Game balls for Chargers loss in Oakland

Chargers running back dominates

Since Gordon returned to the team, the former Pro Bowl running back has been a bit of a mixed bag. The first few games were rough, but Gordon seems to have turned a corner the last couple of games.

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Against the Green Bay Packers he had his best game of the season and then came out and topped that on Thursday against the Raiders. Gordon finished with 108 yards and one touchdown on the ground, his first 100-yard rushing game of the season, and added 25 yards on his only catch for good measure.

It appears he has shaken off all the rust that came from his hold out. Gordon is running with more physicality and better vision than was the case previously. Making people miss in the hole is a key piece to having any kind of success in the running game. Plays like the one below simply were not happening over the course of the four-game stretch where the Chargers weren’t able to top 40 rushing yards.

Melvin Gordon means business tonight ??

(via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/Mo0fN9mNXJ

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 8, 2019

Gordon shows off his ability to make a single cut and make a run for a big gain here. This type of explosiveness was something that was clearly missing in previous weeks by the Chargers running back.

Getting elite Gordon back is a big bonus for this team as it gives them another weapon on the field and new offensive coordinator Shane Steichen has sure taken advantage of him. Look for that to continue going forward, especially this week in Mexico City while the offense attempts to manage the clock and keep Patrick Mahomes off the field.