Everyone may be talking about how Brock Osweiler is undefeated as the Broncos’ starting quarterback, but the truth is this: Denver’s dominant defense won today in San Diego, and Osweiler was just along for the ride.
The Broncos’ defense absolutely shut down Philip Rivers & Co., intercepting Rivers once and forcing the Chargers’ offense to fumble four times as San Diego never reached the end zone in a 17-3 Broncos win.
Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan had a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown, Von Miller had two sacks and Shane Ray had one, and the Chargers’ offense simply couldn’t do anything.
It was an ugly game for the Chargers, who have been decimated by injuries all season and suffered two more big ones today. Chargers receiver Dontrelle Inman was stretchered off the field with a neck injury, and cornerback Brandon Flowers was carted off the field with a knee injury.
Osweiler was OK for what the Broncos asked him to do, completing 16 of 25 passes for 166 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. But he was nothing special, and certainly not the reason the Broncos won the game. It’s still an open question whether Osweiler will keep the starting quarterback job when Peyton Manning is healthy, and it’s still an open question which one of them gives Denver a better chance of winning a Super Bowl.
But what’s not a question at all is whether the Broncos have a Super Bowl-quality defense. They absolutely do. That can take them a long way no matter who’s playing quarterback.