The Denver Broncos control their own destiny to become champions of the AFC West. The Kansas City Chiefs have won the division for the last nine years, but it looks to be the year of the Broncos. If they can’t take care of business, though, the Los Angeles Chargers are in a position to potentially steal the division. The Broncos are trailing the Washington Commanders in the first half, and RJ Harvey has been quiet in primetime.
RJ Harvey’s Slow Start
Harvey hasn’t had a productive first half, but he’s still been involved plenty. He has seven carries for 24 yards and two catches for 15 yards. With JK Dobbins out with an injury, Harvey has been tasked with the lead back responsibilities. Harvey hasn’t been effective in the last two weeks, and the trend looks to be continuing.
Harvey is the 53rd-ranked running back in the league according to PFSN’s RB Impact metric with an impact score of 62.1. Dobbins is sorely missed as he is 13th in the rankings. However, the Broncos need production from the run game, and Harvey is the player who must deliver.
The Broncos were trailing late in the first half until a late score by Courtland Sutton gave Denver the lead before half. Denver cannot afford to lose to the three-win Commanders after the Chargers took care of business in Week 13.
Getting the ground game going with Harvey could help the Broncos continue to distance themselves from Washington for their tenth win of the season. The Broncos had just 39 rushing yards in the first half, but Sean Payton discussed that they needed to establish the run game in the second half before heading into the locker room.
The Broncos’ defense should be able to hold strong as the NFL’s top defense against the Washington offense without Jayden Daniels. If the offense can provide the defense with another score or two, Denver will handle the business easily on Sunday Night Football. The Commanders aren’t going to go away easily, though.
The Broncos need to find a way to establish a ground game without Dobbins in the lineup. Beyond tonight’s game, the Denver offense could encounter problems in the playoffs against strong defenses. The Broncos are well on their way to the playoffs, even if they suffer a shocking defeat. However, it won’t instill confidence in their fans that this team will have what it takes to win a Super Bowl.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.