Denver Broncos: Top performers through the first quarter of 2019

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DENVER, COLORADO – SEPTEMBER 29: Joe Flacco #5 of the Denver Broncos throws against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on September 29, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Joe Flacco, QB

2019 stats: 98-of-148 (66.2 percent), 1,076 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs

Yes, Joe Flacco has played pretty darn well through four games with the Denver Broncos, including engineering what could have been two game-winning drives at home against the Bears and Jaguars if the defense (and officiating) didn’t let him down.

It’s interesting (at least, it is to me) that in a very similar situation last year for Case Keenum with early home games against the Raiders and Seahawks, the ball bounced the Broncos’ way in the final minutes and Denver wound up winning two games in the early portion of the season before finishing an ugly 6-10.

Instead of the narrative for Flacco being two home wins with two clutch fourth quarter performances, the narrative is that the Broncos are cellar dwellers in the NFL with three reasons (and counting) to start getting ready for Drew Lock to play.

And for the record, if the Broncos keep losing, I still think Lock needs to play this season, regardless of how well Flacco is playing. The Broncos know he’s a viable starting option already. They need to find that out about Lock if they’re not winning games.

But the way Flacco is playing (and dare I say trending), I wouldn’t be surprised if the Broncos start winning more games.

He’s coming off of a three-touchdown performance against the Jaguars and he’s proven in just four games that he’s far beyond what Case Keenum was able to give the Broncos last year as a pocket passer.

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