Broncos HC Gary Kubiak insists on a heavy dose of passes to begin a game. In their past five games, the Broncos have passed the ball on 67 percent of their opening 15 plays from scrimmage, which does not include punts. They are 2-3 over that stretch. And with Trevor Siemian under center, that pass-to-run ratio jumps to 72 percent.
Rookie backup quarterback Paxton Lynch threw on seven of his first 15 plays in a loss to Atlanta last month. In three games, Siemian threw on 10 of his first 15 plays, including Sunday at Oakland, and 13 of 15 against the Chargers in Denver.
“We have to find a way to stay on the damn football field,” Kubiak said, defending his play-calling.
Related players: Devontae Booker
Against the Raiders, the Broncos stumbled through their first four possessions without a first down. They rushed for only 23 yards in the first half and 33 yards in the game. Nearly half of their first half total came on one run, Kapri Bibbs’ 10-yard scamper on a third-and-1 in the second quarter. No. 1 running back Devontae Booker, with only seven carries, gained 13 yards, a 1.9 yard per-carry average.
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