Broncos set to take Paxton Lynch out for a test drive

Good morning, Broncos Country!

Now that it’s official, Paxton Lynch is the player to watch against the Atlanta Falcons.

As Adam Malnati and I discussed in the Mile High Report Radio podcast this week, there is serious hype about this moment. With how Lynch looked in his first NFL action in a far from ideal situation, this is his chance to show even more.

That doesn’t take away from Trevor Siemian, who is unlikely to even be active in today’s game, or how he’s played. What it means is the Denver Broncos get to see even more from the first-round quarterback John Elway traded up to get. And Lynch was impressive in how he played last week.

What helps Lynch is the trust Gary Kubiak has shown in him, the playmakers around him, the fact the game is at home and that Denver defense. It also aids Lynch to go against a weak Falcons defense that is 31st against the pass. Atlanta allows 317 yards through the air and it’s missing its starting linebackers. Lynch showed he will test the field and go deep, and you can bet he will again today.

Keep in mind that Lynch didn’t get reps last week prior to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game and still impressed. He got those reps this week and, by all accounts, looked really good. Lynch and the receivers were off in the timing on those deeper routes but the work this week should assist in that.

There were reports on Saturday that Siemian was still on track to start on Thursday against the San Diego Chargers. But logic dictates, given the short week, Lynch will start today and also Thursday.

Some of this is no doubt tied to how Lynch plays, but why risk it if Siemian couldn’t go against the Falcons? Will three more days of rest really make a substantial difference? As I said earlier this week, keep Siemian on the sideline these two games, allow Lynch to play and re-evaluate after the short bye.

This is at least a one- or two-game audition for Paxton Lynch. If the kid shows well, #Broncos should stick with him. @1043TheFan

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) October 8, 2016

I’m in total agreement with Cecil Lammey on one point. There is no quarterback controversy in Denver since the future is Lynch and he has franchise quarterback potential. As Lammey said, this is a probable two-game audition for Lynch, and if he does well, the Broncos should stick with him.

Today’s game was already the "game of the week." Now that Lynch is the starter, that amps up even more. How he responds to the situation will dictate what we see not just Thursday against the Chargers, but the rest of the season and potentially the next few years.

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