Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins (27) runs the ball in the second quarter of the NFL Week 4 Monday Night Football game between the Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Broncos RB ends Denver's drought without a 100-yard rusher

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Sep 30, 2025 12:12 AM ET

Something happened during the Denver Broncos' dominating performance on Monday night that hadn't occurred in over two years.

As part of Denver's 28-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, veteran running back J.K. Dobbins surpassed 100 yards rushing. He ran for exactly 101 yards on 16 carries for an average of 6.3 yards per touch.

And while quarterback Bo Nix, now in his second year in the NFL, may steal most of the headlines for his 326 passing yards and two touchdowns, it's Dobbins who accomplished a rarity for the franchise.

Dobbins' 101 yards on the ground against the Bengals put an end to the Broncos' 38-game-long drought without a 100-yard game from a running back.

J.K. Dobbins is the first 100-yard rusher for the @Broncos in the last 38 games

CINvsDEN on ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/ObRtdMIIf2
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2025

This means it took until Week 4 of the 2025 season for Sean Payton to enjoy a 100-yard rusher as Broncos head coach. Payton took over in Denver ahead of the 2023 season.

The last time the Broncos had a 100-yard rusher

The Broncos' last 100-yard rusher was Latavius Murray in the final game of the 2022 regular season.

Will Dobbins' big game on a national stage earn the Baltimore Ravens' 2020 second-round pick out of Ohio State more opportunities moving forward?

If so, Dobbins could help Denver build a new streak, one of consecutive games with a 100-yard rusher. And based on Dobbins' season average of 5.4 yards per carry, that's certainly possible.

Dobbins, who now has 222 total yards so far on the year, came close to cracking 100 the previous week. He ran for 83 yards on just 11 carries.

Dobbins signed a one-year deal with the Broncos after rushing for 905 yards in 13 games in his lone season with the Chargers in 2024.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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