CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- It's Brock Week. That's not to be confused with Shark Week. But no mistake, the Broncos defense can't wait to sink its fangs into Denver's former starting quarterback.
Osweiler bolted for Houston in March, lured by a four-year, $72-million deal with $36 million guaranteed. The Broncos, frustrated by their inability to contact Osweiler directly in free agency, countered with a big four-year, $64 million. They were uncomfortable that figure, and prepared to move on when Osweiler left.
Teammates weren't happy with Osweiler's decision. They are looking forward to seeing him in a different uniform.
"There's no ill will toward Brock. I am happy he got paid," linebacker Brandon Marshall said. "But it's competition. We want to kill him."
If not for Osweiler, the Broncos would have not reached the Super Bowl. Denver went 5-2 in his starts, and claimed homefield advantage in the playoffs. Kubiak benched Osweiler in the regular-season finale, putting the wheels in motion for his departure. The Broncos committed five turnovers when Osweiler was in the game against San Diego. However, Kubiak didn't sit Osweiler for the stats. He needed the quarterback to cattleprod a team that was lifeless with a playoff No. 1 seed hanging in the balance. When Peyton Manning entered after serving as a healthy backup for the first time since 1994 at Tennessee, the Broncos rallied for the win. Osweiler never took another snap.
His spot as Houston's starter appeared in jeopardy on Sunday as he completed 12 of 24 passes for 89 yards deep into the fourth quarter. However, Osweiler produced a comeback win in overtime, solidifying his status, and silencing, if for this week, his growing critics.
"He's a gunslinger. He's also forcing a lot of throws. We know that he left us," Chris Harris Jr. said. "It's going to be great. I am pretty sure that he wants to win, and we want to beat him bad and get a lot of interceptions."
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