On Saturday, August 28, at Empower Field at Mile High, the Broncos ended the preseason with a victory over the Los Angeles Rams by a score of 17 – 12. The Broncos are the only team in the NFL not to have allowed any touchdowns this year.

The biggest story this season has been the competition between incumbent quarterback Drew Lock and newly signed veteran Teddy Bridgewater for the starting job. Both fared well in their first two exhibition games but Bridgewater narrowly edged out Lock last Thursday, two days before the Broncos’ third and final preseason game. The team now appears to have two good quarterbacks at their disposal.

The defense looks to be much improved over last year’s squad with the addition of talent at cornerback and the return of All-Pro linebacker Von Miller, who was sidelined in 2020 with an ankle injury.

Sitting out the first two games that were played on artificial turf, Saturday was his first game back on grass or otherwise in what he called “sharpening the knife” in terms of his readiness. Miller looked as honed as ever finishing the contest with three solo tackles.

Another star player returning from injury was second-year tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, who led the team with three receptions.

In his first start as Broncos quarterback, Bridgewater began slowly, completing just one of six passes totaling four yards, overthrowing his receivers. After failing to reach the end zone on two possessions and settling for a 54-yard Brandon McManus field goal, Bridgewater connected with his last five passes while engineering a 9-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in an 8-yard sliding touchdown catch by wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the corner of the end zone. He also had a 19-yard sideline reception leading up to the score.

Pro-Bowler Sutton was a key component missing in action during the Broncos’ 2020 campaign. He looked in top form and stated that he is excited about the future. Teddy Bridgewater said, “That moment, it was special, because we know how much Court means to us.”

Demonstrating good pocket presence and sound decision-making in the red zone, Bridgewater concluded his one-and-a-half quarters playing with the starting unit, going six for eleven, passing for 67 yards and one touchdown.

Nederland native Dalton Risner was a rock at offensive left guard, clearing the way for Broncos running backs. Former first round pick Melvin Gordan III tore up real estate in chunks, averaging seven yards per carry, and Damarea Crockett added 39 yards on 11 carries.

Quarterback Drew Lock suffered a strip-sack at the end of the second quarter to give the Rams one of their four field goals of the evening.

His opening two series were no better than Bridgewater’s, going three and out, but things clicked thereafter. Lock’s strong arm was on display with accurate tosses that drove them down the field, culminating in a 7-yard bullet up the middle to tight end Austin Fort. Lock ended with five for seven for 67 yards and one touchdown, with a quarterback rating of 141.1.

After the game, Vic Fangio, in his third year as Broncos head coach, said, “I think we have a good team. The guys are together. I think they have a good feeling about our possibilities and that’s important moving forward. It gets real now.”

Denver Broncos regular season schedule:

September 12 at New York Giants

September 19 at Jacksonville Jaguars

September 26 vs. New York Jets

October 3 vs. Baltimore Ravens

October 10 at Pittsburgh Steelers

October 17 vs. Las Vegas Raiders

October 21 at Cleveland Browns

October 31 vs. Washington Football Team

November 7 at Dallas Cowboys

November 14 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

November 28 vs. Los Angeles Chargers

December 5 at Kansas City Chiefs

December 12 vs. Detroit Lions

December 19 vs. Cincinnati Bengals

December 26 at Las Vegas Raiders

January 2 at Los Angeles Chargers

January 9 vs. Kansas City Chiefs

To purchase tickets to Denver Broncos home games, see www.denverbroncos.com.

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The Broncos’ number one fan. PHOTOS BY DAVE GIBSON[/caption]

It gets real now Above; After almost identical stats to Drew Lock’s in the first two games, Teddy Bridgewater gets the nod at quarterback.[/caption]

Another good gain for the Broncos’ rushing attack.[/caption]