The new quarterback, Brock Osweiler, performed efficiently.
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“The list of things I’ve learned behind Peyton is endless”, Osweiler said. The Broncos waited on the team plane, for four-plus hours, thanks to a sudden snowstorm that turned the Windy City into a wild, winter wonderland.
The Bears, with Jay Cutler scrambling to buy time before hitting Marquess Wilson for 29 yards, came back with a field goal on their next possession.
Perhaps USA TODAY Sports National Football League writer Lorenzo Reyes, who covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 45-17 rout of the Philadelphia Eagles, summed it up best when I asked him if anyone on the Philadelphia defense was more deserving of a Harrison than others.
In the 4th quarter our TD drive was pretty phenomenal though. Instead, it was a declaration that the Broncos wouldn’t be beholden to a quarterback making more than $20 million per season.
If that’s really how Kubiak feels, the Broncos should move forward with Osweiler from here on out. Manning may hold all of the major passing records, but, in today’s climate, championships are the only achievements that truly matter. Manning is dealing with rib and foot injuries and now could miss multiple games. And for the first time this season, the Denver Broncos did not commit a single turnover.
Below is a look at the final offensive play of the game for the Bears, the two-point conversion try.
Vernon Davis caught six passes for 68 yards in the Broncos’ Week 11 win over the Bears.
The 170 net yards the Broncos totaled on the ground against the Bears – Osweiler and receiver Cody Latimer accounted for nine additional yards – surpassed their previous season-high by 18 yards.
Unfortunately though, it looks more and more likley that Manning’s years of physical deterioration have finally reached a level that even the intelligence of one of football’s greatest virtuosos can’t compensate for anymore. Trevathan nabbed it, then returned it to the Bears’ 25. Justin Tucker kicked a 47-yard field goal as time expired to end a mistake-filled game in which the host Ravens rallied from a 10-point deficit. Denver just saw the Bears run this play two weeks ago in nearly the exact same situation and it certainly seemed like they were ready for it. We’ll play great defense; we’re consistent in what we’re doing there. “I think last week was huge”.
“What we needed to do was go play clean football as a team”, Kubiak said. “And that’s a good combination”. And a win on Sunday night against the Patriots could ensure that Peyton may, in the estimation of Kubiak, never be healthy again. “Maybe that had a factor too”.
Osweiler wasn’t flawless. Of the four sacks (on the fifth he gave himself up), three could have been avoided. We were able to stay committed to the run even though not every run was a big run, but as long as you can stay committed to staying in your game plan, you get a lot more stuff off the run where we run a few keepers and play-action stuff down the field.
Those are issues Kubiak can deal with and manage, if not improve upon, with more experience.
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Confusion can spread when a run game is working so well against you.
