Lock should get shot to build on last season’s progress

In the Denver Broncos’ preseason opener, Drew Lock dazzled with a stat line of 5-of-7 for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Lock did everything — led drives, had no three-and-outs and did not turn the ball over.

This shouldn’t be surprising because the most ignored aspect of Locks’ disappointing 2020 season is he finished strong and played his best in big moments.

Heading into the final four games of the 2020 season, Lock’s first full season as a starter was a disaster. Despite lone bright spots against the Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins, his performance as starting quarterback was the worst in the NFL.

Then Lock started to turn it around. He had a four-touchdown, zero-interception performance at Carolina against the Panthers. When the Panthers scored and got within five points in the fourth quarter, Lock responded with a 49-yard touchdown pass to K.J. Hamler to put the Broncos back in front by double digits.

The following game at home against the Buffalo Bills was an embarrassment for the Broncos. The whole team played bad, including Lock. But he did shine in one moment. In the final minutes of the first half, Lock led a two-minute drill that ended with a touchdown pass to pull Denver within one score.

In Week 16 against the Chargers, Lock overcame an early interception and played well. Jerry Jeudy dropped everything Lock threw his way. With less than two minutes remaining and down three points, Lock threw a deep ball that, despite hitting him in the hands, Jeudy dropped. Had Jeudy held on, Denver would have been in field goal position to tie the game.

The pass to Jeudy was a big-time throw in a big-time moment. The situation wasn’t too big for Lock. He found his receiver; it just so happened he dropped the pass.

In the final week of the 2020 season, the Broncos hosted the Las Vegas Raiders. Lock was 25-for-41 for 339 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. What was most impressive, though, was late in the game, deep in his own territory on third-and-long, Lock escaped pressure and found Jeudy over the middle for a 92-yard touchdown. The play capped Lock’s most impressive performance of the season.

Lock proved he could succeed in a shootout and make the big play with the game on the line. Yet, he gets no credit for this game because head coach Vic Fangio called time out to help the Raiders score on a two-point conversion.  Fangio’s fumbling of the time outs was so egregious even the Raiders were surprised Fangio bailed them out.

Had Fangio just managed that situation properly, Lock’s performance would be better remembered.

What’s important about those final four games for Lock’s 2020 season is that he made big plays in big moments, even in the atrocious Bills game. Stats are one thing, but Lock began to show mental toughness and resilience in the final quarter of the season. Showing up in the most crucial moments of a game is what differentiates a starting quarterback from a backup.

This whole quarterback competition is a sham. Lock proved last season that he is indeed improving and developing.  He’s nowhere near a top quarterback in the NFL. Not even close. But Teddy Bridgewater is also not a quality-enough starter to just bail on Lock’s progress.

Last weekend against the Vikings, Lock once again shined in a big moment. He was able to block out the noise and rise to the occasion. Tracking passes in practice is nonsense. With his back against the wall, Lock overshadowed Bridgewater.

Last week Lock built on what he started in late 2020, and the Broncos should allow him to continue his progress as the starting quarterback.

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