The Broncos quarterback battle should officially be over

If the Broncos quarterback battle is actually a fair fight, it’s over. If Denver’s 50/50 competition is truly being graded equally, a winner should declared.

Through the first dozen or so practices of training camp, any impartial observer had Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater at a draw. After two joint practices this past week with Minnesota, the stalemate continued.

Thus, it was all going to come down to game action. It was all about who was going to shine the most when their opportunity arrived during the exhibition games.

Well, the answer was delivered. And it was delivered emphatically.

Drew Lock was fantastic during his preseason debut on Saturday. Against the Vikings, the third-year QB put up gaudy numbers and looked stellar.

Lock finished the day 5-for-7 for 151 yards and two touchdowns, posting a QB rating of 153.3 He led the Broncos on two drives, one that ended in a score and one that fizzled on a fourth-down incompletion in the end zone. He also threw an 80-yard scoring strike to K.J. Hamler.

There’s not much more Lock could’ve done. So it’ll be hard for Teddy Bridgewater to be better when he gets his chance next week against Seattle. There’s almost no way for the second start to be better than the first.

Coming into the season, the knock against Lock was his poor decision making. He was slow on his reads and threw the ball into coverage, resulting in sacks and interceptions.

On Saturday, none of those bad habits were on display. Lock was in total control, guiding the offense up and down the field.

While the touchdown passes to Hamler and Trinity Benson will get all of the attention, it was another throw that summarized Lock’s development. Facing third-and-four at midfield, he bought time, stayed calm in the pocket and found Jerry Jeudy for a 25-yard completion.

That’s the type of move-the-chains play that the Broncos need. It’s the difference between an effective offense and one that remains mired in the mud.

It’s just part of what Lock brings to the field. Those types of plays were why he was even in the QB race to begin with.

Lock can make plays on third down, with both his arm and his feet. He can also throw the home run ball and zip passes into tight spaces.

All of that was on display on Saturday. He did things that his competition simply can’t, operating the offense at a high level.

That’s why it’ll be tough for Bridgewater to top Lock’s performance. He’ll have to off the charts to have a better outing during his first opportunity with the first-team offense.

Even if he does, he still shouldn’t win the job. A tie should go to the younger, more-talented player. That’s the main reason why the competition is over.

There’s no reason to go with Bridgewater. Zero.

There is no rationale to go with the veteran. None.

Lock is the only one of the two options that has a chance to become the quarterback of the future. He’s the only one of the two choices who has an unlimited ceiling.

Of course, he also has the lower floor. Lock has the potential of being a mistake-prone disaster.

That’s why Bridgewater was brought in. If the young QB faltered, Denver would then have a veteran to turn to. He was the “break glass in case of emergency” option.

But if Lock is making big plays, moving the chains and avoiding mistakes, there is absolutely no reason to not have him in the lineup. That means there’s no reason for Bridgewater to be in the mix.

There were three ways things could’ve gone on Saturday for Lock. If he turned the ball over, he’d have opened the door for Bridgewater, creating a situation where a mistake-free outing against the Seahawks would’ve won the veteran the job. If he was ho-hum, he’d have kept the competition open, allowing the Broncos coaches to go conservation. If he was great, he’d win the job, showing that he’s ready to be the starter.

Clearly, the third option is what transpired. It was obvious to anyone with an open mind.

The Broncos quarterback battle has been raging for months. But it finally came to a close on Saturday.

The job is Drew Lock’s. There is absolutely no viable reason for Denver to choose otherwise.

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