ENGLEWOOD – — For obvious reasons, the 2018 Broncos are becoming irked about comparisons to last year.
Last year, though, brings constructive caution to the otherwise optimism of 2-0.
None more so than this:
Through two games last season, Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian was 2-0 with 6 touchdown passes against 2 interceptions for 450 yards and a 106.9 passer rating that ranked No. 6 among all NFL quarterbacks.
Through two games this season, Broncos quarterback Case Keenum is 2-0 with 3 touchdown passes against 4 interceptions for 551 yards and a 73.7 rating that ranks 28th among QBs.
Keenum can make up serious ground over the next five games. In fact, he must: Siemian went 1-4 in that stretch, with 3 TDs against 8 picks. And the Broncos finished 5-11 overall.
There is nothing about Keenum’s play that suggests he will experience that type of slump – especially his clutch fourth quarter performances in each of the Broncos’ first two wins.
He must do it, though. The point here is a team, and its quarterback, cannot be fully evaluated on two games alone.
Turkey Bowl Attack
I played in a Turkey Bowl game once where the rule stipulated at least one pass had to be completed to a kid, and another to a mom or wife before a QB could throw a touchdown pass to an adult male.
The Broncos have been using their own form of the Turkey Bowl pass offense in that multiple players seemingly must have at least one catch before the team wins.
Keenum completed passes to seven different receivers in game 1, including tight end Jeff Heuerman, who had one catch for 15 yards.
Going one better in game 2, Keenum completed passes to eight different receivers, including one completion each to Tim Patrick, Andy Janovich, Courtland Sutton and Phillip Lindsay.
Still looking for their first catch going into game 3: DaeSean Hamilton, Royce Freeman and Matt LaCosse.
Bronco Bits
After No. 3 cornerback Adam Jones was flagged for defensive holding late in the second quarter, he was replaced by Tramaine Brock. By game’s end, Brock had 23 defensive snaps to 21 for Jones. …
Safety Justin Simmons is the Broncos’ only player who has played every defensive snap through two games. …
There are snaps and there are carries. The Broncos’ running back rotation Sunday against the Raiders: Lindsay, 28 snaps (14 carries), Devontae Booker, 22 snaps (3 carries) and Freeman, 16 snaps (8 carries). …
There are snaps and there are receiving yards. The Broncos’ top three receivers Sunday: Demaryius Thomas, 59 snaps (5 catches, 18 yards), Emmanuel Sanders, 54 snaps (4 catches, 96 yards) and Sutton, 54 snaps (1 catch, 9 yards).