Unlucky 13: Broncos have cycled through 13 starting quarterbacks since Peyton Manning retired
Denver Post
A spring tradition unlike any other: the Broncos’ unending search for a franchise quarterback. They are at 13 and counting since Peyton Manning retired following Super Bowl 50. Will this time draft be different? A look at the unlucky 13, which largely explains why the Broncos have missed the playoffs for eight straight years and suffered seven consecutive losing seasons:
Trevor Siemian
Tenure: 2015-17, 13-11 record
Highlight: Four-touchdown, 312-yard performance in 2016 win at Cincinnati.
Lowlight: Three-interception game in 2017 at KC, leading to benching.
Paxton Lynch
Tenure: 2016-17, 1-3
Highlight: Threw for 254 yards, nearly beating first-time starter Patrick Mahomes in 2017.
Lowlight: Sobbing as he covered his face in a towel after hurting ankle vs. Raiders in ugly loss.
Brock Osweiler
Tenure: 2017, 0-4
Highlight: 5-2 in ’15. Doesn’t count. In relief at Colts, led the team to its only road win of ’17 season.
Lowlight: Picked twice, sacked three times in a 51-23 loss at Eagles.
Case Keenum
Tenure: 2018, 6-10
Highlight: Rallied Broncos to 24-17 win over Steelers, keeping Denver briefly in playoff race.
Lowlight: Missed open Demaryius Thomas for TD vs. KC at home, changing course of season.
Joe Flacco
Tenure: 2019, 2-6
Highlight: Ripped head coach, OC after loss to Colts: “We are afraid to go for it.”
Lowlight: In same game, he suffered season-ending neck injury, ending his career with Broncos.
Brandon Allen
Tenure: 2019, 1-2
Highlight: Threw two touchdowns with no interceptions in debut win over Browns.
Lowlight: Needed cutoff man to make long throws in wind at Bills. Completed 10 passes in loss.
Drew Lock
Tenure: 2019-21, 8-13
Highlight: Looked like star in 309-yard, three-TD outing at playoff-bound Texans in ’19.
Lowlight: Completed 48% of passes with four INTs in 37-12 loss at Raiders in 2020.
Jeff Driskel
Tenure: 2020, 0-1
Highlight: Staged spirit comeback in relief at Steelers, throwing two touchdowns.
Lowlight: Started the next week at home vs. Bucs, was sacked five times and benched.
Brett Rypien
Tenure: 2020-22, 2-1
Highlight: Let it Ryp in prime time game vs. Jets, delivering two scores in 2020.
Lowlight: Lost to Jets at home in 2022, producing one touchdown drive.
Phillip Lindsay
Tenure: 2020, 0-1
Highlight: Taking the snap in the Wildcat formation as the COVID starter vs. Saints in 2020.
Lowlight: Giving way to Kendall Hinton in the COVID game. Hinton completed one pass in loss.
Teddy Bridgewater
Tenure: 2021, 7-7
Highlight: Delivered 328 yards passing at Jacksonville. Part of a terrific 3-0 start to season.
Lowlight: Did not try to tackle Eagles’ Darius Slay on fumble return for TD. Fans turned on him.
Russell Wilson
Tenure: 2022-23, 11-19
Highlight: Thought he would be benched during bye week. Then rallied Broncos to win at Bills.
Lowlight: Needing FG to win vs. Colts, threw awful INT to Stephon Gilmore in crippling ’22 loss.
Jarrett Stidham
Tenure: 2023, 1-1
Highlight: Won starting debut vs. Chargers by taking care of the ball and only taking two sacks.
Lowlight: Threw pick and was sacked five times in discouraging season-ending loss to Raiders.
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