3 years ago
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MINNEAPOLIS — Throughout the past 2 weeks, arsenic quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock swapped decent and mediocre practices, Broncos manager Vic Fangio maintained helium didn’t person a atrocious occupation connected his hands. Both players had made advancement and his prime to commencement against the New York Giants connected Sept. 12 successful the regular-season opener wouldn’t beryllium by default, helium pointed out.
Saturday’s 33-6 shellacking of the Minnesota Vikings proved Fangio close … astatine slightest for now.
Lock started and completed 5 of his 7 passes for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns successful 3 possessions. Bridgewater followed and was 7-of-8 passing for 75 yards and 1 touchdown successful 2 drives successful the preseason opener for some teams.
“I thought they some played precise well,” Fangio said. “They benignant of validated what I’ve been saying each camp, that they’re ‘Even Steven.’ … I don’t deliberation immoderate separation happened successful this crippled if anybody is looking for it.”
Fangio should beryllium happy. The past mode helium wants to extremity Quarterback Competition 2021 is by tepidly picking a starter not based connected however good they played, but by a operation of the clip crunch and different player’s middling-to-poor play.
The backmost play capped the Broncos’ palmy five-day travel to Minnesota that included 2 associated practices against the Vikings and past a dominating show successful which Fangio sat retired 27 players due to the fact that of wounded oregon rest.
The Broncos outgained the Vikings 387-235. Rookie moving backmost Javonte Williams showed his committedness with 5 rushes for 29 yards. Rookie cornerback Pat Surtain II returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown. The discourtesy converted 7 of 12 third-down chances. And the defence held Vikings quarterbacks (none named Kirk Cousins) to 11-of-26 passing for 84 yards.
“It was a large week,” Fangio said. “There were nary negatives.”
No negatives erstwhile discussing the Broncos’ backmost presumption has been uncommon the past 5 years. And let’s look it: The Vikings’ starting defence wasn’t playing and this was the archetypal accumulation game. But it beats the alternative.
Lock was up first.
First drive: The Broncos moved from their 39-yard enactment to the Vikings’ 4. Williams’ touchdown was negated by receiver Jerry Jeudy’s holding penalty. Two plays later, Lock threw incomplete to Jeudy connected a fourth-down speedy slant.
Second drive: Lock threw an 80-yard touchdown to receiver KJ Hamler (33 post-catch yards) to springiness the Broncos a 9-0 lead.
In huddle, Lock said helium told Hamler: “Do what you bash champion and tally truly accelerated and I’ll enactment it retired to you.”
Third drive: Lock’s abbreviated walk to Jeudy turned into a 33-yard summation connected third-and-4. Three plays later, helium threw a four-yard touchdown to Trinity Benson.
“Absolutely happy,” Lock said. “It feels bully to enactment points up connected the committee erstwhile you’re successful determination and travel into the locker country and high-five and celebrate. I thought it was an awesome showing from everybody. It was amusive to support way of the people and accidental you won something.”
Bridgewater’s quality bridged the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
First drive: A methodical 10-play, 50-yard lucifer included a 22-yard walk to choky extremity Eric Saubert and an 11-yard completion to Benson connected third-and-5 and was capped by a 34-yard Brandon McManus tract goal.
Second drive: Bridgewater recovered Benson for 17 yards and choky extremity Austin Fort for 9 yards to acceptable up a four-yard touchdown (fade route) to Benson.
“It was bully to get things going successful the close direction,” Bridgewater said. “You speech astir a young shot squad that is thirsty for occurrence and what amended mode to commencement the preseason by getting that winning feeling.”
Bridgewater said helium didn’t use unit connected himself knowing Lock had played good earlier him.
“When I’m retired there, I’m not adjacent reasoning astir the competition,” Bridgewater said. “It’s however bash I maximize this 1 play? There are 10 different guys competing to gain a spot connected this team. If I marque it astir maine successful that moment, I’m hurting this squad and the different 10 guys retired determination with me.”
Bridgewater volition commencement against Seattle and Decision Day should travel soon aft truthful the starting quarterback’s absorption tin displacement to the Giants.
“I’m thrilled that some of them played good,” Fangio said. “I privation it to beryllium a hard decision. I anticipation they some person large games adjacent week.”
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