Kiszla vs. O’Halloran: Could Broncos quarterback Drew Lock get in game at Cleveland?

Kiz: Reeling with a three-game losing streak, beaten by the hated Raiders on home turf, the Broncos are in deep trouble. On a painfully short week of preparation, they either will find a way to win Thursday in Cleveland or be dismissed as the same sorry team that has missed the NFL playoffs for five years running. So if Denver falls behind against the Browns, what are the chances coach Vic Fangio benches quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and gives Drew Lock a chance to be a hero?

O’Halloran: Semi-startling to consider this as a viable option after the Broncos’ 3-0 start (Bridgewater playing turnover-free) and Lock’s underwhelming second half against Baltimore (12 of 21, 113 yards, 1 INT) when he took for a concussed Teddy in Week 4. But that’s where the Broncos are and where we are. What can Fangio do to provide some energy? What can he do to make more big plays possible? If the Broncos fall behind the Browns, yes, I would give Lock a chance if only to tell him, “Throw it long … a lot,” but I put the actual chances at Fangio making the switch at, oh, 4%.

Kiz: Under absurdly relentless pressure from the Las Vegas pass rush, I thought Bridgewater actually played relatively well because when a quarterback barely has time to get his feet set in the pocket, turnovers are certain to follow. Over the course of 5 1/2 games, his quarterback rating is a very respectable 100.9, which puts him in the middle-of-the-league pack, alongside Carson Wentz and Baker Mayfield. But here’s why I’d be tempted to give Lock a shot: Is this offense built to score 30 points with Bridgewater running the show?

O’Halloran: No way … maybe not even 25 points. This offense takes too long to score points; their scoring drives against the Raiders were eight, nine, 12 and eight plays. And they can’t really block anybody, either — Las Vegas had its way against the Broncos’ offensive line using a four-man rush. Falling behind and needing to stretch the field would be the only reason to give Lock a shot even though he was below average in that department last year. Where Bridgewater must improve is his deep-ball accuracy.

Kiz: Starting with linebacker Von Miller, the locker room has been sold on Bridgewater as a leader the team can trust, in good times and bad. That’s the main reason why I believe it will be difficult for Fangio to bench Bridgewater. While inserting Lock could provide the offense with a jolt of energy, it also would foster doubt among players that any of the foundational ideas pushed by this coaching staff have any real merit. So I say let Bridgewater play from start to finish against Cleveland. And should the Broncos lose? Start Lock against Washington on Halloween. Trick or treat.

O’Halloran: I would have Lock schooled up this week on a hurry-up drive, a package of passing plays the Broncos could use to change things up against Cleveland. Fangio should use the 96 hours between the Raiders debacle and the Browns kickoff to ask himself, “How can I be bold? How I push my coaches to think outside the box? How can I give my locker room hope?” Is it Lock? It’s a Hail Mary but this is the time to take chances. The Broncos are 3-3, but it feels like they’re 1-5.

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