What are we supposed to make of Trevor Siemian? Is he improving? Is he on the verge of self-destruction? Is he exceeding expectations? Is the anchor holding this offense back?
After the first half, it looked like all of the above could be true, but by the end of the fourth quarter, well … maybe the kid is pretty good?
He got off to a slow start, as the Broncos went three-and-out on their first drive. On their second drive, Siemian and the Broncos offense stalled out in opponent’s territory once again, frustrating Broncos Country.
Siemian is not good in the red zone
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) September 25, 2016
Trevor Siemian is a good story, but dude still misses a ton of easy passes.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) September 25, 2016
Thank Goodness for all that Red Zone work this past week…. This could get ugly. . . Maybe the D is about to score?
— Gil Whiteley, Now and Then (@Gilfest) September 25, 2016
A few drives later, though, and after a week’s worth of “complaining” from the Broncos’ wideouts, Siemian showed us something he’d yet to demonstrate through the first two weeks: a deep ball.
Trevor Siemian —> Emmanuel Sanders 🎯 #NFLBrasil #DENvsCIN https://t.co/YmlQEeCaXG
— NFL Brasil (@NFLBrasil) September 25, 2016
Up until that point, Siemian had only attempted two passes lerong than 20 yards down the field, but with that 41-yard bomb to Emmanuel Sanders, Siemian put the Broncos on top and silenced a few doubters — at least for the moment.
Just when we were holding a Wake for Trevor. . .
— Gil Whiteley, Now and Then (@Gilfest) September 25, 2016
Great throw. That a way! #Siemian #Broncos
— James Merilatt (@jamesmerilatt) September 25, 2016
How bad did everyone need that? #BroncosCountry, #Broncos players, coaches, you could almost hear the sigh of relief through the tv.
— Josh Dover (@JoshuaDover) September 25, 2016
But it wasn’t all good news. While Siemian finished the first half with 144 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions, he had several passes that should have been picked off.
And when balls weren’t bouncing off defender’s chests, they were sailing over his receivers’ heads.
I'm sorry, one (under thrown) pass dose not a quarterback make. The moment looks to big right now for Siemian.He's overthrowing short 1s
— Gil Whiteley, Now and Then (@Gilfest) September 25, 2016
Those rushed throws by Siemian are going to get someone killed.
That can wear thin on his receivers fast. Really really fast.#Broncos
— Benny Bash🎧 (@TheBennyBash) September 25, 2016
You can tell Siemian feels the @bengals DL. Rushing some throws. Touch isn't great. Still, doing enough to keep @Broncos out front.
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) September 25, 2016
Siemian should have been picked twice on this drive alone. . .
— Gil Whiteley, Now and Then (@Gilfest) September 25, 2016
Siemian is trying to throw an interception sooooo bad
— Michael Jaycox (@MilkyMike) September 25, 2016
The Broncos entered halftime up two points, and the verdict was still very much out on Siemian.
Despite the inconsistent accuracy, he did manage to drive the ball down the field on a 10-play, 55-yard touchdown drive to close out the first half, hitting Emmanuel Sanders on a 7-yard out route for the duo’s second touchdown of the day.
Still, the argument could be made that the best part of the Broncos offense was the Cincinnati Bengals defense, as they continuously kept Denver on the field with defensive penalties.
In the second half, though, everything changed.
To close out the game, Siemian completed 10 of 11 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the final two quarters and looked extremely impressive while doing so.
Great composure by Siemian. Crowd is loud, long third down, hung in the pocket and found the open receiver #Broncos
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) September 25, 2016
This is an impressive drive just the drive we've all been looking for. he's not a Rookie QB he's the QB of the Reining SB Champs. #geterdone
— Gil Whiteley, Now and Then (@Gilfest) September 25, 2016
Siemian's winning me over in this 4th Qtr. . .
— Gil Whiteley, Now and Then (@Gilfest) September 25, 2016
That's the sound of Trevor Siemian taking his Huggies off.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) September 25, 2016
Trevor Siemian on course to improve to 2-for-2 in career fourth-quarter comebacks. Did it against Carolina, now Cincinnati. Broncos up 29-17
— Nick Groke (@nickgroke) September 25, 2016
FOUR TOUCHDOWNS by Trevor Siemian in his first road game. Wow! Unbelievable performance #Broncos @TrevorSiemian @Broncos
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) September 25, 2016
Siemian is legit folks. 4TDs during his first NFL road game. #Broncos
— Sean Walsh (@seanwalshsports) September 25, 2016
I'll have Pinot with my crow. Nice little Sunday. #Broncos #Siemian
— James Merilatt (@jamesmerilatt) September 25, 2016
Trevor Siemian is just having a ridiculous game
— Jason Cole (@JasonCole62) September 25, 2016
Trevor Siemian's fourth-quarter QB rating today: a perfect 158.3.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) September 25, 2016
The Denver Broncos are now 3-0 and their second-year quarterback is coming off his first 300-yard, four-touchdown performance, and he accomplished it against a Bengals defense which has consistently been considered one of the best in the NFL over the last few seasons.
There were a lot of questions surrounding Siemian heading into his first career road game, and it’s hard to deny that he answered most of them.
Anytime a quarterback completes 66 percent of his passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns with a passer rating of 132.1, it’s hard not to be impressed.
Trevor Siemian is 1st QB in NFL history to throw for 300 yards & 4 TD w/out an interception in his 1st career road start
via @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/NRoxd43MI3
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 25, 2016
That’s quite the achievement.