Overview of Matthew Stafford’s career thus far, as well as his fit with Denver

Drafted in 2009 by the Detroit Lions with the 1st overall pick, Matthew Stafford has had some notable moments and impressive statistics throughout his career. Regarded as an underrated quarterback, Stafford has only been voted to one Pro Bowl in his career and has 45,109 career passing yards. Similar to Drew Lock, Stafford got off to a slow start in his career. In his rookie year, he had 7 more interceptions than he did touchdowns and had the 4th worst quarterback rating among starters. Stafford has only made it to the playoffs three times in his career and has been a first round exit in all three appearances. The Lions have never had a great team around Stafford. Over the course of his career, he has only had one extremely notable weapon to throw to, the great Calvin Johnson. It’s hard to be as skilled as someone like Patrick Mahomes when you don’t have teammates like Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Sammy Watkins to throw to.

The Broncos definitely have some dangerous weapons for Stafford to throw to if he were to join the team. Courtland Sutton, a one-time Pro-Bowler and one-time 1,000-yard receiver, is currently the primary target for Denver. In the 2020 NFL Draft, the Broncos brought in Jerry Jeudy from Alabama, K.J. Hamler from Penn State, and Tyrie Cleveland from Florida. The Broncos also have wide receiver Tim Patrick, who proved his worth in the 2020 NFL season when he put up 742 receiving yards and 6 receiving touchdowns. At the tight end spot, the Broncos have the solid Noah Fant as well as a 4th-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Albert Okwuegbunam. To summarize Denver’s receiving unit: it is very talented and very young.

It may just be the right one to bring Matthew Stafford deep into the playoffs.

Upsides and Downsides

The Denver Broncos are a team that is regarded by some as “one quarterback away from a Super Bowl.” This is, in my opinion, untrue, but bringing in an elite veteran quarterback would definitely contribute to a possible Super Bowl run. Stafford’s gameplay is a huge upside to the Denver Broncos. His decision making is off the charts, his accuracy is very solid, and his interceptions have been kept to a low number in recent years. Stafford hasn’t had a year with more than 10 interceptions since 2015, he hasn’t had a year with less than 19 passing touchdowns since his 2010 injury-shortened season, and he hasn’t had a season with less than a 60% completion percentage since 2013. To sum it all up, he’s been playing great football the past few years. It would be stupid to say that he wouldn’t make a difference for the Denver Broncos.

There are definitely some downsides to bringing in a guy like Stafford. The money owed to Stafford definitely takes the award for biggest concern of bringing him to Denver. We’re talking multiple-year deal with an aging veteran quarterback trying to make it deep into the playoffs. We would have to give up a lot of money and most likely sacrifice some other players. That is something a lot of Broncos fans do not want the team to do. The second downside that should be mentioned is his age. Stafford is 33 years old this February and will likely be exiting his prime in the very near future. The risk with acquiring Stafford is that his prime could end soon and then you have traded a lot for a quarterback that is no longer able to provide quality play. His age brings up the third concern, which is injury. Stafford is coming off of a concerning injury in 2019 and has had season-ending injuries in the past. He’s getting older and older, which means that he is only becoming more fragile. One big hit and his career could be over. Denver does not want to have to deal with that constant fear. It limits teams when they have to worry about keeping their players away from injury over winning games. This situation would be a high risk-high reward one for the Broncos; The only question is, would George Paton take the risk?

What would this mean for Drew Lock?

Drew Lock has not been playing the best football that he is capable of. With Lock still needing to grow and develop, it would be great to bring in a veteran quarterback to compete for the starting job. Although, if they brought in Stafford, it would be obvious who would get the starting role. Lock would essentially have three options in the event that Matthew Stafford becomes Denver Bronco.

He could sit on the bench for two to three years learning behind Stafford and developing more and more until he reaches a point where he can start after Stafford leaves. He could be included in the trade to acquire Matthew Stafford which means he would be sent off to Detroit to be the starting quarterback replacement for the Lions. Lastly, he could be included in a trade to a different team in which Denver will try to get a draft pick or add depth to another position. Teams that are in need of a quarterback include the Patriots, 49ers, Colts, Washington Football Team, Jets, Panthers, and Falcons. So, a trade to any of those teams in the hypothetical situation of Stafford joining Denver would not be unlikely.

My personal opinion is that if Denver is to bring in Stafford, they bring him in on a 2-year deal. Then, they keep Lock and let him learn from Stafford until his deal is up. By then, Lock will have everything he needs and will have the football knowledge to be the starting quarterback that we know he can be. Lock’s future is uncertain at the moment, so only time will tell what’s in store for the former 2nd-round pick.

Potential Trade Packages

The Lions are seeking a trade for Matthew Stafford in which they most likely want player value and draft capital. A 1st or 2nd round pick would be vital in a trade for Stafford. The Lions biggest positional needs would wide receiver, linebacker, cornerback, and quarterback, without Stafford. Four potential trade candidates from Denver are Tim Patrick, Alexander Johnson, A.J. Bouye, or Drew Lock.

Wide receiver Tim Patrick is young and talented, but is buried in the Broncos depth chart. He would make a great fit for the rebuilding Detroit Lions. The Lions desperately need a good linebacker and with the scarcity of high quality linebackers in the draft, Alexander Johnson would be excellent player value in a trade. Although he is 30 years old, he would be a great mentor and would be the rock on the Lions defense. It is already unlikely that cornerback A.J. Bouye will return to Denver in 2021, so why not include him in a trade for a quarterback? Drew Lock’s availability in a trade is undecided but there is definitely a chance that he gets included if Denver goes for Stafford. Here are some potential deals that I have put together:

Potential Deal #1 – DEN Receives: QB Matthew Stafford, 2021 6th-round pick; DET Receives: QB Drew Lock, 2022 1st-round pick, 2021 4th-round pick, 2021 7th-round pick

Potential Deal #2 – DEN Receives: QB Matthew Stafford, 2022 7th-round pick; DET Receives: LB Alexander Johnson, 2022 2nd-round pick, 2021 3rd-round pick, 2022 5th-round pick

Potential Deal #3 – DEN Receives: QB Matthew Stafford, 2022 6th-round pick; DET Receives: WR Tim Patrick, CB A.J. Bouye, 2021 3rd-round pick

Is Stafford worth it?

There are two ways to look at this: what you are receiving or what you are giving. You can either play it safe or take the risk. Matthew Stafford is a huge risk for many reasons, but in the end, my opinion is that it isn’t worth it.

BRONCOS 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

It has been almost 2 weeks since the Broncos’ season ended. They finished with a record of 5-11 and finished 28th in total points scored on offense. You may be asking, how in the world are there any highlights to this season with a record and statistics like that? Let’s take a look at some of those highlights.

Broncos vs Jets

The Thursday night game between the Denver Broncos and New York Jets was the first win of the season for the Broncos. Starting quarterback, Drew Lock, was sidelined with an injury, so backup, Brett Rypien, took the starting role. The Broncos came out with a 37-28 victory and Jerry Jeudy had arguably the Broncos’ catch of the year when he “mossed” cornerback, Pierre Desir. However, this isn’t too much of a feature as the Jets held the title of worst team in football for the majority of the season. It was the next game that made the Broncos look promising.

Broncos vs Patriots

Denver came into this game projected to lose. The Cam Newton-lead Patriots looked like a very solid team at the time. Although it came down to the wire, the Broncos pulled off a win. The pass rush was amazing and many of the pass rushers showed their potential. Safety, Justin Simmons, also had one of his five season interceptions in this game. This performance is one to be proud of but this next win is most likely the best Broncos game of the year.

Broncos vs Chargers (Week 8)

It was the middle of the third quarter. Denver was down 24-3 to the Chargers. All hope looked lost. It looked like an obvious defeat or at least that’s what we thought. At that moment in the third quarter, something clicked. Something clicked and the Denver Broncos pulled off an astonishing comeback to defeat the Chargers by a score of 31-30. Broncos fans will vividly remember this game. Drew Lock to K.J. Hamler with zeros on the clock to win the game. What a moment!

Broncos vs Dolphins

This game was one for the ages. The Dolphins were red hot coming off of a 5-game win streak and their rookie quarterback was performing well. They also had the cornerback with the most interceptions in the league along with a phenomenal defense. Denver had all of the odds going against them. However, those odds meant nothing as the defense stepped up and the Broncos pulled off an upset victory. The Dolphins had a chance at a last drive lead by veteran quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, but Justin Simmons ended that quickly with his game-ending interception.

Kendall Hinton

Lots of people see the Kendall Hinton and Broncos vs Saints incident as a negative thing. I see it as an inspirational moment. Broncos practice squad wide receiver, Kendall Hinton, who played a bit of quarterback in college, was forced to take the snaps after a COVID-19 situation with all of Denver’s quarterbacks. He went in there, he played his heart out, and although the Broncos weren’t victorious, Hinton inspired many football fans around the nation. Hinton received recognition from around the league and even from his opponents during the game. Saints defensive end, Cameron Jordan, praised Hinton after the game for his hard work and his perseverance through the unprecedented scenario. This moment will live on in Broncos franchise history.

Broncos vs Panthers

The Super Bowl 50 rematch although instead of Peyton Manning going up against Cam Newton, it’s Drew Lock taking on Teddy Bridgewater. It was a high-scoring game with lots of interesting moments but it was ultimately Denver that came out on top. I’ll admit, it wasn’t nearly as exciting as the Super Bowl back in February of 2016, but it’s still very reassuring to know that we own the Panthers. Drew Lock was also featured in one of the NFL’s Instagram posts where they commemorate the greatest performances of the week from around the league.

BRONCOS 2020 LOWLIGHTS

It’s fairly obvious that there were many lowlights and down moments in the year. Let’s quickly take a look at what went wrong in the season.

Injuries

The most notable lowlight of 2020 for Denver probably came before the season even began. News broke on September 15th of 2020 that star outside linebacker, Von Miller, would be placed on Injured Reserve with an ankle injury. Former Pro-Bowl wide receiver, Courtland Sutton, was ruled out for the season with a torn ACL not much after. During Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Broncos had 15 players on Injured Reserve, 2 other players ruled out for the game, and 3 other players ruled as questionable for the game. That’s almost the entire starting lineup. Injuries have really driven the Broncos from their full potential this year. Given that injuries aren’t as bad next year, Denver could be a scary team.

Drew Lock

Lots of Broncos fans had extremely high expectations for sophomore quarterback, Drew Lock. After his major victory over the Houston Texans in 2019 and the 4-1 start to his career, Broncos fans had hope. Hope that Lock would be the next franchise quarterback. That hope is still alive, but Lock did not meet those expectations in 2020. Provided that he works hard over the offseason and regains a fully healthy team, Lock can still be the franchise quarterback of the Denver Broncos. However, he had some down moments throughout the year. His most notable one was probably his 4-interception game against the Raiders in Week 10. Lock’s decision making skills need to be improved as well as his throw accuracy. Once he gets those down, he can become the quarterback that we all want to see him become. There is no reason to give up on Lock yet. He has lots of potential, he just needs to execute that potential better.

Getting Swept by the Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders have not swept the Denver Broncos in 10 years when they did it in 2010. The sheer fact of being swept by your most disliked rival really hurts. In Week 17, we had a very good shot at beating the Raiders but a horrible coaching decision was made and it allowed the Raiders to win the game. I doubt the Raiders will sweep the Broncos for the next 10 years but it just doesn’t taste well to lose twice to them.

Broncos vs Chiefs Rivalry

The Chiefs are, no doubt, one of the best teams in the NFL. They are also big rivals of the Broncos. It hurt to be swept by the Raiders but the Broncos have lost 11 straight games to the Kansas City Chiefs. The last time fans saw the Broncos win against the Chiefs was in 2015. Patrick Mahomes was still at Texas Tech at that point. Kyrie Irving was still on the Cleveland Cavaliers at that point, for goodness sake. Denver has got to beat the Chiefs and they need to beat them soon. I speak for all teams in the AFC West when I say, “We can’t let the Chiefs dominate us anymore.”

Pat Shurmur

The Broncos offense did not really click until the very end of the season. I blame this on current Broncos offensive coordinator, Pat Shurmur. He was very pass-heavy and put a lot of pressure on Drew Lock to begin the season and did not realize that that gameplan was not working until the very end. Now that they have made the proper adjustments and know what to do, the offense will be much better in the 2021 season. Shurmur will have had time to continue with the gameplan that he ended the season with and Drew will continue to develop.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE NEXT YEAR?

The youth and talent of this team is something to be excited about. If all goes accordingly, Denver could be a playoff team next year. What can we expect and hope to see from Denver in 2021.

Improvements From Lock

After a disappointing year from both the Broncos and their QB, Lock, he is dedicated to living up to the expectations next year. He has already said that he’s going to put in endless time and effort into getting better and working harder. His mentality is admirable and it’s something to look forward to especially if Denver gives him veteran competition. However, if Denver flat out replaces him with a quarterback from the draft, there won’t be as much to be excited about. Everything Drew is planning on doing over the offseason will amount to nothing. So, let’s hope newly acquired general manager, George Paton, does not draft a quarterback.

An Elite Defense

The defense this year was very solid and play well in many games. They held Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to 22 in an away game, they got 4 turnovers on Derek Carr in Week 17, they have allowed the 16th-most passing yards in the league, etc. This defense is something special but injuries heavily stripped away the talent this year. Despite those injuries, the defense held up extremely well, in my opinion. Next year, Denver could potentially get back Von Miller, Shelby Harris, A.J. Bouye, Jurrell Casey, Mike Purcell, Bryce Callahan, Essang Bassey, and Justin Strnad who all missed the last game of the season. I don’t think that Denver will retain ALL of those guys but most of them should be in orange and blue next year. Denver also could draft a defensive player like Caleb Farley or Patrick Surtain in the upcoming NFL draft. This defense will be dangerous at full potential and next year, they could be at full potential.

Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy

I just wanted to touch up on this wide receiver duo that I have been looking forward to since the Broncos were officially eliminated from playoff contention. Jerry Jeudy, the rookie out of Alabama, put up 856 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns on 52 catches. He also had the longest reception of the year with his 92-yard touchdown against the Raiders in Week 17. His counterpart, Courtland Sutton, the former Pro-Bowler, put up 1,112 receiving yards and 6 receiving touchdowns on 72 catches in 2019. Sutton averaged 15.4 yards per reception in that year, as well. The two do have their issues, for example, Jerry Jeudy had one of the lowest catch percentages this season. All these things they can work on over the offseason as well as building their chemistry. This duo should have all Broncos fans excited regardless of who’s at quarterback.

Media Statement via Zoom

Justin Simmons has, without a doubt, been a stud this year. His statistics alone could make the argument that he is the best safety in the NFL. Losing him would be more painful for the Broncos than losing 16 games in a row as one could potentially cause the other. It was reported in a tweet by Denver reporter, Mike Klis, that Justin Simmons made a statement when wrapping up with the media today. Simmons stated, “Want to let you guys know I’m very appreciative of coverage you have given myself and platform you’ve lifted up for me to speak on. It’s been great. I don’t take any of that for granted.” According to Klis, it had a “goodbye feel” to it. This surely does not sit well with Broncos fans as they are only hoping that the horror of Justin Simmons in a different uniform does not become a reality. To all those who fear his departure, I can reassure you and remind you that Justin Simmons has stated multiple times this season that he wants to remain a Denver Bronco. I have a funny feeling that this message comes with a reason. Whether that may be Denver declining his club option, Denver not meeting his wanted pay, Denver explicitly stating that they are letting him walk, etc. I don’t think that this message would pop up out of the blue. Nonetheless, there’s more to the story.

Instagram Post

Simmons posted on Instagram around noon eastern time stating “Thank you, Broncos country.” Now, it is not fair to assume that this is a farewell message. It could mean a lot of things. It could mean that he’s thanking the fanbase in case he does decide to part ways with Denver. It could mean that he is thanking the fanbase for sticking around through this roller coaster ride of a year. It could mean a variety of things. However, that’s not the worst part. Two Denver Broncos’ defensive backs had something to say within the comments of Justin Simmons’ Instagram post. The recently acquired, Will Parks, stated, “And he’s out”. Now, this may sound like bad news, but Will later clarified in a reply that he didn’t say anything about Simmons ‘leaving Denver.’ The ultimate scare is what Broncos safety, Kareem Jackson, had to say.

“On the real man, this man deserves everything coming his way whether it is in a Denver uniform or some other colors. Since day one has been nothing but a humble hard-working man!! One of my favorite teammates of all time and when it’s all said and done will be one of my best friends!! @jsimms1119 I’m extremely happy for you and your family my guy. You did what you were supposed to do on the field and in this community!! It was an honor to call you a teammate but more importantly to call you a brother…and no I’m not crying, got something in my eye,” Jackson stated on Instagram.

What really fascinates me is Jackson’s choice of words. He chooses the word ‘was’ in the sentence, “It WAS an honor to call you a teammate but more importantly to call you a brother.” This implies that Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson’s time as teammates have come to an end. Nothing is official, so it’s not fair to assume that’s what Kareem meant. He did also say in his comment: “…whether it is in a Denver uniform or some other colors.” This would mean that he does not know what the future holds about Simmons which would deem the statement I mentioned previously invalid. Either way, it is quite heartbreaking to see these Broncos players say what they have said because Sunday really could have been the last time they play in the same uniform. However, it doesn’t end here.

John Elway Moves From His GM Position

News broke that John Elway would be taking an ‘elevated role’ within the Broncos organization, meaning that the general manager spot would be empty. Denver is now in search of a new general manager which could possibly affect Justin Simmons. The end goal for Elway, the Broncos, and Simmons was to reach a long-term deal. That was the goal in 2019, but it was delayed as they franchise-tagged him. Simmons is not looking to get franchise-tagged; he wants to be in Denver long-term. Elway had that mindset but a new general manager may not. They may be looking to get rid of Simmons and spend money on somebody else, who knows? The Broncos front office situation is unpredictable at this point, so the decisions that that front office will make are also unpredictable. Hopefully, the new GM of the Broncos makes the right decision for Simmons.

What a Simmons departure could mean for Denver?

There is no doubt that Justin Simmons has been playing at an extremely high level for the Broncos. If Simmons parts ways with the team, the defense will likely make a major regress. Simmons has been a crucial part of a Denver Broncos team with a very injured defense. Five Denver cornerbacks were sidelined for the ending duration of the season with injuries or suspensions. That secondary has taken a hit and Justin Simmons is what is holding it together. Denver also has safety, Kareem Jackson, but he is aging and may not be a Bronco next year as well. As good as Jackson is, he cannot be relied on as the long-term guy if he decides to stay. Overall, Denver will HEAVILY benefit from re-signing Justin Simmons to a long-term deal.

Phillip Lindsay is known by many as the “Colorado Kid” due to his many ties to the state (he was born in Denver and went to college at the University of Colorado, after which he signed with the Broncos as a UDFA, where he has since spent all three seasons of his NFL career). Lindsay had rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons but, after a season plagued by injuries and with his share of the offense greatly reduced after the Broncos brought in Melvin Gordon, he will not hit that mark again this year. Lindsay’s main strengths as a runner are his speed, agility, quickness, and explosiveness, and he lacks strength, power, and the ability to run after contact and break tackles. The Colorado Kid has potential and has shown that he can be an effective runner in the NFL, but is it a good decision to keep him?

Why should Denver keep Lindsay? What are the benefits of doing so?

Keeping Lindsay would be beneficial for the Broncos in many ways. This season, he topped 75 rushing yards four times. He only has 1 rushing touchdown, but his injury plays a big role in that. Lindsay and Melvin Gordon are a great 1-2 punch, and their skill sets greatly complement each other. Gordon is a bigger, more physical runner who is able to power through contact on early downs and in short-yardage situations, while Lindsay is a great pass catcher who excels on 3rd downs. Lindsay has stated that he wants to stay in his hometown, and at 26 years old, he has quite a few years left of good production in him. But, keeping him would not come without risks.

Why should Denver part ways with Lindsay? What are the benefits of doing so?

To understand why Denver would benefit from parting ways with Lindsay, we must look further at his weaknesses. As mentioned before, Lindsay lacks strength and power. Defenders are easily able to tackle him, he’s very small and can’t handle a large workload, and we have seen that durability is an issue for him. Pat Shurmur can be blamed for not giving him more carries, but when he has gotten the ball this season, he has not been all that effective. What happened to the effectiveness we saw in 2018 and 2019? There are many factors to Lindsay’s regression. The first and most notable would be the team’s acquisition of Melvin Gordon. As mentioned before, Lindsay has only two games this year with 15 or more carries. Compare that to Gordon’s six games with 15 or more carries and you can clearly see who’s getting the ball more. Another issue for Lindsay this year is that he has constantly been hampered by injuries. Ever since the Week 1 contest against the Tennessee Titans, Lindsay has not been fully healthy. He was finally placed on IR earlier this week due to both a knee injury and hip injury, ending his season. At the beginning of the season, he was also dealing with a toe injury. Lindsay chose to stick it out and try to play through injuries which just is not a recipe for effective production. Lastly, Pat Shurmur, the Broncos offensive coordinator, could be blamed for Lindsay’s poor production. A running back cannot produce without the ball in his hands. Shurmur has been making QB Drew Lock throw a lot (which I mentioned in my previous Drew Lock article). This is mainly due to game script; the Broncos have been playing from behind in many of their games. If the run/pass numbers were more even, Lindsay would greatly benefit. Lindsay’s departure would undoubtedly leave a hole to be replaced in the Broncos offense.

Who would replace Lindsay? What options do the Broncos have?

These days, it’s not all that difficult to find a good runningback. Denver currently has three starting-caliber runningbacks in Lindsay, Melvin Gordon, and Royce Freeman. I believe that even if Lindsay was to leave, Denver could still run the ball effectively. Freeman would slot into the 3rd down, pass-catching role, and Gordon’s share in the offense would significantly growe into more of a workhorse role. Denver also has Levante Bellamy, who I would like to see on the field. I think in these last two games, Denver should give Bellamy an opportunity to get some carries. With all of these options on the roster, I would strongly advise against bringing in a different free agent running back or drafting one.

My Opinion.

For those wondering about my thoughts on the subject, I believe that we should give Lindsay another shot. With all that has been going on this year and all that he has dealt with, I think he deserves another chance to prove that his 1000 yard seasons were not flukes. However, the world will not end if Denver parts ways with Lindsay. The Broncos have a wealth of good options to replace him, and his presence on the field would not be greatly missed. Also, he would be able to go somewhere where he will get the carries that he deserves. All in all, I think that the Broncos, and Lindsay, would be fine whether he stays or leaves, but it would be quite fitting for the Colorado Kid to retire as a Denver Bronco.

The Broncos-Panthers game on Sunday was quite a wild one and today we’re going to review it. What happened in the game? Why did Denver win? Who was most impactful? Well, we will address all these questions as well as individual game performances, analysis, and what to expect in the future. Let’s get right into it!

THE BEST DENVER PERFORMANCES

What happened in the game? Let’s look at some facts, statistics, and individual performances. First of all, our most notable performance was quarterback, Drew Lock. With all the doubt, questioning, and anger going towards Lock, this game absolutely needed to be an above-average performance for him granted, he was going up against a lackluster Carolina Panthers’ defense. To my expectations, Lock delivered. Throwing for 280 passing yards and 4 touchdowns, he led the Broncos to a 32-27 victory over the Panthers. He also had a 77.8 completion percentage (season-high), 10.4 yards per completion (season-high), and a 149.5 rating (season-high). This was arguably the best game of 2020 for Drew Lock. It was necessary for him to have a big game and he lived up to expectations. Another performance worth noting would be rookie wide receiver out of Penn State, K.J. Hamler. He had 86 receiving yards (season-high) on 2 catches which gives him 43 yards per reception on the game (season-high). He also had a touchdown on both of his touchdowns which would mean he had 2 receiving touchdowns (season-high). A career game for both Drew Lock and K.J. Hamler took place on Sunday. But, what about on defense? None of Denver’s defensive stats completely SHOCKED anyone, but there is one performance that I’d like to mention. That performance would be recently signed defensive back, Will Parks. Parks was drafted by Denver in 2016 and played with them until 2019 when he became a free agent. In the offseason of this year, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles (his hometown team). However, they cut him a few weeks ago allowing any team to sign him. Denver jumped on the opportunity and brought him back. In his first game back in a Denver uniform, he made 6 tackles (all solo tackles) and a sack (2nd career sack). It wasn’t a terribly noteworthy performance for Parks, but I thought it was nice to see him back to his impactive form in Denver. We also got to see an electrifying 83-yard punt return touchdown from Diontae Spencer, who had been sitting out the past few games on the COVID-19/Reserve List. Great to see him back in action and it was amazing to see Spencer get his first touchdown in the National Football League.

DENVER LOSES 2 MORE CORNERBACKS

With the good comes the bad and now we’re going to go over that. First, the most significant negative point of the game was the injuries to cornerbacks, Duke Dawson and Kevin Toliver. Sources revealed that the two both tore their ACLs and will miss the remainder of the season. Prior to these injuries, Denver had already lost cornerbacks, A.J. Bouye (suspension), Bryce Callahan (foot injury), and Essang Bassey (torn ACL). Now they are down 5 cornerbacks that were on the active roster. Their starting cornerback is now rookie out of Iowa, Michael Ojemudia, who has had his ups and downs. My point is, Denver is going to find it very hard to win games with a rookie cornerback guarding top receivers. The next negative point of the game that I want to go over is the lack of defense towards the end of the game. Denver had a major lead; at one point they were up by 15 in the 3rd quarter off of a K.J. Hamler touchdown. In a matter of 15 minutes, the margin was 5. This can’t keep happening for Denver if they want to beat teams like the Bills or the Raiders. I completely understand all of the injuries that have destroyed the defense and all, but the guys that are playing need to step up in this time of need. There was a lot of blown coverage towards the end and a lot of completed passes for over 10 yards. Panthers quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, is fond of throwing short passes, screens, and check-downs, so for Denver to allow as much as they did is quite insulting.

WHY DID THE PANTHERS LOSE?

This is a simple question with a simple answer: a lack of aggressiveness. Towards the end, their team was finally picking up speed and they were driving down the field. This is mainly because Bridgewater was throwing deeper passes and he was putting more trust into his receivers. The key for Carolina going forward is picking up the speed early and playing aggressively especially because their defense is quite lackluster and can’t totally pick up on the offense’s slack.

WHY DID THE BRONCOS WIN?

Denver simply played better in the game. Drew Lock played outstandingly and performed at the high level that we know he can. We were able to pick on the defense with K.J.’s deep routes and touchdowns. The receivers were open a lot. Despite the close outcome, I would deem the defense with a solid game here. They had 4 sacks, 6 quarterback hits, 3 passes defended, and held the Panthers leading rusher (Mike Davis) to 51 rushing yards. Kicker, Brandon McManus, definitely could have done much better as he missed 2 extra points, but nonetheless, the Broncos got the victory. Despite, the receiver core, the injuries, the illnesses, etc., Denver got the win and that’s what counts!

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM DENVER GOING FORWARD.

Denver’s next game is on Saturday, December 19th, in a matchup home against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are dangerous coming off a win at home against the now 11-2 Pittsburgh Steelers. Some of their biggest threats include quarterback Josh Allen, wide receiver, Stefon Diggs, and cornerback Tre’Davious White. It’s going to be a tough game to win, but Denver could pull it off. Heck, they almost did it against Kansas City. So, Mr. Broncos Dominion, what’s the gameplan? How do we beat them? Simple, RUN THE BALL! The Bills’ secondary and pass defense are a MASSIVE upgrade from the Panthers’ secondary and pass defense. Drew Lock isn’t going to get away with some of the throws he had on Sunday. He’s going to need to be much more cautious and take fewer risks. I still, however, like taking a few deep shots to K.J. Hamler on double move routes. Jerry Jeudy definitely needs to get the ball more if we want a chance to win. All season, he’s been quiet and without too many passes coming his way. That needs to end. Jeudy is such a lethal weapon that Denver is not utilizing. Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay will need to step up big time as we will probably lean towards them to get our offense going. On the defensive side, pressuring Josh Allen is key. He can’t operate terribly well under pressure despite his mobile abilities, so if guys like Bradley Chubb and Shelby Harris can get in there and put pressure on him, Denver is in a golden situation. It’s going to be very hard to guard an elite receiver like Stefon Diggs and a speedy guy like Cole Beasley when the best cornerback on your depth chart is a 3rd round rookie. The safeties, Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson, are going to have a big role in the upcoming game. I believe that the Bills will try to take advantage of the lack of cornerbacks that Denver possesses, and they will go pass-heavy. The secondary definitely needs to practice and prepare for this scenario. Overall, it’s going to be a tough game coming on Saturday and Denver will need a lot of preparation, but I think that they can pull off the win at Mile High Stadium.

Over the past few weeks of the season, there have been various rumors on Drew Lock and the future of the Broncos at the quarterback position. People have been discussing whether the Broncos should draft a quarterback or stick with Lock. Today, I’m going to show you multiple perspectives on this topic and I will explain my side.

It is obvious that Drew Lock has had his struggles over the course of this year. Let’s recap some of his highlights and lowlights so we can acknowledge and analyze what we’re dealing with.

Highlights

The Chargers Game: 26/41, 63.41%, 248yds, 3tds, 1int, 94.4qbr

The Falcons Game: 25/48, 52.08%, 313yds, 2tds, 1int, 77.9qbr

Lowlights

The Patriots Game: 10/24, 41.67%, 189yds, 0tds, 2int, 34.9qbr

The Raiders Game: 23/47, 48.94%, 257yds, 1td, 4int, 37.3qbr

ANALYSIS

Drew Lock’s stats in most games have been mediocre. His highest passing yards game was against the Falcons when he put up 313. His highest passer rating this year is 95 in which he played against the Titans. His stats shouldn’t really “wow” anyone, but I think a lot of people are quick to judge. Now, you may be asking, can we call Lock a good quarterback just because he had 2 good games? The answer is no, we cannot. A good quarterback is defined by performing at a high level on a consistent basis. Does Lock meet that criteria? Well, let’s analyze. Has Drew Lock been playing consistently? His only game below 180 passing yards was against the Steelers when he was injured in the first quarter. Four out of his eight starts, he has had no touchdowns. He totals 11 interceptions having just 2 games without a pick. Lastly, his passer ratings in games jumps all over the place (his highest is 95 and his lowest is 34.9). So, the answer to this question would most likely be: no, he has not been playing consistently. Now, has he been performing highly? Let’s analyze. As I said above, he hasn’t had a game below 180 passing yards with the exception of the Steelers game when he was injured early in the game. He has not had a game above 320 passing yards. He totals 1,767 passing yards (29th), 7 touchdowns (t-18th), 11 interceptions (t-2nd most), 55.6 completion percentage (32nd among starting quarterbacks), and a quarterback rating of 41.1 (30th). Based on these statistics with him only playing 8 out 10 games, I think it’s fair to say that Drew Lock has not been performing highly. So, if Lock is not living up to expectations, why would the Broncos keep him? Doesn’t this analysis make him a bad quarterback?

WHY SHOULD DENVER MOVE ON FROM HIM?

If his stats aren’t showing and we aren’t winning games, why are we still starting Drew? This is a fair point as he has not lived up to expectations this year. If you have watched the Broncos games, you would see that Drew makes some horrible throwing decisions. He’s thrown the second-most interceptions this year. Some of the time, I can’t stand the throwing decisions he makes. So, if Denver was to move on from Drew or move him to the backup quarterback slot, what would they do? What would that mean? How would they benefit from this? Well, as most know, the quarterback class in the NFL Draft this year is quite impressive. It includes guys like Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Kyle Trask, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, and Mac Jones who are all presumptive first-rounders. So, if Denver was to move on from Lock, they would find it easy to grab a solid quarterback from the draft seeing that they will have an pick around 10 to 15. Trey Lance or Kyle Trask are both elite project quarterbacks that would take time to develop. There are also quarterbacks available for trade or in free agency. The New York Jets will most likely move on from Sam Darnold, who could be a reasonable option for Denver granted they get rid of Lock. According to earlier rumors and inside information, Darnold could be a prominent option if Lock does not pan out. Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions has also been a name that comes up when talking about Denver’s offseason. A trade for Stafford is not far-fetched at all and there have been trade rumors about a possible deal. Overall, if we were to get rid of Lock, we would find it fairly simple to replace him whether it’s a quarterback out of the draft, a quarterback from free agency, or a quarterback that Denver trades for. But, what would happen if we keep Lock? What are reasons to keep Lock?

WHY SHOULD DENVER KEEP HIM?

Drew Lock, given the right situation, could be a really good quarterback. He could be the 2nd-round gem that John Elway (Broncos general manager) was hoping for. This season, he has been put in a not-ideal situation for a young quarterback. We have to take a look at this from his perspective. Lock lost his number one target in Courtland Sutton to a torn ACL in Week 2. Automatically, there goes a lot of reliability in your receivers as the rest of them are rookies or first-time starters. Lock lost his number one tight end, Noah Fant, for a few weeks. Lock was injured and has been constantly injured throughout the year. During the game against the Raiders, he was in constant pain, clutching at his ribs and hunching over. His offensive line has provided under average protection for him causing him to run for his life a lot of the time. The gameplan of Pat Shurmur (Broncos offensive coordinator) has not been ideal for Lock. If you go into the numbers, you’ll see that for 4 games consecutively, Lock threw for over 40 passes. During these 4 games of 40 or more passes, he averages a 56.11 completion percentage which would be the worst in the NFL among starting quarterbacks. However, Shurmur did not realize after the first two games that Lock could not operate at a high level throwing for 40 passes a game. He continued with this gameplan until Week 11 against the Dolphins, where he broke the streak and threw for 30 passes. His completion percentage that game was 60 and he threw for 270 passing yards. Denver also got a win that game which should signify that making Drew Lock throw 40 times is not a good idea or a good gameplan. So, now that we’ve seen his stats and performance from his perspective, let’s imagine that next year, Lock has all his weapons back and is in a good situation. This is what Denver is hoping for: Lock finishes the year strong and goes into next year with a fully healthy offense barring no setbacks. In this situation, Lock will be able to compete much more and will have the capacity to do better and win games. So, immediately judging him on this year, where he has been injured and in an injured offense, should not be what you go to. We should give him a season where he is under a fully healthy and strong offense. Then, I think his stats would look better. I, the fans, and the organization are not expecting him to be a superstar, although some fans do expect that out of the 2nd-year quarterback. We just want him to play at a solid level and win games. That’s all we ask for but we can’t really ask for that with the situation that he’s in. So, what would happen if we kept him? Would we still draft a quarterback? If we kept Drew, we would not draft a quarterback, at least not in the first couple rounds. If we were to draft a quarterback, I would imagine that we take someone like Ian Book or Sam Ehlinger in a later round. However, I would not be shocked if Denver elects to keep Lock and still goes out and picks up Sam Darnold or Matthew Stafford. This move would be solely to motivate Lock to do better and to keep him aware that if he can’t perform at a solid level, there’s always a replacement. I will still support the team no matter what decision we make, but I hope that Denver makes the right decision and elects to bring Lock back as the starter for next year barring any setbacks.

IF DENVER DOESN’T TAKE A QUARTERBACK IN THE FIRST ROUND, WHO DO THEY TAKE?

That’s quite a simple question to answer. We take one of our positional needs which would be a mid-linebacker, a cornerback, or an offensive tackle. I personally like prospects like Caleb Farley (CB, Virginia Tech), Dylan Moses (LB, Alabama), or Alex Leatherwood (OT, Alabama). I think Elway will make the right decision and take a positional need and not a positional want.

A FEW LAST WORDS.

There are a few things that you should remember about Lock before judging him and giving up on him. You should know that this is his 2nd year and Sunday’s matchup against Kansas City will mark his 14th career start. Legendary quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and John Elway performed at a much worse level than Drew at the beginning of their careers, so I think we’re lucky to have him. You should also keep in mind what he’s dealing with. His seat continues to heat up and the fans continue to dislike and give up on him all the while he needs to perform at a high level with no primary target, an under average offensive line, constant injury, and an offensive coordinator that is making him throw the ball 40 times a game. If I’m John Elway, I’m keeping Lock no matter what he does for the rest of the season.