Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said that the first preseason game would have a lot to do with his eventual choice for a starting quarterback and the top two contenders for the job have turned in their work.
Mark Sanchez opened the game and threw a touchdown and an interception while playing on three drives in the first quarter. Trevor Siemian took over in the second quarter for his first game action in the competition for the starting job.
Siemian didn’t turn the ball over and moved the Broncos for a pair of field goals while completing 7-of-12 passes for 88 yards. He had a deep ball for Bennie Fowler knocked away at the end zone on his first drive and found success on shorter throws to Cody Latimer that Latimer then took for extra yardage after the catch.
Siemian didn’t have the same supporting cast around him that Sanchez enjoyed to open the game, but also faced lesser members of the Bears defense during his four possessions. If Kubiak hasn’t made up his mind, it would seem likely that Siemian will get a chance to open the game next weekend so that the evaluations can be balanced out on those fronts.
While the quarterbacks were doing their thing, the Broncos defense picked up where it left off by shutting out the Bears regardless of which players were on the field. The 20-0 halftime lead also featured a blocked punt by Fowler that Zaire Anderson fell on in the end zone as little went well for Chicago on their home field.
