Brock Osweiler didn’t have to play like Peyton Manning circa 2013, he just needed to play Brock solid.
As long as Osweiler didn’t commit any turnovers, the Denver Broncos could pull what they hadn’t all season. Coupled with the fact Denver could finally use the offense all had envisioned, the recipe was there. Gary Kubiak may have said they would use the same offense, but as soon as Osweiler lined up under center, we know Kubiak had his fingers crossed when he said that.
Those two facets played out perfectly for the Broncos in their 17-15 blood-pressure raising victory over the Chicago Bears that had Broncos Country Brockin’-and-rollin’.
On a side note, wasn’t it nice to see John Fox screw up play calling in a way that finally benefits Denver? It’s a minor victory Fox didn’t quit again on his players.
But I digress, and back on point.
Kubiak and the Broncos could not have asked for anything more from Osweiler or this offense. There were no turnovers, they ran the ball extremely well (over 170 yards), Osweiler efficiently spread the ball around and got his receivers, tight ends and running backs involved, the offense purred and it still left some plays on the field. If Osweiler doesn’t trip Ronnie Hillman on fourth-and-1, Hillman would have scored easily and the game wouldn’t have been so close. Not to mention Emmanuel Sanders didn’t play (kind of a big deal) and this was Osweiler’s first career NFL start (a very big deal). In fact, it was his first start at any level of football since December of 2011.
What this win should do is not only build Osweiler’s confidence in himself and his teammates’, but also his coaches. This should give Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison the belief they can open up the offense for Osweiler even more.
Despite what you hear to the contrary, this is Kubiak’s offense and what it looks like. What it should look like. But as noted earlier, it can and should get better.
As long as the offense doesn’t turn the ball over, Denver will win. As long as the offense is balanced and can run the football, the Broncos will remain right at the top of the AFC standings.
The Denver defense is another story. Give credit to the unit for stepping up and making plays when it needed to, at the end of the game and the fourth-and-goal in the fourth quarter. To hold Jay Cutler and the Bears to one touchdown, especially after winning four of the last six games, is impressive.
Still, stupid penalties, coverage breakdowns and big plays on third down remain the whitehead on Denver’s chin that it cannot get rid of. At this point, it’s starting to morph into a boil. If the Broncos don’t do something about it, this will cost them, painfully, as boils often do. Just like the offense, the defense left plays on the field in the form of two dropped interceptions.
Special teams didn’t do Denver any favors either, namely Omar Bolden and Britton Colquitt.
Yet despite all of that, the questionable play calling, mental lapses and a quarterback starting his first career NFL game, the Broncos won. This is a game they would have lost in any of the last four seasons. At least the guy responsible for that fact is consistent, and he sill can’t beat a team with a winning record.
The talk now will turn to the question: What does Denver do with Manning? Given Osweiler’s performance, on the road against a team that had won four-of-six games and was playing solid football, with how the guys around him responded and the fact plays were left on the field, Kubiak has to stick with Osweiler.
Osweiler showed he can do it, so open the playbook for him. Show him you have the confidence he can run this offense. If Sanders is able to play, that adds another element to this offense.
For the first time this season, the offense delivered for the Broncos. For the first time, it didn’t turn the ball over and it looked like Kubiak’s offense.
They didn’t need a Brock star, they just needed Brock solid.
More Broncos – Bears
