In his first two starts since taking the starting quarterback job for the Denver Broncos – who a year ago won a Super Bowl behind future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning – Siemian passed for 444 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions while becoming the 11th Broncos’ quarterback to win his first two career starts.
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In some ways, even better.
The Broncos raised their record to 3-0 on Sunday by rallying for a 29-17 victory over the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati in what could someday be looked back upon as Siemian’s coming out party.
Not many believed the defending champion Denver Broncos would be 3-0 with Trevor Siemian at quarterback.
When Siemian does look to go down the field with the ball, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas will be the main target. “Obviously, going in, nobody really knew about him, but now everybody’s starting to talk about him”. “The guy came in and took command”.
But it was his play in the fourth quarter that will get the attention of defensive coordinators around the league. He completed 23 of 35 passes for 312 yards. “It was. He (Siemian) did nothing I didn’t think he was capable of doing”. If it were flipped, I’d probably be all over the Bengals, but I’m riding with the Denver defense, especially against a Cincinnati offense that’s still trying to find its way. On third-and-11 from the Broncos 45, Siemian threw a flawless pass to Demaryius Thomas for a 55-yard score that made it 29-17 with 4:23 remaining, basically sealing the deal.
The Rams (2-1), who did not get into the end zone in the first two games of the season, also scored on Ethan Westbrooks’ 77-yard fumble return and Tavon Austin’s 43-yard reception in the fourth quarter before thunder and lightning caused a 69-minute weather delay with two minutes remaining. Hill finished with 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but it wasn’t almost enough. Thomas had six catches for 100 yards. “We’re gonna go get you”. Broncos LB Brandon Marshall kneeled down during the national anthem and S T.J. Ward raised his first. Earlier they missed an extra point, so the Broncos went for two on the legs of Siemian.
“Their front seven, I don’t know how they were ranked last in rush defense this season”, Sambrailo said of Cincinnati. Denver clamped down the rest of the way. The Broncos are averaging 141 yards and 4.7 yards per carry, among the best in the league.
Ward raised his right fist during the anthem, the first time he’s made such a gesture.
Right tackle Donald Stephenson didn’t play because of a calf injury, and left tackle Russell Okung left the game in the first half with a back injury before he returned to play the entire second half.
For his first road start in the NFL, Siemian was not ideal, but very close.
It led to a Broncos touchdown, on a awful coverage by Adam Jones, giving Emmanuel Sanders room, and no help over the top.
Five of Denver’s first downs Sunday resulted from Bengals penalties, including 24 yards on one drive which ended with a Broncos’ field goal.
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For the Broncos to have a chance to win in OH this weekend, Siemian has to play better.
