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In a Week 5 showdown at SoFi Stadium, running back J.K. Dobbins made his presence felt as the Denver Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 23-17. Dobbins, who spent the 2024 season with the Chargers before joining Denver, opened the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. He finished the day with 68 rushing yards on 18 carries, a modest but meaningful contribution in a game that carried extra weight for the veteran back.
The victory improved Denver's record to 3-2 and gave the Broncos a perfect 2-0 mark within the AFC West. Meanwhile, the Chargers remain winless at 0-5. Dobbins' performance was particularly notable given Denver's struggles in the running game; the team entered the contest ranked 29th in the league on the ground but managed to generate enough offense to secure the win.
Dobbins Credits Chemistry with Sean Payton
Following the win, Dobbins attributed his smooth transition to Denver to his relationship with head coach Sean Payton. "Coach Sean Payton knows me well," Dobbins said. "He knows me very well. He knows me well and I know him well. You can see the chemistry between us and the team, the offence. So that's what was different. I just got the opportunities."
Dobbins' path to Denver was not straightforward. The Chargers had used the unrestricted free agent tender on him in 2025, delaying his move before he eventually signed with the Broncos. That context added intrigue to his performance against his former team.
Looking Ahead
Despite the win, Dobbins acknowledged that Denver's offense still has room for improvement. "We just gotta make our plays," he said. "It's ebbs and flows in the NFL. They got a good defence. We gotta make our plays when our numbers called, and we'll get there."
The Broncos will now turn their attention to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6 as Dobbins looks to build on a victory that clearly meant something extra against his former team.
Originally reported by yahoo.