Lindsay and Booker carry the rushing load with Freeman out
K A NSA S CITY, MO.» The Broncos arrived here Sunday without their leading rusher.
No Royce Freeman? No problem.
Because, as the tandem of Phillip Lindsay and Devontae Booker explained in the postgame locker room, a simple mantra carried Denver’s remaining running backs to another redletter performance.
“Seize the opportunity,” Booker said.
The Broncos fell 3023 to the Chiefs, their fifth loss in six games, but it was not the fault of Freeman or Booker. They combined for 173 yards rushing (Lindsay 95, Booker 78). And, when Denver needed an offensive spark, Lindsay provided the match. The Broncos faced thirdandgoal in the first quarter from the Chiefs’ 1yard line when Lindsay burst through to provide an early 70 lead.
Lindsay, in his first career NFL start, proved versatile enough to handle a significant workload (18 carries) in addition to battering between the tackles and breaking contain outside. He also hauled in three catches. Just don’t expect the undrafted CU rookie to gloat: “I showed that I love game,” he said. Lindsay gashed K.C.’s defense for gains of 11, 13 and 14 yards. Booker, bumped from third to second on the depth chart, hit on runs of 10, 14 and 26 yards.
“I knew (Booker) was going to play well; he was waiting for his chance,” coach Vance Joseph said. “And I knew Lindsay was going to play well. I knew we could block them up front.”
The ugly truth in a close defeat, though, was an almost constant stream of Denver miscues that deflated momentum. Lindsay broke off two big runs erased by penalty: 23 yards (right guard Conner McGovern hold) and 21 yards (left guard Max Garcia hold). Lindsay also gained 10 more on a reception in the flat, only for that play to be nixed because of a McGovern block in the back.
Fiftyfour Lindsay yards in all — gone.
“At the end of the day, sometimes it’s put in the refs’ hands,” Lindsay said. “There’s a lot going on and if they feel like something was wrong, they’re going to throw something. It’s on us. We’re doing things that are hurting us.”
Center Matt Paradis summed it up simply: “I’ll take the win over the rushing yards,” he said.
Denver improved its place among the NFL’s top rushing teams (No. 8 entering Sunday). But Lindsay had other thoughts on his mind after the game.
“All I care about is winning and obviously we didn’t get that done,” Lindsay said. “So I need to go back, look at the mirror and see what I can do better to help my team come out with the W.”