J.K. Dobbins recorded season highs in carries and rushing yards as the Denver Broncos rallied to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 23-17 on Sunday. Head coach Sean Payton explained why getting the running back more touches helped him find a rhythm late in the game.
Dobbins finished with 18 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown, adding two receptions for six yards. His rushing touchdown opened the scoring, while his late-game contributions helped Denver complete its comeback at SoFi Stadium.
Payton’s comments followed a fourth-quarter turnaround in which the Broncos scored 13 unanswered points to secure their third win of the season.
“It’s hard to get in a rhythm if you’re not getting enough touches. And we were able to do that,” Payton said, according to Zac Stevens of DNVR, who shared the coach’s comments on X.
The increased workload came as Denver looked to establish its ground game during a tight divisional matchup. Dobbins entered Week 5 with 161 rushing yards through four games and had yet to score a rushing touchdown this season.
The veteran back delivered his most productive rushing performance of the season against his former team. His 68 yards on 18 carries brought his season total to 229 rushing yards through five games.
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Denver needed the production after surrendering a 10-3 halftime lead. The Chargers scored twice in the third quarter, including a 42-yard touchdown run by Kimani Vidal, to take a 17-10 advantage into the final period.
The Broncos tied the game on a five-yard touchdown pass from Bo Nix to Courtland Sutton. Denver’s defense then forced key turnovers, giving the offense opportunities to take control. Wil Lutz converted two fourth-quarter field goals to complete the comeback.
Dobbins’ workload also stood out alongside that of rookie running back RJ Harvey, who finished with three carries for seven yards. The difference in usage reflected Dobbins’ leading role in Denver’s rushing attack on Sunday.
The victory improved Denver’s record to 3-2, while Los Angeles fell to 0-5. The Broncos will next face the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, giving Payton and his staff a short week to prepare their offense.
