Trevor Siemian knows how to silence his critics, even when they’re his own wide receivers: Feed them.
Wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas were vocal during the lead up to Week 3, saying (essentially) that the Broncos need to get them more involved in the game and start finding the end zone. Siemian and head coach Gary Kubiak took note.
Denver started going to the receivers early, opening the game with three straight passing plays, including two targets to Sanders. Unfortunately, it resulted in a three-and-out to start the game. It was a surprising start for a team that runs the ball so well against a Bengals team that ranked near the bottom of the league in run defense in the first two weeks.
Siemian and Kubiak kept the ball flying on the second drive, although with a bit more balance, and ended the drive with a field goal. Denver completed just four of 10 pass attempts on the drive, although one incompletion did lead to a first down by penalty.
After the Denver special teams unit forced a fumble, Siemian didn’t wait long to make the most vocal of his critics, Sanders, very happy. On the third play of the drive Siemian hit Sanders in the end zone for a 41-yard touchdown that would give the Broncos a 10-7 lead after the PAT.
Denver would fall behind 14-10 in the second quarter before Siemian led Denver on a 10-play, 55-yard drive that resulted in another Sanders touchdown. A blocked PAT would keep Denver’s lead at two points heading into the half.
Siemian ended the half 13-of-24 passing for 144 yards, two touchdowns and noth interceptions.
Sanders hauled in seven catches on 11 targets for89 yards and both touchdowns.
Thomas had two catches on two targets for 11 yards.
When all was said and done, the Broncos threw the ball on 24 of their 35 plays in the half. That ought to keep the wideouts happy and quiet moving forward.
As always, the team at MHS was following the action as it unfolded. Here’s a look at what they, and some of our favorite follows in the Denver media, were saying about Siemian keeping the WRs happy as the first half unfolded.
Looks like the @broncos are trying to keep those WRs happy. Pass, pass, pass comin' out of the chute.
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) September 25, 2016
Siemian throwing to Sanders a bunch but still hasn't looked DTs way. #9sports
— Rod Mackey (@RodMackeySports) September 25, 2016
Emmanuel Sanders asked the for ball this week. Needs to catch everything his way
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) September 25, 2016
Is Demaryius Thomas playing in this game? Siemian's thrown to Emmanual Sanders 88 times already. (Get it?) @broncos
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) September 25, 2016
Trying to force things downfield to make WR's happy is not how this team wins football games. Do you Gary, do you. #Broncos
— Josh Dover (@JoshuaDover) September 25, 2016
There's the Broncos passing game. Siemian to Sanders for a 41 yard TD. #4Broncos
— Michael Spencer (@MichaelCBS4) September 25, 2016
Now, THAT'S what everybody's been waiting for, right? Da bomb. @trevorsiemian to @ESanders_10. Thrown a bit short, but still… @broncos
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) September 25, 2016
Emmanuel Sanders will get to be on ESPN highlights today. So he can be happy about that. #4Broncos
— Mark Haas (@markhaastv) September 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/RonnieKRadio/status/780112596485537792
So, uh, Sanders is backing up everything and then some
— Michael Jaycox (@MilkyMike) September 25, 2016
Sanders is Siemian's Golden Child, and DT is having a fit trying to get a Target. . .
— Gil Whiteley, Now and Then (@Gilfest) September 25, 2016
I think Emmanuel Sanders' get me the damn ball message was heard. No 10 targeted 11 times in 1H, for 7 catches, 89 yards and 2 TDs.
— Mark Kiszla (@markkiszla) September 25, 2016