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Week 3 AFC West Roundup

By Justin Smith

Sep 25, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback Sean Smith (21) celebrates after defeating the Tennessee Titans 17-10 at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback Sean Smith (21) celebrates after defeating the Tennessee Titans 17-10 at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 25, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) runs the ball for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. Denver defeated the Cincinnati 29-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) runs the ball for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. Denver defeated the Cincinnati 29-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Broncos

1st in AFC West

Record: 3-0
Last game: Win vs. Cincinnati (1-2) 29-17
Next Game: vs. Tampa Bay (1-2) Sunday, October 2nd at 1:00pm EST

I have a feeling we saw the best of Trevor Siemian last Sunday, though I may be wrong. But there isn’t much more the kid can do after throwing for 312 yards, leading two fourth-quarter touchdown drives and tossing 4 TDs with a QB rating of 132.1.

I’d expect him to come back down to Earth, and soon, but Tampa Bay’s pass defense is pretty atrocious. They’re tied for fourth in the NFL with 7 TD passes allowed, and are 13th in pass yards allowed, while giving up a QB rating of 106.4.

Siemian’s outburst was a product of the Bengals’ stout run defense, Broncos wideouts crying about not getting the ball, and personal pride in proving detractors wrong. Elway showed his maturity by trolling a hater on Twitter to stroke his own ego about being right about Siemian. In short, this was a “so there” game from Siemian, Kubiak and Elway — but a notice to the rest of the league.

The message was clear; We’re the Broncos, and we’re not just defense. We can win in multiple ways and we aren’t going quietly into the night, so you’d better bring your ‘A’ game against us every week yet again.

The Broncos are the favorites to win this division — if they weren’t already before — no question after watching what Siemian is capable of when needed. This team can still run the ball with a vengeance and their pass defense — fourth in the NFL — has only gotten better. Now that they have a QB, they’ll be tough to beat.

The Buccaneers are a strange team, showing alternately the capability to play very well — see the Falcons game Week 1 — and very poorly. See the past two weeks.

Jameis Winston is a perfect representative, as he has moments of greatness but also of foolishness. This Bucs team fits, and without Doug Martin to pound the rock between the tackles, the Broncos will swallow up Charles Sims, make Winston one-dimensional and force the other AFC West teams to win tough matchups to keep pace.

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