In the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams met Falcons safety Justin Simmons at about the five-yard line and was stood up.
Williams kept his legs moving and teammates soon arrived to help push him into the end zone for a touchdown.
“They just seen me and J-Sim one-on-one kind of at a stalemate and after that, the cavalry came,” Williams said of the play after the game.
Williams was picked up by his teammates and escorted into the end zone.
“I was in the air,” Williams said after the game. “That was all the o-line. From like the five-yard line on, that was all the o-line because my feet were in the air. So all the credit to them.”
Javonte Williams and a litany of Broncos blockers running over the former face of the franchise (Justin Simmons) on their way to the endzone feels symbolic.
It’s a new age in Denver. pic.twitter.com/gC3kNmGQgV— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) November 18, 2024
After an eventual 38-6 victory, guard Quinn Meinerz detailed how pushing the pile dates back to his time in college.
“Pushing the pile, I’m going to give a shout-out to my offensive line coach at [Wisconsin-] Whitewater, Coach Brent Allen,” Meinerz said. “That was something that was instilled in us as Whitewater offensive linemen that — it was push the pile every time. Get to the pile, push the pile. We had tons of plays like that in college.”
Quinn Meinerz (@QMeinerz) had an awesome answer about pushing Javonte Williams into the endzone.
Shouting out his Wisconsin-Whitewater OL coach @Allenbt29 who preached they push the pile every play. Worked out for Quinn tonight! #9sports https://t.co/QBsitLYqyN pic.twitter.com/mjGzl5cpoK
— Scotty Gange (@Scotty_G6) November 18, 2024
Denver’s social media team had Williams break down the play after the game:
His feet were literally in the air. 😅@javontewill33 breaks down his group-effort TD: pic.twitter.com/wFfMFb6DSN
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 18, 2024
Williams knew Meinerz was involved during the play.
“Yeah, when my feet came out the ground and I was still moving, I said, it must be Quinn and somebody, because I know Quinn is going to be the one push,” Williams said.
Williams ended the day with nine carries for 59 yards and one touchdown. He also added four receptions for 28 yards as the Broncos improved to 6-5 with a convincing victory at home.
