CINCINNATI — The only debate is what Denver quarterback Trevor Siemian actually said in the huddle before he put the finishing touch on the Bengals.
Denver receiver Emmanuel Sanders claims Siemian said, “We’re about to go for the gusto." Siemian, trying to play it cool, said that came from Broncos coach Gary Kubiak. Siemian doesn’t "recall the verbiage." That’s about the only quarterback controversy in Denver these days, especially after watching Siemian throw for 312 yards and four touchdowns in a 29-17 win in his first road start at Cincinnati on Sunday.
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Siemian asserted himself as a leader capable of leading the defending Super Bowl champions against another playoff contender. He’s led the Broncos to wins against Cam Newton, Andrew Luck and Andy Dalton the last three weeks and reminded us that Denver will have something to say to New England and Pittsburgh about who wins the AFC. Brock Osweiler should be a distant memory to Broncos fans by now.
Now, let’s talk more about "going for the gusto.” That finishing touch came on a 55-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas with 4:23 remaining. Siemian had an opinion for when Kubiak dialed in the play.
"Loved it," he said. “I thought we were aggressive all game long, and that’s how you have to be against teams like this to keep them off balance."
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Perhaps more amazing: Siemian did all that while the Broncos were limited to 52 yards on 23 rushing attempts. The Bengals dared Siemian to beat them with his arm, and he made big-boy throws all day long.
That started with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders on an out-and-up, which Siemian placed over Pacman Jones and George Iloka. Sanders twerked a little bit. He scored again in the final minute of the first half. Siemian was 13 of 24 for 144 yards by halftime.
Denver only had four offensive plays in the third quarter, and the Bengals took a 17-16 lead in the fourth. That’s about the time Siemian took it to the next level.
"Even today in the fourth quarter you should have seen it," Sanders said. “The guy came in and took command in the huddle. He was confident."
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Siemian peppered Sanders, who had nine catches for 117 yards, and Thomas, who had six catches for 100 yards. He hit John Phillips for the go-ahead score with 6:56 left. Siemian’s best throw, however, might have come on a 29-yard pass to Jeff Heuerman on a crossing route to the start the next drive. That flipped the field, set up the dagger and put the Bengals away. Siemian finished 9 of 10 for 159 yards in the fourth quarter.
That’s a quarterback who comes up big in the fourth quarter. He did the quarterback thing and deflected credit for that breakout performance.
"The (receivers) did a good job of getting open, and our offensive line did a heck of a job blocking up front," Siemian said. “It’s a really good front. Hats off to those guys, and our guys won on the outside."
Denver won again, and Siemian looks like a guy who is proving Denver GM John Elway and Kubiak right. It was impressive, and it wasn’t a fluke. The Broncos’ aggressive, down-field passing attack showed that. Thomas and Sanders were quick to label themselves the best 1-2 punch in the league afterward — with the only debate who is "Thunder" and who is "Lightning."
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Should we dial it back a little?
"It was a great outing," Kubiak said. "I don’t think you can get carried away, but we know we have a young quarterback who’s on a good team, and this was a great sign today. He came into a tough environment, handled himself and played big."
There’s no debating any of that.
