Sunday night against the Chiefs could be Drew Lock’s statement game
Dec 3, 2020, 6:34 AM
We’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting for Drew Lock to have that statement game for the Broncos. Sunday night in his hometown against the defending Super Bowl champions could be the game when Lock shows Broncos Country and the entire world that he is the future of the franchise.
After being criticized by fans, national media outlets and even his head coach for violating COVID-19 protocols, Lock is in the perfect position to silence the doubters.
After going 4-1 in his five starts in 2019, Lock has shown some flashes, but then more struggles. Lock has been given prominent weapons on offense and his left tackle is playing the best football of his career, but that’s only led to a 3-5 record this season as the starter.
In his eight starts in 2020, the second-year quarterback has turned the bowl over horrific amount. Lock is tied for second in interceptions thrown, trailing only Carson Wentz of Philadelphia.
Lock has already seen this Kansas City team this season, as well as last season. Quite frankly, it’s better that Lock has already played his hometown team in his hometown last season so that those nerves are out of the way. Facing the same defense and defensive coordinator twice in his career should allow him to understand the defensive tendencies that Kansas City likes to run.
Lock also needs to force his offensive coordinator to run what he would like to run and feel comfortable with. The best thing that Pat Shurmur could do for the gunslinger is give him simple plays that can get Lock into a rhythm. A few screen passes or slants would help. The Broncos will also need to stay balanced and run the ball effectively and stay consistent with it so that it will open up the play action for Lock in which he succeeds with.
Lock is likely coming off his most consistent complete game of the season and maybe his career against the Dolphins two weeks ago. No, Lock didn’t have the best stat line, but he made the correct throws against a really good Miami defense.
The best advice Lock should receive heading into Sunday night’s matchup is just go out there a sling it and have fun. Lock needs to show that he has that chip on his shoulder for letting his team down last week by violating protocols and prove to all of the doubters that he can hang with the best quarterback in the NFL.
Once Carrie Underwood sings her weekly anthem for “Sunday Night Football,” Lock will step on the field for his 14th career NFL start and have an opportunity to prove a lot of people wrong. It’s time for him to say he’s the franchise quarterback and what better situation to do it in his hometown, on national TV, against the defending champs.
