Facing windy and wintry conditions for the second week in a row, Denver’s offense hammered away on the ground and made the running game the backbone of the offense. After the Broncos’ season highs in rushing attempts (35) and yards (201) against the Dolphins in Week 12, Adam Gase ramped it up to 45 carries and 214 yards in Arrowhead Stadium. The former total tied the second-highest rush attempts in a game since Manning became a Bronco, exceeded only by last year’s overtime game against the Patriots (48 attempts, 10 of which came in overtime).
Unlike last week, when Gase showed commitment to the run game despite an 11-point deficit in the third quarter, the Broncos were able to let the run game to dictate the pace throughout after firing out to the early lead. In the first three quarters, Denver’s offense converted 10-of-18 third- and fourth-down attempts, facing an average of 5.7 yards on those attempts thanks to positive runs on early downs. The result was an extremely lopsided time of possession, with the Broncos holding the ball for 31:49 of the first 45 minutes.
... No. 18 was again effusive with praise for those who cleared the way up front.
“The offensive line was awesome tonight,” Manning said of a unit that played its fourth game in its current configuration, with Louis Vasquez at right tackle, Manny Ramirez at right guard and Will Montgomery at center. “All of them: Will, Manny, Orlando [Franklin], Lou, [Ryan] Clady, Paul [Cornick]’s playing the majority of the time. Virgil [Green] once again blocked great and C.J. was just a workhorse tonight.”
When asked if the running game is beginning to click better than it has in recent years, Manning was quick to answer: “I mean C.J., what’d he have 160 yards two weeks in a row? I’d say that’s up a notch.
“He’s been special, and the offensive line has really created some holes, Virgil, Paul, Jacob [Tamme] at the tight end spots. And it’s been huge for us.”