Through the first two weeks of the preseason, the Denver Broncos led the entire league in pass attempts. Through the fist two drives of the third preseason game, the Denver Broncos didn’t have one.
An odd decision for a team in the midst of a heated quarterback battle, especially when each of those drives ended in a quick three-and-out.
Run, run, run, punt. Yippie.
— Jon Heath (@ByJonHeath) August 28, 2016
Not a ton of early faith in Siemian. Three runs and a punt. #Broncos
— James Merilatt (@jamesmerilatt) August 28, 2016
We're seeing the REAL @brondos offense here. Run, run and run it some more. Hard to evaluate Siemian this way, huh? #Broncos
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) August 28, 2016
Is throwing an option?
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) August 28, 2016
If #Broncos aren't going to throw the ball this season, I suppose it really doesn't matter who plays quarterback.
— Eric Goodman (@EricGoodman) August 28, 2016
Two three-and-outs to start for Broncos. Trevor Siemian has yet to attempt a pass.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 28, 2016
6 straight runs to start the game for the Broncos. No passes yet. Also no first downs #Broncos
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) August 28, 2016
Eventually, after nearly 14 minutes of game time, Trevor Siemian would attempt his first pass of the night, an incompletion to Demaryius Thomas.
Broncos first pass attempt not until 1:01 left in first quarter. Telling of what Broncos true offense will look like #Broncos
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) August 28, 2016
The Broncos eventually got their passing game going in the second quarter (when the Rams took out their first-string defense), with Siemian finishing with 122 yards and a touchdown on 10-17 passing.
But the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
While Siemian finished with one interception (which probably should have been overturned), there were several more that should have been picked, one of which was a sure-fire pick-six.
The Broncos won the game, but it wasn’t pretty.
Right now, #Broncos offense IS "The no fly zone."
— Eric Goodman (@EricGoodman) August 28, 2016
The good news is that the passing game wasn’t pretty last year, either. Still, asking the Broncos to repeat what they did last season is a tall task.
