Teddy Bridgewater has an efficient night as Broncos manhandle Seahawks, 30-3

The Denver Broncos had another strong preseason performance and another win, but the only conversation worth having in Broncos Country is who will be starting at quarterback come Week 1. Before we get into the recap, Andrew Mason of DNVR had two great tweets comparing both quarterbacks in the preseason through two games.

To start the game, the Broncos won the coin toss and decided not to get the ball into their quarterbacks hands to start the game and deferred to the second half. That was an interesting choice given the quarterback competition is still undecided according to head coach Vic Fangio.

Teddy Bridgewater’s Night

It didn’t matter much because the Broncos defense was playing against a backup quarterback to start this game. The Seattle Seahawks first drive ended with a Justin Simmons interception.

With a short field on his first drive, Teddy Bridgewater almost went three and out. Denver decided to go for it and found Jerry Jeudy coming open over the middle for a huge 35 yard gain and a first and goal opportunity.

Javonte Williams ran it five yards to the two and then Royce Freeman had no gain to setup a third and goal. Bridgewater, from the shotgun, found KJ Hamler wide open in the end zone for the touchdown and early 7-0 lead over the Seahawks.

Williams continued to show his ability on the next drive breaking tackles. The drive began deep in their own territory and Bridgewater was able to pick up those first downs with the short passing game and Williams running the ball. Near midfield, Williams had a wide open pass that would have been a huge gain, but he dropped it. Williams did redeem himself on fourth down the very next play to pick up the first down.

Yet another fourth down at the Seahawks 25 yard line was converted by Bridgewater to extend the Broncos drive again. Two plays later, Bridgewater found Eric Saubert on a cross over the middle. It was a beautiful pass down to the one yard line that Williams would punch in two plays later.

That 16-play, 87 yard drive would end Bridgewater’s night. He would finish an efficient 9/11 for 105 yards and 1 touchdown pass with a 136.7 passer rating. Denver would be up 14-0 at that point as well.

Drew Lock’s night

Drew Lock started his first drive near midfield after a terrific strip-sack by Jonathan Cooper to set Denver up nicely on the Seahawks side of the field. After a no gain run up the middle by Freeman, Lock was blown up inside for a sack. On third and 17, Lock hesitated and then felt pressure. As he tried to roll out away from the pressure he was sacked again to bring out the Broncos punt team for the first time.

Denver’s defense made another interception with an minute to go in the half to give Lock one more possession before halftime.

Lock would struggle on his first two dropbacks.

However, on third and six, he found Diontae Spencer over the middle of the field. Spencer made the catch and held onto the ball after getting walloped by a defensive back. The play would put Denver across midfield with 44 seconds to go in the half.

Back to back passes inside ate up the clock. With no timeouts left and 18 seconds left in the half, Lock hesitated and threw off his back foot for a short incompletion to Royce Freeman. From the Seahawks 26 yard line, Lock looked to a quick out route to Trinity Benson for a first down. Then with 11 seconds left, Drew lobbed a ball out of bounds to bring out the field goal unit.

Denver would take a 17-0 lead into halftime.

Lock would get one more drive in the game to start the third quarter. After a long kickoff return by Spencer, the Broncos would start the third quarter at their own 45-yard line.

The drive would start with three consecutive runs by Freeman and a first down. Lock would finally have a clean pock on his first pass of the third quarter and he checked it down to the flat for a three yard gain. A short run would setup a third and five for Lock. Lock again had a clean pock, but overthrew Spencer badly who was just beyond the sticks and open. The Broncos opted to kick the field goal instead of going for it.

Most assumed Lock’s night would be done after that drive, but Fangio decided to give him another try to make something happen. After a short run on first down, Lock threw two short passes and a quick three and out.

That drive probably hurt Lock’s chances of winning the job more than anything during the first two preseason games, but who knows, Fangio and company will be looking not only at the games but at practices as well. Fangio must have sensed Lock was in trouble and gave him yet another drive with three minutes to go in the third quarter.

With his job theoretically on the line, Lock delivered big on third and three. He was chased outside where he shovel passed it to Seth Williams who took it up field for a huge gain of 34 yards.

It looked like Denver was going to score a touchdown there, but on third and a short two, Lock didn’t get out of his snap before Austin Schlottman stepped on Lock’s foot to force a sack and another field goal attempt. That would be the end of Drew Lock’s night. No, seriously, that was the last drive for him in this game.

Drew Lock finished the night 9/14 for 80 yards with three sacks and two three and outs with a 79.5 passer rating. He did lead the team to three field goal drives as well.

Who do you want starting Week 1?