J.K. Dobbins got the kind of chance he has been waiting for on Sunday, and he made it count.
With Sean Payton back in the role of offensive play-caller, the Broncos leaned harder on their veteran running back in a 23-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Dobbins logged a season-high 18 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown against his former team, a clear jump from the 11.5 carries per game he had been averaging through Denver’s first four games.
After the game, Dobbins pointed to his relationship with Payton as a big reason for the heavier workload.
"Coach Sean Payton knows me well," Dobbins said after the game, according to Heavy.
"He knows me very well. He knows me well and I know him well.
You can see the chemistry between us and the team, the offense. So that's what was different.
I just got the opportunities."
Those opportunities were on display early. Dobbins punched in a 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to put Denver ahead 7-0, and it was his first touchdown since Week 5 of the 2025 season.
He stayed central to the closing stretch, too. After Denver grabbed a 20-17 lead, Dobbins handled four straight runs and picked up 26 yards on the Broncos’ final possession, helping set up Wil Lutz’s 36-yard field goal with 1:08 left. That kick pushed the lead to six.
According to the Broncos’ official postgame report, Dobbins averaged 6.8 yards per carry on six fourth-quarter attempts and ripped off two runs of at least 10 yards in the final period.
RJ Harvey, meanwhile, was limited to three carries for seven yards.
Denver as a team posted season highs with 29 rushing attempts and 106 rushing yards, but the offense still had a rough time finding a rhythm. The Broncos finished with just 224 total yards and converted only one of 12 third-down chances.
Even with the overall struggles, Dobbins’ usage stood out as a positive for a Denver ground game that has been inconsistent this season. It also showed the trust Payton had in him when the Broncos needed to close the door.
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