Welcome, Damien Nash, to the list of players qualified to be major players in the Broncos’ running game.
Nash took his share of handoffs Sunday night and bounced off one San Diego defender after another. He awakened a sputtering Denver offense, a fact that easily could be lost in the aftermath of the team blowing a 17-point second-half lead in its 35-27 loss to San Diego.
Nash and Mike Bell brought the Broncos’ running game back to life after a two-game lull.
“We were better today,” Denver coach Mike Shanahan said. “We have improved over the last couple of games. You are going to have some highs and lows during the year, passing and running the football, and hopefully we can keep that going.”
And again, it was a group effort by less than Canton-quality names.
Nash – who made his Denver debut last week at Oakland after being promoted from the practice squad – worked his way into a rotation with Mike Bell.
Bell started and played the first quarter before Nash entered. Bell – who had a pair of 3-yard touchdown runs in the second quarter – ended up with 90 yards on 20 carries. Nash had 52 yards on 10 carries and three catches for 36 yards.
“We were wearing them down,” Bell said. “I really liked what we were doing, but we lost so it takes away from it.”
The run helped set up the Denver passing attack again. The offense showed balance that was missing the past two weeks.
Bell and Nash played while Tatum Bell was inactive because of turf injuries on both of his big toes that have bothered him since the Cleveland game Oct. 22. Tatum Bell said Sunday night he hopes to play Thursday at Kansas City.
The resurgence of Mike Bell – the undrafted rookie from Arizona – continued what he has often described as a “roller-coaster ride.” Bell was inactive at Oakland after he had a poor game as the starter in Pittsburgh. Mike Bell, who had 136 yards rushing against the Colts on Oct. 29, didn’t execute well on several plays against the Steelers.
Mike Bell said he learned his lesson. This week, he compared himself to a dog on a chain, ready to bust loose. The Broncos gave him the chance.
“I did run with a purpose and it felt good to get back out there,” Mike Bell said. “I have to show the coaches more consistency. I can’t be making them put me up and down. I have to show I belong. I don’t want to be that guy who is inconsistent.”
Bell continued to be a goal-line threat by scoring his two touchdowns. He also came up with a huge 3-yard run on a fourth-and-1 play from San Diego’s 46 early in the fourth quarter. It helped Denver extend its lead to 27-21 as the drive ended with a Jason Elam field goal.
Nash, signed after Tennessee waived him in August, got the Denver offense going and enabled it to control the clock. Denver had the ball only 2:09 in the first quarter, but controlled the ball for 11:25 in the second quarter. Nash gained 55 yards rushing on five carries and 24 yards on two receptions in the quarter. He had a three-play stretch during which he brought Denver from its 43 to San Diego’s 11 – catches of 13 and 11 yards and a run of 22 yards – with 1:19 to go in the half. Nash’s offensive explosion set up Mike Bell’s second touchdown.
Last week at Oakland, Nash recovered his own fumble at the Raiders’ 3 in the fourth quarter, ending that game with four carries. He said he hopes he has done enough to earn more playing time.
“But it’s hard to be happy right now because we didn’t do enough to win the game,” Nash said. “I showed I can run hard, but I didn’t do enough because we lost.”
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
