Kubiak: Broncos quarterback Siemian ‘played like a champ’
Nov 28, 2016, 6:18 AM
If there’s a silver line to take away from the Denver Broncos heart-wrenching overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs is that quarterback Trevor Siemian played one of his best games of the season — and career — to date.
Despite a slow first half in which Denver managed just one score — a field goal late in the second quarter — Siemian finished with 20-of-34 passing for 368 yards, three touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 125.6 (the second best of his career when playing the majority of a game).
“I think Trevor’s play was tremendous. He made big plays across the board. He made some tremendous throws,” said head coach Gary Kubiak, who said the team struggled to protect Siemian in the first half.
“I wish he could have gotten out of here with a win tonight. That’s part of being a pro. You have to battle through it. I’m proud of him. He played really well.”
Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders said after the game that playcalling could have been the difference in Siemian’s play Sunday, with the second-year quarterback throwing the deep ball several times over the course of five quarters.
“Trevor was delivering some great footballs, and it was good to really just connect on a couple deep balls,” Sanders said. “I mean, things are looking good offensively.”
Siemian connected with Sanders on three passes longer than 20 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter to give Denver a 17-16 lead.
He’d also toss a 76-yard touchdown pass to Bennie Fowler late in the fourth quarter to give the Broncos a 24-16 lead.
“He gets better every week and he played phenomenal tonight for us,” wide receiver Jordan Taylor said after the game.
Siemian after the game pointed to Kansas City’s aggression as the catalyst for going to the deep throws on Sunday.
“They’re an aggressive group, Kansas City. Sometimes you’ve got to go stretch the field and let your guys make plays, and I thought those guys (Demaryius Thomas and Sanders) stepped up big time and made some big plays for us,” Siemian said.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.