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Aqib Talib, rookie QB Paxton Lynch star in Broncos’ storm-delayed win vs. Bucs

It’s the eighth time in team history they’ve started a season with four consecutive wins

Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post.
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Getting your player ready...

TAMPA, Fla. — Aqib Talib hoped he would be welcomed home to the city he said raised him as an NFL player. He hoped fans at Raymond James Stadium hadn’t forgotten what he could do, and what he did as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer during his first four years in the NFL.

Lest anyone did forget, he served up multiple reminders.

The Broncos’ three-time Pro Bowl cornerback recorded two interceptions within the first 17 minutes of play to set up a pair of Broncos scoring drives and key a 27-7, storm-delayed victory over his former team Sunday.

The Broncos improved to 4-0, marking the eighth time in team history they’ve started a season with four consecutive wins. But the day also led to another quarterback swap.

Second-year starter Trevor Siemian, playing in front of family and friends who drove from their hometown of Windermere, Fla., left late in the second quarter with an injury to his left (nonthrowing) shoulder. Although he told team trainers he felt he could play if needed in the second half, he instead watched from the sideline in full pads and a ball cap. Rookie Paxton Lynch, whose family traveled from Deltona, Fla., ran the show in his first NFL action. And ran it well.

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For two out of three Broncos, their Florida homecoming was sweet.

“It was definitely exciting to come back here and have a lot of family and friends here to see it happen,” said Lynch, who admitted he was nervous before going in. “I’m glad that they were here for it, and I’m also glad I got the opportunity. But to come in in that kind of circumstance, when Trevor gets hurt, you never want that to happen, where the guy in front of you goes down. You just have to be ready.”

With Siemian out, the 22-year-old Lynch more than impressed. He led the Broncos to two field goals before finding receiver Emmanuel Sanders wide open for a 5-yard reception and his first touchdown pass with about nine minutes left, all but sealing the victory.

Lynch was 14-of-24 in passing for 170 yards, one touchdown and a 94.1 passer rating. He also generated a chorus of boos from Bucs fans to Bucs players before the storm led to the nearly 90-minute delay with just over six minutes left.

“He’s really doing a good job,” coach Gary Kubiak said of Lynch. “(General manager) John (Elway) and I sat down and talked about it before the game and I said, ‘John, I think he’s really growing.’ I’ve been watching him practice and prepare. You never know until he’s thrown into the fire. We need to get a little more tempo, and we need to get out of the huddle a little better. Those are things a young kid struggles with, but I thought he handled himself well. He made up some big third downs for us. He got the ball down the field, and I really like the way he avoided some bad plays and threw the ball away. I thought that was impressive.”

Though their quarterback situation is again in flux, the Broncos’ defense was again rock solid, forcing three turnovers while holding the Bucs to 215 net yards. Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston, the latest quarterback to be battered by the Broncos, was limited to 106 yards passing in one of his worst showings as a pro.

Talib’s first interception, on  third-and-6 on the Bucs’ opening drive, set the stage for an 11-yard pass from Siemian to receiver Demaryius Thomas for a touchdown on Denver’s first offensive play.

The Bucs responded with a 75-yard drive that ended with a 7-yard touchdown run by Winston on third down. Facing a five-man rush, Winston scrambled up the middle for what proved to be the Bucs’ only score. The Broncos’ defense, which previously nearly concussed Cam Newton and limited Andrew Luck and Andy Dalton, continued its ways by registering five sacks (2.5 by defensive end Derek Wolfe) and 16 quarterback hits, and holding Winston to 179 passing yards.

On the other side of the ball, the Broncos again struggled early to establish the run, gaining only 1 yard rushing in the first quarter. Kubiak, whose offense is predicated on a balanced attack, expressed frustration last week with the Broncos’ inability to run at Cincinnati and Sunday’s victory began with more of the same.

Until Talib did Talib-like things.

Box score:

The Broncos’ defensive ace gave the offense extra opportunities to pick up yards and points. He came through again early in the second quarter when he picked off a Winston pass on  third-and-10.

“I got a warm welcome off the plane, into the hotel, on the field,” Talib said. “Got a warm welcome and to be able to put on a show like that for the fans I still have in Tampa, it was special.”

Running back C.J. Anderson punched the ball into the end zone for the go-ahead, 1-yard run after Talib’s second pick, giving the Broncos a 14-7 lead. The Broncos mustered 89 yards rushing (2.8 average) on 32 carries — certainly an improvement over their Cincinnati showing, but far from the production Kubiak has sought.

“We struggled to run the ball, but when we got the turnovers, we converted them,” Kubiak said. “I think we were 3-for-4 in the red zone, and in a game like that, who plays best in the red zone usually is going to win.”

The Broncos’ offensive line featured Ty Sambrailo at right tackle for the second consecutive game as starter Donald Stephenson again sat out with a calf injury. His absence was felt, perhaps, by no one more than Siemian.

Siemian was sacked three times in the first half, the last of which came when Clinton McDonald slammed him to the grass late in the second quarter, leading to his injury.

“That’s part of the game. There are a lot of guys getting dinged up,” said Siemian, who is expected to undergo further testing Monday in Colorado. “That’s part of the league. Just try to get better, take it one day at a time and go from there.”

Lynch quickly established himself as Siemian headed to the bench and then the locker room to be examined. Siemian left the game 5-of-7 in passing for 68 yards, one touchdown, three sacks and a 141.7 passer rating.

He also left the Broncos with one familiar question: Who will start at quarterback next Sunday?


Quarter-by-quarter breakdown

1st quarter – Cornerback Aqib Talib made himself right at home in his first game in Tampa Bay since being traded from there in 2012 and he made a great interception of Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston. One play later, Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian connected with receiver Demaryius Thomas for a touchdown. Quarterback scrambles continued to hurt the Broncos defense as Winston responded with a rushing touchdown. Score: Broncos 7, Bucs 7.

2nd quarter – Talib strikes again with his second interception of the game setting up a touchdown for Broncos running back C.J. Anderson. But the story of the quarter came when Siemian got slammed down hard on a sack and had to exit to the locker room with a left shoulder injury. Rookie Paxton Lynch entered the game and led Denver to a field goal before halftime. Score: Broncos 17, Bucs 7.

3rd quarter – The Broncos defense continues to impose its will on Winston and the Bucs offense forcing two three-and-outs. Lynch led the Broncos offense on a long drive that ended in a field goal to start the quarter. Lynch looked good with Denver in control of the game. Score: Broncos 20, Bucs 7.

4th quarter – Lynch threw his first career touchdown to receiver Emmanuel Sanders to put the Broncos up 20 points. Then it seemed the game would never end thanks to an 86-minute weather delay, but the Broncos protected their lead with a swarming and sacking defense. Score: Broncos 27, Bucs 7.

— Cameron Wolfe, The Denver Post

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