The Denver Broncos lost two fumbles at the goal line against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday. Those two turnovers cost the Broncos 14 points in a game that was ultimately decided by one point.
The first fumble was put on the ground by running back Melvin Gordon when the team was facing fourth-and-goal at Seattle’s one-yard line.
After the game, Gordon explained what happened.
“It was fourth down, so I was trying to reach the ball,” Gordon said. “I got stopped dead to rights. This is fourth down. That’s the only time it really is acceptable to reach, so that’s what I tried to do. I could have just locked it up, but I would have been short. I’m trying to reach and get it past the goal line. They knocked it out. It is what it is.
“Like I said, if I didn’t try to reach for it, I don’t think it would have come out, but I was trying to make a play. Like I said, that’s when the coaches give us the OK to reach the ball, when it’s fourth-and-one. We don’t care what happens at that point. It’s fourth down. Either way, I got stopped. … Mistakes happen.”
Gordon finished the day with 12 carries for 58 yards and two receptions for 14 yards. Those would have been fine numbers for a running back playing in a shared backfield if that for that costly fumble.
As Gordon said, though, mistakes happen. Now the Broncos will try to not repeat those mistakes.
Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Podcasts