Brock Osweiler stars as Denver downs the Colts

BROCK Osweiler was a $93 million laughing stock in the NFL, but he had the perfect to all the naysayers on Friday.

Brock Osweiler was on song.

THE Denver Broncos know where they stand in the NFL. There will be no playoffs and no winning record this season — but at least after Brock Osweiler’s relief appearance on Friday (AEDT), they’ll no longer be talking about an away losing streak.

Osweiler ran for one touchdown and threw for two more after replacing an injured Trevor Siemian at quarterback, leading the Broncos back from a 10-point deficit to beat the Indianapolis Colts 25-13 and snap an eight-game skid away from home.

“It’s just fun to win,” Denver coach Vance Joseph said. “It started Monday, getting ready for this game. It’s tough to play two games in five days and you have to embrace it.”

The Broncos’ win over the Colts was their first win outside Denver since December 4, 2016.

And now that they’ve averted the possibility of their first winless season on the road since 1964, the Broncos can go after their third straight victory when they visit Washington in nine days.

The problem is, Joseph doesn’t know yet who will be starting at quarterback. Siemian left after being driven into the ground by linebacker Barkevious Mingo on Denver’s second series and was diagnosed with a sprained left shoulder. Joseph couldn’t say whether a few extra off days would be enough to get back Siemian back on the field.

Osweiler had a rare reason to smile.

It might not matter if Osweiler continues to play as well as he did against the reeling Colts (3-11).

The one-time quarterback of the future in Denver rekindled those memories by going 12 of 17 for 194 yards and scoring on an 18-yard run that ended with a dive into the end zone.

“Whether you are the first string, second string, third string or fourth string, you are getting paid to be a professional quarterback and be prepared,” Osweiler said. “That’s really it. I was just simply doing my job.”

Previously an expensive NFL punchline, Osweiler recorded a quarterback rating (QBR) of 99.2 — the best of any quarterback in the league this season.

Brock Osweiler's 99.2 Total QBR tonight is the highest in the NFL for any QB in a game this season (min. 20 action plays). It's the highest Total QBR in a game for a non-starting QB in the 12 seasons for which ESPN has Total QBR data. pic.twitter.com/z8DUU4qfhw

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 15, 2017

The 27-year-old is back at the Broncos after being drafted in 2012 before signing a four-year, $93 million deal with the Houston Texans. In his first year at the franchise he threw for a horrendous 16 intercepts — a new low for the team — and was traded to the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns were the worst team in the league but embarrassingly, Osweiler wasn’t called upon for a single game and was shown the door after just six months, Cleveland favouring rookie play caller DeShone Kizer over him.

This year the Broncos signed Osweiler to a one-year deal despite him having a horrendous record that made him a laughing stock in the football world. At the time he was recruited, he’d thrown 21 intercepts compared to 18 touchdowns in his past 18 games as a starting QB.

But his performance to guide his side to victory over the Colts was the perfect response to all the haters.

After Indianapolis scored the first 10 points, they gave up Osweiler’s scoring run. And after taking a 13-7 lead early in the third quarter, they allowed Osweiler to hook up with Cody Latimer on a 22-yard touchdown pass, Jeff Heuerman on a 54-yard touchdown pass and Latimer on a two-point conversion to seal the game and Indy’s first losing season at home in six years.

“You stick with it, you learn the tough lessons and if you learn from it, it will be good down the road,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said.

— with staff writers

Originally published as Brock Osweiler stars as Denver downs the Colts