Bridgewater starts out slow

Quarterback finishes with TD in preseason finale against Rams

New Broncos starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater overcame a slow start to complete his final five pass attempts in Saturday night’s 17-12 preseason win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Coach Vic Fangio played his starting offense and defense for three series apiece in their final tune-up before the Sept. 12 opener at the New York Giants.

The Broncos (3-0) completed their second undefeated preseason since 2006; they went 4-0 in ’17.

Bridgewater, named the Broncos’ fifth opening-game starter in as many years, started 1 of 6, but went 5 of 5 for 58 yards on his final drive, capped by an eight-yard touchdown pass to receiver Courtland Sutton.

For the preseason, Bridgewater’s seven drives ended with six scores and he was 22-of-30 passing for 241 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 130.0 rating.

The Broncos’ defense, including outside linebacker Von Miller in his first appearance since last September’s ankle injury, was on the field for 24 snaps over three possessions and allowed two field goals.

Next up for the Broncos is the final cut-down to 53 players by 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Running back Melvin Gordon, who sat out the wins over Minnesota and Seattle with a minor groin injury, represented the first-drive offense, carrying three times for gains of five, six and 15 yards, moving the Broncos to the Rams 36. But Bridgewater threw incomplete on three consecutive plays — a drop by fullback/tight end Andrew Beck, a throw behind Sutton and a pass intended to receiver Tim Patrick that was broken up. Brandon Mcmanus’ 54yard field goal gave the Broncos a 3-0 lead.

Bridgewater’s second drive was a three-and-out when he threw wide of Patrick on third-and-2.

Bridgewater’s final drive started at his 25-yard line. He threw eight yards to tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (his first game since last November’s torn ACL) and, two plays later, 20 yards to tight end Eric Saubert. Three plays later, on third and 7 from the Rams’ 39, Bridgewater found Sutton (in his first game since last September’s torn ACL) for 19 yards on an out route. Consecutive six-yard carries by running back Royce Freeman set up a first-and-goal and Bridgewater, after being flushed out of the pocket, threw the touchdown to Sutton.

Drew Lock played the final two series of the first half — a three-and-out and a sack/fumble that led to the Rams’ third field goal — and the first two possession of the second half, completing 5 of 7 passes for 67 yards and one TD.

Defensively, Miller was active in his appearance, making two tackles in the run game.

The Rams went three-and-out to start the game. On their second series, they stacked together gains of nine, seven, nine and seven yards before stalling at the Broncos’ five-yard line (incompletion and quarterback Bryce Perkins scramble for no gain). Matt Gay’s field goal was good from 23 yards.

The Rams’ third drive started at their 22. Perkins’ 10yard scramble converted a third-and-1 to the Broncos’ 48. The Rams reached the 29, but Miller tackled Perkins for a one-yard gain and on the starters’ final snap, Fangio called a six-man pressure and inside linebacker Josey Jewell sacked Perkins. Gay hit a 53-yard field goal.

The Broncos’ first-team defense gave up 87 yards in three possessions.

Lock started the second half and had another three-andout when he overthrew a deep pass to receiver Tyrie Cleveland on third down.

Lock got going after the Rams took a 12-10 lead on Gay’s 23-yard field goal. Twenty-one yards to receiver Trinity Benson on an in-breaking route, a roll-right and 13-yard completion to receiver Kendall Hinton on a crosser and 13 yards to Benson on consecutive plays. Four plays later, Lock threw a seven-yard touchdown to tight end Austin Fort with 4:43 left in the third, putting Denver back ahead.

In the final minute, the Rams drove to the Broncos’ 22yard line. Rookie safety Jamar Johnson broke up a seconddown pass in the end zone with 10 seconds remaining and after a Rams false start penalty, Perkins threw incomplete twice on the final two plays.