Is Broncos’ Statement Win over Colts Enough to Prove Trevor Siemian Is for Real?

We knew what kind of team the Denver Broncos had to be if they were to successfully defend their Super Bowl title in 2016. How did we know? Because we’ve seen it so many times before.

The blueprint for what went down Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts in a 34-20 statement win has been followed again and again. A swarming and punishing defense that’s now allowed exactly 20 points in each of Denver’s two wins to start the season may bend a little at times, but it never, ever breaks.

The opposing quarterback is whacked repeatedly, and when he does march down the field near perfection is required to squeeze the ball through tight holes. If his crosshairs get even a little fuzzy the Broncos pounce. That came against the Colts when cornerback Aqib Talib used his high-level field vision and anticipation in the fourth quarter to jump a route, then take his interception the other way for a 46-yard pick-six.

And outside linebacker Von Miller is so often the foundation for classic Broncos grinding wins. He finished with three sacks Sunday, including the game-sealing strip sack of Colts quarterback Andrew Luck that led to a touchdown after fellow linebacker Shane Ray scooped up the loose ball and took it home for six points.

It all felt impressive but familiar at the same time. But there’s one core difference between the 2015 Broncos, and their continued dominance two games into 2016.

They have a quarterback who became a lingering question mark all offseason. There was concern about Trevor Siemian and whether his inexperience was too much for even the Broncos brute-force defense and rushing offense to support.

So far Siemian has done his job, and then some. What was his job originally? To be an afterthought.

Sure, he’s happily ceded the spotlight to Miller and his gang of merry tacklers. But Siemian started to step out of the shadows a bit …

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