas Raiders and fell to 2-2 on the season Sunday. The Raiders were able to get their first victory of the year.
The Broncos did not look like the team that sputtered offensively through the first three weeks of the season. They were able to move the ball up and down the field and they put 23 points on the board, the most they have scored this season.
But the offense clearly was not the same once running back Javonte Williams left with an injury.
The defense did not play well and had a difficult time slowing down the Raiders’ rushing attack. But a key turnover by the Broncos is the play that stands out in this contest.
With the score tied 10-10 in the second quarter, the Broncos were moving the football. Williams had just converted a 4th-and-1 with a hard-nosed run. Melvin Gordon came in on the very next play and was given the carry but he coughed the ball up. Amik Robertson picked it up for the Raiders and ran it 68 yards the other way for a touchdown.
Though the Broncos did score a touchdown on the ensuing drive, this was a game-changing play. It was also the fourth fumble by Gordon this year, an issue that the team must address.
That will be a difficult decision for the Broncos to make if the injury Williams sustained is indeed severe. Reports following the game stated that Williams left the locker room on crutches, which is not a good sign.
The team will then just have Gordon and his fumbling issues and Mike Boone, who has left much to be desired when we have seen him on the field this season.
So what should the Broncos do with Gordon? He’s easily the best running back on the roster if Williams is going to miss time, but how can the team trust a guy who is averaging a fumble per game?
This is something that George Paton and Nathaniel Hackett are really going to need to put their heads together about, but the team would be wise to start scouring available runners or perhaps even looking into potential trades to get more help on the roster.