The Denver Broncos will be going with veteran Teddy Bridgewater over Mizzou product Drew Lock as starting quarterback, with Coach Vic Fangio selecting to go with the more steady play of Bridgewater over Lock’s stronger arm, but more questionable decision-making.
Both players had looked strong in a good preseason for the Broncos, a franchise looking to close the distance between themselves and a Kansas City Chiefs team that has dominated the AFC West in recent years. Lock had an 80 yard touchdown pass to second-year pro K.J. Hamler in Denver’s preseason opener at Minnesota, but, Fangio decided that there was not enough positive progress shown from a 2020 season that saw Lock throw a league-high 15 interceptions.
Bridgewater, a former Viking, Saint, and Panther, was signed by the Broncos in the offseason. In a season derailed by a knee injury in Week 10, Bridgewater’s Carolina Panthers went 5-11 a year ago.
Lock was a personal favorite off Broncos legend John Elway, who chose the Lee’s Summit native in the second round of the 2019 draft out of Missouri. However, Elway stepped down from his general manager position in 2020, leaving Lock needing to impress the new GM, George Paton.