On Sunday, everyone had a red pen out, ready to grade the performance of a first-time starting quarterback. That’s because on a cold and blustery day in Chicago, Brock Osweiler was auditioning to be the future, and perhaps current, starting quarterback of the Broncos.
Everyone reviewed his performance through a different lens, depending on their point of view when it comes to the much-talked-about situation with Denver’s normal signal caller. A viewer’s position on Peyton Manning certainly had an impact on how tough of a curve to use in grading Osweiler.
But the honest and fair assessment of the 25-year-old quarterback’s debut was pretty simple: He played fine.
On the day, the fourth-year backup completed 20 of 27 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Anything more positive is hyperbole. And a more negative review would be equally inaccurate. Osweiler was good, but not great.
There were certainly plenty of encouraging things. For a guy making his first-ever NFL start, Osweiler showed some flashes that he can help his team win games.
First and foremost, the fact that the Broncos got through an entire game without their quarterback throwing the football to the other team was a huge step in the right direction. Given that they have a stout defense, Denver just needs to avoid helping out the opposition; not giving the other team great field position and/or free points is of paramount importance. Osweiler passed that test with flying colors on Sunday, avoiding any turnovers.
Secondly, the first-time starter added a dimension to the Broncos offense through his mobility. While not a quarterback that is going to take off and make huge plays with his feet, Osweiler was able to move in the pocket to avoid pressure, escape the pass rush to turn a negative play into a short gain, as well as execute the play-action, rollout passes that are a trademark of Gary Kubiak’s offense. Those plays, while not necessarily game breakers, made Denver much more efficient.
And finally, Osweiler’s presence was big because it helped the Broncos jumpstart a running game that had been anemic during the team’s back-to-back losses prior to their trip to Chicago. With the quarterback under center, something that Manning didn’t like and wasn’t comfortable doing, Denver’s running game seemed much more in sync; the timing and precision of the zone-blocking scheme clicked to the tune of 170 yards on 36 carries, an average of 4.7 per rush.
But that doesn’t mean everything was rosy in Osweiler’s debut. In fact, there were plenty of things that still need work, things that tend to get overlooked in the euphoria of victory.
The biggest cause for concern was the conservative approach the Broncos took against the Bears. Looking to avoid big mistakes by their young quarterback, Denver didn’t ask Osweiler to do anything too crazy. He was mostly dink and dunk, with only six of his 20 completions going to wide receivers. For the most part, Kubiak and Company devised a game plan that relied heavily on throwing the ball to the tight ends and handing the ball off to the running backs.
It’s hard to be too critical of that approach, given that it helped Denver net a big road victory. But it’s not one that is going to work against the league’s elite teams. At some point, Osweiler is going to have to show that he can make big-time NFL throws, including deep outs, passes down the seam and the long ball. This was never more evident that on the team’s final two possessions; needing a first down or two to run out the clock, the Broncos gave the Bears two chances to tie the game because they couldn’t convert when Chicago took away the short stuff.
In part, that problem dovetails into what was perhaps the biggest issue in Osweiler’s debut: At the end of the day, Denver only managed to put 17 points on the board. That’s not going to get it done against better teams. It’s a number that could have looked much more impressive if the quarterback hadn’t squandered back-to-back drives in the second half that featured great field position. Starting at their own 48 and then Chicago’s 25, the Broncos were unable to put any points on the board; that’s just inexcusable, as those types of opportunities have to be maximized.
All in all, Osweiler’s opening act was a mixed bag. There were some good moments, no terrible plays, a few clutch throws, and plenty of things still to work on. It all adds up to a fine performance, but nothing that is going to be immortalized in Canton.
But was it enough to become the permanent starter? Did Osweiler play at a level that would allow him to beat out Peyton Manning for the remainder of the 2015 season?
The honest answer is no. While Osweiler was good, he wasn’t great. And it should take a dazzling performance in order to unseat an injured veteran, not just something that looked new and different. But that’s under normal circumstances; and as was evident all last week, this is anything but a typical situation.
If the real reason that Osweiler played on Sunday was because Manning was truly too hurt to play, then the Broncos will go back to No. 18 as soon as he’s healthy. That’s because the youngster didn’t light the world on fire; in relief, he didn’t play in a way that would make it impossible to send him back to clipboard duty.
If, however, the Broncos used Manning’s various ailments as an excuse to get Osweiler into the lineup, then he will retain the job. He didn’t do anything that suggested he’s not capable of playing the position; there were no panic-inducing moments that would require an immediate return to the veteran option.
So what are the Broncos going to do? Who gives them the best chance to beat the Patriots on Sunday? Which QB provides a realistic shot at making a Super Bowl run in January?
That’s the question that Kubiak will face this week. Surely, Manning is going to want to play; he wasn’t keen on sitting out against the Bears. But clearly, the Broncos are ready to see what they have in Osweiler; a primetime showdown with New England would be a great test for the young quarterback.
Last week, both the head coach and the backup said that the Broncos were still Manning’s team whenever he gets healthy. If that’s true, nothing that happened on Sunday in Chicago should change their minds. But that might not have been the most honest comments ever uttered by Kubiak and Osweiler.
In his postgame “Victory Speech,” the head coach may have hinted at his true feelings. He told his players that playing good defense, avoiding turnovers and running the football is how championships are won in the NFL. Against the Bears, the Broncos did all three of those things as well as they have all year; that might suggest where Kubiak is leaning.
Everyone is about to find out.
