Has there ever been a defending Super Bowl champion head into the preseason with as many questions as the Denver Broncos? It isn’t unusual for a team to lose its starting quarterback; it happens quite often through trade, free agency or retirement. But the Broncos lost both their starter and backup from last season and have a gaping hole behind center that needs to be filled.
ODDS
The Bears went 3-1 ATS last preseason and covered in both their home games. They opened as a 1.5-point favorite against the Broncos with the total coming in low at 35.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian are battling for the starting job and Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak plans on giving both players plenty of reps with the first team during the preseason to see if one player can get any separation in the race. Paxton Lynch is third on the depth chart and will likely see some action in the second half. The 2016 first-rounder isn’t a threat to become the team’s starter, yet. But he will get a good look during the exhibition games.
Unlike the Broncos, the Bears have a clear cut starting quarterback in Jay Cutler, who enters his eighth season with the club in 2016. Cutler will get a series or two of action before leaving the rest of the game to his backups. Brian Hoyer was signed after Jimmy Clausen failed in the backup role last year. Also on the roster are David Fales and Connor Shaw, who will likely see second half snaps.
COACHES' MOTIVATION
The regular season matchup between the team’s last season didn’t turn out the way Bears coach John Fox would’ve liked, with the Broncos escaping Soldier Field with a 17-15 victory. Denver’s former coach will get another chance to knock off his old team, though the stakes are much lower. Fox led the Broncos to four AFC West titles in his four years and reached the Super Bowl following the 2013 season.
A loss to Indianapolis in the division round the following season was the last straw. Denver GM John Elway felt the team didn’t show enough fight during the postseason and the sides parted ways, though Fox got a nice push from Elway on his way out the door. It’s only a preseason game and Fox has his team to worry about, but sticking it to Elway and the Broncos would be fun.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I want to watch them play. I’m going to put a number of throws on each one of them. That’s going to have a lot to do with decision-making time, to be honest with you.” – Broncos coach Gary Kubiak on the quarterback battle between Sanchez and Siemian during the preseason.
POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH
Don’t give the Broncos starting quarterback job to Sanchez just yet. It could be gamesmanship played by Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, but they both say there is a real competition for the No. 1 role. Both coaches have been impressed by the play of Siemian in training camp.
Just by virtue of his experience, which has had some good moments, Sanchez is likely leading the competition at this point. But if he is, the margin is very narrow. Kubiak has said a winner won’t be decided on until the staff can evaluate both players in live preseason action. We have to assume the job is Sanchez’s to lose. The former first-round pick has thrown for 15,000 yards in his six-year career. Siemian has yet to attempt a pass in a regular season game.
INJURIES
The Bears are down a starting center after Hroniss Grasu was carted off the practice field following a non-contact knee injury. Though nothing was confirmed at the time of this writing, the injury appears to be serious and could be a season-ender. It’s a blow to the Bears line and to Grasu, who started eight games as a rookie last season.
Veteran Ted Larsen and second-round pick Cody Whitehair give the Bears options at the position if Grasu’s injury is indeed serious. Whitehair has taken reps at the position during camp and Larsen has started games at center back in his days with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team can also make a roster move to fill a gap at the spot.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
If this quarterback battle in Denver is as intense as Kubiak wants us to believe, the preseason opener takes on a whole new meaning to Sanchez and Siemian. The two have been battling throughout training camp and what’s needed to add a little spice to the competition is an actual game. Both players have been splitting reps with the first team during practice, which leads us to believe the coaching staff hasn’t made a decision. Both need to perform well to standout and that likely means a victory.
NFL Odds: Denver 22, Chicago 16
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