Denver Broncos: Quarterback review vs. Chicago Bears

The Denver Broncos’ quarterback competition is one of the most important individual position battles in the entire NFL. After the first pre-season game, I don’t really know that anything has changed in terms of positioning for the starting spot going into the Broncos’ week one matchup against the Carolina Panthers.

Mark Sanchez, to me, was the best of the group. I know he threw an interception, and on a ball he probably shouldn’t have tried to fit in a tight space, but prior to that pass, he was looking incredibly efficient and not just checking the ball down.

Sanchez was finding receivers downfield in tight coverage, hitting tight end Virgil Green for some big third down completions. His biggest third down completion, though, was also the Broncos’ first touchdown.

This wasn’t an incredibly difficult throw by Sanchez, not by any stretch, but it was an important ending to the first drive and something that Broncos fans have wanted to see from him. The interception Sanchez threw wasn’t ideal, and it certainly brought out plenty of haters, but if not for a great play by a Bears defender, this ball was going right into the arms of Bennie Fowler, who was wide open.

There’s a lot to like about Sanchez, who was 10-of-13 passing for 99 yards in a quarter’s worth of work. I think the Broncos should be encouraged by what he showed in his first action as the starter, but will we get a chance to see what anyone else can do with that unit?

The veteran Sanchez spoke after the game about the quality of this Broncos’ team, and after one contest, it’s clear that he’s first on the QB pecking order but the competition is strong…

Next: Trevor Siemian