Broncos Pick 'Em: How does your opinion of Denver change after Teddy Bridgewater’s impressive performance?

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — For the first time in the Vic Fangio era, the Denver Broncos are 1-0. For the first time in the Vic Fangio era, the Denver Broncos have a win in September. For the first time in the Vic Fangio era, the Denver Broncos have a winning record.

For the first time in a while, there’s legitimate optimism surrounding the team early in the season.

But how much optimism should there be after Sunday’s win over the Giants? The DNVR Crew breaks it down in the second edition of Broncos Pick ‘Em.

All odds below are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

How does your opinion of the Broncos change after Bridgewater’s impressive performance?

Zac: Playoffs — Plain and simple, if Teddy Two Gloves plays the rest of the season anywhere close to the level he did against the Giants, the Denver Broncos are absolutely a playoff team.

Not only were Bridgewater’s stats impressive—28-0f-36 for 264 yards, two touchdowns, a 115.7 passer rating and a league-best 95.7 QBR—but his command of the offense and the calming presence he brought were just as important to Denver’s offense. After the first week of the season, Bridgewater appears to be the signal caller and leader the Broncos have been desperately searching for for many, many years.

The Broncos need average quarterback play to be relevant in December. If Teddy continues to play close to the way he did—scoring on what should have been 75 percent of Denver’s drives—the Broncos will be relevant into the middle of January.

Mase: Very little — I had the Broncos in the playoffs as a wild card before this summer, and it didn’t matter which quarterback started. I kept them there once Bridgewater got the Week 1 nod, figuring the Broncos would be ticketed for the No. 7 seed.

I also expected the team to start 3-0 before diving into a stern six-week stretch that includes games against four playoff participants from 2020. So far, so good.

But the litmus test is still to come. We’ll have a better idea after Weeks 4 and 5 — unless the Broncos find the banana peel in these next two games against teams that have gone a combined 3-31 since the start of last season.

RK: I feel much better — As I’ve said all year, I’m in “show me mode,” but Teddy Bridgewater showed me something last weekend. Yes, he did all the things we knew he could do, but he went so above and beyond that, too.

More than anything, I was blown away by Teddy’s playmaking ability. In 2021, you just need your quarterback to be able to make some plays for you off script and Bridewater did that multiple times for his team.

If that’s the Teddy you get in big games against legit opponents, this team has a chance. As for now, I’ll wait to see if he can do it twice before getting crazy.

Picks Picks Picks

Will Teddy Bridgewater or Trevor Lawrence have more passing yards?

Zac: Teddy Two Gloves.

Mase: Lawrence, thanks to garbage time.

RK: Lawrence. Playing from behind.

Teddy Bridgewater INTs over/under 0.5

Zac: Under.

Mase: Under.

RK: Under.

Teddy Bridgewater’s longest completion over/under 37.5

Zac: Over. He goes deep.

Mase: Over. Hamler redeems himself.

RK: Over. Sutton on a jump ball.

Melvin Gordon rushing yards over/under 42.5

Zac: Over. In the first half.

Mase: Over.

RK: Over.

Courtland Sutton receiving yards over/under 53.5

Zac: Under. Slightly.

Mase: Under.

RK: Over thanks to that jump ball.

Laviska Shenault Jr. receiving yards over/under 46.5

Zac: Over.

Mase: Over.

RK: Over. Gotta feed that man.

Noah Fant receptions over/under 4.5

Zac: Over. Easily.

Mase: Over.

RK: Under.

Teddy Bridgewater’s longest run over/under 9.5

Zac: Under.

Mase: Over.

RK: Under.

Brandon McManus made field goals over/under 1.5

Zac: Over. Gotta be.

Mase: Under.

RK: Over.

Total 4th-down conversions for both teams over/under 1.5

Zac: Under. No need to.

Mase: Over.

RK: Over.

Jaguars first-half points over/under 7.5

Zac: Under. Only one score.

Mase: Under.

RK: Over.

Broncos total points over/under 26.5

Zac: Over. High-scoring offense!

Mase: Over.

RK: Over.

Broncos @ Jaguars over/under 45.5

Zac: Under.

Mase: Over.

RK: Over.

Broncos (-6) @ Jaguars

Zac: The Denver Broncos.

Mase: Broncos.

RK: Broncos by three scores.

Raiders @ Steelers (-5)

Zac: Steelers.

Mase: Steelers.

RK: Steelers.

Chiefs (-3.5) @ Ravens

Zac: Chiefs.

Mase: Chiefs.

RK: Chiefs by a lot.

Cowboys @ Chargers (-3)

Zac: Chargers.

Mase: Chargers.

RK: Boys.

Leaderboard

Last week

Zac: 7-6

Mase: 7-6

RK: 6-7

Overall

Zac: 7-6

Mase: 7-6

RK: 6-7