The Denver Broncos went up against the vaunted Kansas City Chiefs without J.K. Dobbins, who was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury suffered in Week 10 on âThursday Night Footballâ against the Las Vegas Raiders.
However, Dobbins was certainly still with the team in spirit.
After the game, Broncos head coach Sean Payton spoke candidly about the run game in Dobbinsâ absence and provided his version of an injury update on the veteran RB.
J.K. Dobbins Reacts to Broncosâ Win
GettyJ.K. Dobbins #27 of the Denver Broncos reacts after the game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Broncos found themselves in an all-too-familiar situation against the Chiefs in their first game without Dobbins, the NFLâs fifth-leading rusher entering the day. However, they managed to forge ahead to victory, winning on a field goal from Wil Lutz.
The Broncos are now 9-2 and are tied with the New England Patriots for the best record in the NFL, with seven weeks (six games for Denver) to go in the regular season.
âLetâs go!!! [orange and blue heart emojis],â Dobbins posted on X on November 15.
Dobbins rushed for 772 yards and 4 touchdowns before his injury. He has reason to be optimistic about the Broncos going on an extended run that, they hope, leads them to their first Super Bowl berth since the 2015 season. If they can, the Broncos could get Dobbins back.
Sean Payton Delivers Blunt Statement on J.K. Dobbins
GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton talks to his team during a game against the Houston Texans.
âThe door is open for JK Dobbins to return this season â if the Broncos make it to the Super Bowl,â NFL Networkâs Tom Pelissero reported in a post on X on November 15.
However, Paytonâs remarks after the game paint a much more dour picture.
According to Pelissero, Dobbins did not suffer a fracture, but âjust a small tear,â which still required surgery and landed him on IR. Payton fielded one question about Dobbinsâ status before the salty head coach pressed on.
âNo Updates. Iâll keep you posted,â Payton said, talking over the question. âNext question.â
Payton then fielded a question about the Broncosâ running game, which scored a touchdown, but also had 59 yards on 21 attempts, or 2.8 yards per carry, saying, âIt was good enough.â
RJ Harvey led the way with 11 carries for 30 yards. Jaleel McLaughlin, who scored the groupâs TD, had six carries for 19 yards. Quarterback Bo Nix (3-8-0) and wide receiver Marvin Mims (1-2-0) also both chipped in.
Broncos Off to Best Start Since Super Bowl Season
GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Broncos won 10 games and made the playoffs in 2024, when Dobbins was a member of the Los Angeles Chargers. This is still their best start to a season since the 2015 campaign, when they began 10-2 before incurring their third loss.
Including this season, the Broncos have started a season with at least nine wins in their first 11 games 11 times, per Stathead.
They won the Super Bowl in three of those four instances.
That includes the back-to-back wins with John Elway at the helm and Terrell Davis in the backfield in 1997 and 1998. If this Broncos team is anything like its predecessors, they will have a chance to get Dobbins back on the field yet.
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