Denver Broncos: 7 takeaways from tough loss to Titans

1. Drew Lock’s performance

Everyone wants to point fingers after a loss, and as is par for the course, quarterbacks are going to take a brunt of the blame.

In this game, fans who want to blame the QB for losing are looking at the Broncos’ third quarter offense (non-existent) and Lock’s inability to connect on deep passes as a major reason for the team losing this game.

In reality, Lock played well for the Broncos in his 2020 debut, but with plenty of room for improvement.

The timing for Lock wasn’t quite there on deep passes in this game. He overshot receivers deep downfield three times, one of which was a surefire touchdown to DaeSean Hamilton, though it appeared Hamilton may have slowed in his route a bit causing the timing to be off.

Lock was on point in the short and intermediate passing game for most of this contest, connecting early and often with Noah Fant including the game’s first touchdown.

https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1305701553785860096

Similar to Lock’s touchdown throw last season to Fant in Houston, this is a tight window throw and a pretty dangerous play if you don’t have the arm or accuracy to make it.

Lock is a talented player and this is a gunslinger touchdown.

As was the case in training camp, Lock was at his best in this game throwing on the move. This touchdown pass was sadly his only one on the night, but he made some really nice throws throughout the game, including a couple of potential big plays that were dropped by rookie Jerry Jeudy.

Overall, this was a solid “B” performance from Lock but he’s got to stay consistent through all four quarters and work at stepping up into the pocket when necessary. There were a couple of plays missed because Lock was pressured and simply threw off his back foot instead of stepping up and driving the ball.

He also missed a very easy touchdown throw to Nick Vannett on one of the Broncos’ best drives of the night, and they ultimately were stuffed at the one-yard line for a turnover on downs. That missed throw is one Lock would love to have back as he had two tight ends running wide open in the end zone.

Touch and timing weren’t all there in this one.