The Denver Broncos are 3-1 with Brock Osweiler starting at quarterback, but those wins don’t mean the offense is clicking.
The Broncos have scored just 29 points in their last two games (win over the Chargers, loss to the Raiders). What’s more troubling is that they’ve had more three-and-outs since week 11 than any other team in the league, and they haven’t made it into the end zone in 23 drives. The last offensive touchdown the team scored came with 11:15 left in the first quarter as Osweiler connected with Demaryius Thomas. That means almost 120 minutes of football without an offensive touchdown for the 10-3 Broncos.
They’ve run the ball well most of the time, but were held to just 34 rushing yards in the loss to the Raiders. Osweiler threw 51 passes and was sacked five times. The Broncos aren’t going anywhere if the plan is letting Osweiler throw and let him try and win games with his arm.
Relying on the defense while taking on criticism for their offense has worked out quite well so far for the Broncos this season, at least on a Win-Loss level. But in terms of ability, and eliminating concerns regarding their prospects in the playoffs? It’s hard to see them going all the way if home field advantage isn’t on their side, which is something they let slip away from them with the shocking home loss to the Raiders.
Who knows, maybe Osweiler has more than meets the eye to him and the learning process will give the Broncos a better quarterback who can move better than he is right now and be a more dangerous passer than he is right now. But looking at it realistically, the Broncos are limited regardless of their QB choice. If the running game isn’t going to work, than it doesn’t really matter who it is behind center: The Broncos can’t win games, even with this defense, by relying on their quarterbacks to take them all the way.