Preseason Week 1: 5 Denver Broncos Who Earned Their Spurs

Aug 7, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) prepares to pass in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

I, along with many in Broncos Country, have been waiting, hoping against hope to see something out of Brock Osweiler that makes me believe that he could very well be the Broncos’ QB of the future. Last night, he finally came through. After taking the field in the 2nd quarter, he looked skitish at first. Unsettled. He couldn’t get into a rhythm. Backed up on his own 5 yard line late in the 3rd quarter and protecting a 1 point lead, Osweiler threw an INT. It was a deep ball down the left sideline that was released late and hung in the air too long. The Seahawks got the ball on the Broncos’ 24 yard line and went on to kick a go-ahead field goal, putting the Seahawks on top, 16-14.

Would Osweiler let the INT and subsequent field goal get in his head? Nope. On the next drive, he led the Broncos on a 80-yard drive that was capped off by a beautiful 34 yard strike, in the face of pressure, to Jordan Norwood for a TD. That drive was impressive. When pressured, he scrambled to buy time and extended the play. He converted three 3rd downs, including a 3rd and 10, where he scrambled for a 15-yard gain.

What impressed me about that drive wasn’t just that he shook off the INT of the previous possession. He looked decisive. He stood tall in the pocket and made several beautiful, clutch throws in the face of pressure. And he capped it all of with 6 points and the Broncos’ final go-ahead score. This is what many of us have been waiting to see; empirical evidence that Brock Osweiler has progressed since being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2012 draft. He has earned back a lot of my trust and mitigated by skepticism.