In Trevor Siemian's senior season at Northwestern, he threw for seven touchdowns in 11 games. Flash-forward two years, and Siemian is coming off a four-touchdown performance in his first NFL road start.
It's amazing what a season of tutelage under Peyton Manning, plus a stacked roster, can do for a young quarterback.
Here are some numbers to know about the Broncos' win over Cincinnati, before you start thinking about Tampa Bay.
2 — The number of passes Siemian completed that traveled 20-plus yards in the air downfield. In the two games prior, Siemian recorded just one such completion.
Siemian connected with Emmanuel Sanders on a 41-yard strike in the second quarter, and he hit Demaryius Thomas for a 55-yard bomb to ice the game in the fourth. Both resulted in touchdowns.
Sometimes you've just gotta dial up "Da Bomb," man.
20 — The number of times Siemian targeted Thomas (six catches, 100 yards, one TD) and Sanders (nine catches, 117 yards, two TD). The previous high for combined targets for those two? Fifteen.
141 — Siemian's QB rating with a clean pocket, according to Pro Football Focus.
49.6 — Siemian's QB rating under pressure. PFF says he was pressured only eight times.
3 — Shane Ray sacks of Andy Dalton. Ray got the start with DeMarcus Ware sidelined, and the second-year player out of Missouri made the most of his opportunity.
“They tried to block me one-on-one with a tight end," Ray told the Denver Post after the game. "I don’t think that’s a good idea."
Clearly. Ray looks well on his way to eclipsing the four sacks he recorded as a rookie.
2,700 — Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall recorded nine tackles in Week 3, so that means he'll donate $2,700 to community groups.
Marshall, who continued to kneel during the national anthem in protest of racial inequality, is giving $300 per tackle this season to bring about positive change.
