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Keenum, Kelly and the kids play well but Bears score two late TDs to beat Broncos, 24-23

It was a big day for Denver Broncos' rookies as first-round outside linebacker Bradley Chubb jumped on Chicago Bears' quarterback Mitch Trubisky in the end zone for a safety.
Credit: Ron Chenoy - USA TODAY Sports
Ron Chenoy - USA TODAY Sports

DENVER – This was the Case Keenum practice observers had been beaming about.

It took a while. After two, three-and-outs in two series in the Broncos' preseason opener last week, Keenum and the first-team offense had another three-and-out to start Saturday night in their preseason game against the Chicago Bears. The Broncos' quarterback overthrew a couple receivers in the end zone on the next drive that finished with a field goal.

But Keenum did lead the Broncos’ first-team offense to 11 points through one quarter and one series in the second on an incredibly comfortable mid-August evening before a gathering of 65,832 (9,977 no shows) at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

"I think that says something in this league when things aren't going just exactly the way you want to, still being able to put drives together and score some points,'' Keenum said. "I think that's important.''

The Broncos were up 23-10 into the fourth quarter but Bears' No. 2 quarterback, veteran Chase Daniel, threw two touchdown passes against Denver's third-string defense in the final 5 minutes to give Chicago a 24-23 win.

The Broncos were up 20-10 at halftime as Chad Kelly replaced Keenum in the second quarter and completed his first series by throwing a 16-yard touchdown pass to second-round rookie Courtland Sutton, who ran a skinny post. Kelly led the Broncos on a field goal drive to start the third quarter, moving the score to 23-10 entering the fourth quarter.

Kelly is making it tough on the Broncos' brass. Last year, general manager John Elway waived preseason hero Kyle Sloter and signed veteran Brock Osweiler. Elway may be tempted again to acquire a quarterback with NFL experience, but can he, whoever he is, provide microwave excitement like Kelly?

"Right now he's our backup,'' said head coach Vance Joseph. "I can't speak for two weeks down the road, but right now he's our backup quarterback.''

Said Kelly: "I don't really care about that. I'm here to focus on the team that I had out there and lead my team down to score points.''

On Keenum’s touchdown drive, he converted two, third downs with completions to Emmanuel Sanders. The Broncos held out Demaryius Thomas from the game because of a wrist injury suffered in practice Thursday.

Then on third-and-6 from the Bears 49, Keenum threw deep to Sutton, who had defensive back Doran Grant beat by a step-and-a-half. Grant tugged on Sutton before the ball arrived and was flagged for a 45-yard pass interference penalty.

"I definitely did (have him beat),'' Sutton said. "I was talking to Case on the sideline about it. We were on the same page. But we got the P.I.''

Rookie running back Royce Freeman picked a hole and ran it in easily for a 4-yard touchdown. Keenum converted the 2-point conversion with a pass to tight end Jeff Heuerman.

It was a big day for Broncos’ rookies as first-round outside linebacker Bradley Chubb jumped on quarterback Mitch Trubisky in the end zone for a safety. Trubisky couldn’t handle the shotgun snap and was tackled by Chubb after regaining his bobble.

Another rookie, undrafted Phillip Lindsay, had 32 yards rushing on six carries, two nice punt returns and came up with a big special teams tackle that pinned the Bears deep in their territory.

"I was happy I was able to get a tackle,'' Lindsay said. "That was my hope. And then I have to continue to try and carve out a little role offensively.''

Keenum and the kids are the primary reason why the Broncos believe they will be much improved from their 5-11 record a year ago. Keenum finished 8 of 13 for 78 yards.

"He's a leader,'' Sanders told 9News Rod Mackey at halftime. "From Day One he's been that guy that breaks us out of the huddle. He's very vocal. He's going to be all right. I'm loving where we're at right now.''

Kelly finished 7 of 9 for 90 yards in another sterling outing, this time as the No. 2 quarterback. He made big plays in his first preseason game last week, although he threw an interception and had another one dropped. He avoided the big mistake in his second test.

"You've got to be smart, you've got to know when to take the chances,'' Kelly said. "You kind a wish we would have taken a bit more chances because we wound up on the losing end. But you've got to manage the game as a smart quarterback and not be reckless.'

It was 23-10 Broncos when Kelly turned the game over to Paxton Lynch, who played with the third-team offense late in the third quarter. Lynch was booed by his own fans when he came in the game, and struggled, completing 5 of 11 for 39 yards, although he did nearly lead the team to a game-winning field goal in the final seconds.

"I feel bad for Paxton, but he has to ignore it and go play,'' Joseph said. "It's professional football. No one's going to hold your hand.''

"It's tough on a young kid when the crowd boos,'' said defensive end Derek Wolfe. "Mentally, he's not ready for that kind of stuff. He's still a young kid. He got thrown into a tough position. What'd he do? Played good in college. Got drafted first.

"He's got a lot of learning to do, a lot of growing up to do, but he's going to get there. He's trying. It's not like he doesn't care.''

Lynch did have the Broncos on the move for a game-winning field goal, but Isaiah McKenzie fumbled after catching a receiver screen. Afterwards, Lynch was asked if he wanted to be the backup quarterback.

"I want to be the quarterback,'' he said. "I don't want to be a backup and I definitely don't want to be third-string quarterback. The cards have been dealt to this point in time and I'm not quitting. I'll never quit. My mom never quit, my dad never quit, my brother never quit, I'm never going to quit and I'm working hard.''

Not all Broncos’ rookies received glowing reports. Rookie cornerback Isaac Yiadom, starting for the injured Chris Harris Jr., was charged with a 37-yard pass interference penalty that allowed the Bears to convert a third-and-15. The Bears eventually scored on a 7-yard touchdown from Trubisky to tight end Trey Burton.

Otherwise, it was a solid effort by the Broncos' first-team defense. And second-team defense for that matter.

"You have to say you were wrong about the defensive line,'' Wolfe said. "I thought our defense played really well.''

Injuries

Strong safety Will Parks suffered a contusion on his left knee in the first quarter and didn't return. ...

Cornerback Marcus Rios, who played in five games as an undrafted rookie last year, can't catch a break. He missed most of camp with a hip injury and Saturday he suffered a severely sprained right ankle. ...

Defensive lineman Clinton McDonald suffered a biceps injury. ...

Running back De'Angelo Henderson suffered a lower back injury.

Bronco Bits

It had been three years, 9 months and 3 days since Alexander Johnson had played in a game. The newly signed inside linebacker had a big hit while covering a kickoff and played in a couple defensive series. ...

Sam Jones, the center-guard from Highlands Ranch, missed the game with a lower back injury but will return to practice next week. ...

The Broncos will practice Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at their UCHealth Training Center headquarters, then fly Thursday to the nation's capital where they will play Washington on Friday night. ...

Von Miller not only played, he played the entire first quarter. ...

Starting linebacker Brandon Marshall and Demaryius Thomas, who didn't dress, again didn't stand with their teammates on the sidelines during the playing of the National Anthem.

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