The Denver Broncos have bristled plenty throughout the offseason when told many believe they will take a significant step back following a Super Bowl hangover. In their preseason opener Thursday night, the Broncos' defense stepped all over that notion and the Chicago Bears, recording seven sacks in a 22-0 win at Soldier Field.
The Broncos showed their depth, as they did their damage despite the fact three Pro Bowl defenders -- linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware and cornerback Aqib Talib -- weren't even in uniform. The Broncos' starters had little more than a cameo as reserves such as Vontarrius Dora had two sacks and Dekoda Watson had a sack for a safety.
In all, the Bears gained just 18 yards on their first four possessions. And by the end of the third quarter the Broncos had forced seven three-and-outs and outgained the Bears 297 yards to 79.
QB depth chart: Broncos coach Gary Kubiak turned the top two quarterbacks loose in the first half. Mark Sanchez worked the first quarter, finishing 10-of-13 for 99 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Trevor Siemian played the second quarter and closed out his night 7-of-12 for 88 yards. Paxton Lynch played the second half and completed 6-of-7 throws for 74 yards.
Maybe that dude could start: If Ware’s back forces him to miss time in the regular season -- though he has said he'll be ready for the Sept. 5 opener, he has yet to practice in training camp -- linebackers Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett could be asked to start. The two, with Ware out and Miller out, got the start and were consistently disruptive, with Ray splitting a sack, with Derek Wolfe, of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.
Who got hurt? The Broncos escaped the night healthy. Nose tackle Darius Kilgo was helped off the field early in the third quarter, but the team reported no injury, and Kilgo could have returned to play had it been a regular-season game.
A surprise player who impressed: Watson, a seventh-year linebacker who finds himself at one of the most crowded spots on the roster, tackled Bears quarterback David Fales for a safety early in the third quarter. Watson showed discipline in the pass rush and was consistently moving Bears linemen off their spots.
When it was starters vs. starters, the Broncos looked … It was a short night for many of the starters, just a handful of plays, but the Broncos were dominant up and down the depth chart on defense. The Bears’ first four drives went for 16, minus-6, 3 and 5 yards. The offense was efficient for the most part, with Sanchez’s interception the only bobble, as the Broncos scored on two of their first four possessions.
One reason to be concerned: With left tackle Russell Okung getting the night off and guard Ty Sambrailo injured, the Broncos played mix and match on the offensive line and things remain unsettled there. They had three penalties from offensive linemen in the opening half alone, including a tripping penalty on rookie Connor McGovern and a holding penalty on Darrion Weems in the same drive. A second reason to be concerned? The Broncos had a field goal try blocked, and kicker Brandon McManus bounced another kick off the upright.
Raymond gets first look: The one spot where an unexpected player could make the roster of a defending Super Bowl champion is at returner -- kickoff and punt. Rookie Kalif Raymond got the first swing. He had a 26-yard kickoff return in the first half to go with three punt returns for 32 yards. Rookie Bralon Addison handled return duties in the second half.
Next man up: There has been plenty of public discourse about how the Broncos would replace the departed Malik Jackson on the defensive line; Jackson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. The Broncos drafted defensive end Adam Gotsis, they believe Vance Walker is ready for more playing time and after the opening frenzy of free agency, they quietly signed Jared Crick to a two-year, $4 million deal. Crick logged over 800 plays in the Houston Texans’ defense last season and has played for Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips before. Crick was active and consistently disruptive against the Bears, with two tackles, a sack and two quarterback hits in the first half.
