Michael Dixon
Statistically, Denver Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch struggled mightily against the Oakland Raiders in a Week 12 loss. But John Elway was encouraged.
Broncos GM John Elway to @BroncosTV on Paxton Lynch at OAK: "I thought he started pretty good. For the first start, I thought he did a nice job. I was proud of his toughness staying in there (w/high-ankle sprain)." pic.twitter.com/FXNdRyf3S8
— Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) November 28, 2017
We can agree on Lynch’s toughness. He clearly didn’t want to leave the game, even with an ankle injury that will have him out of action for 2-4 weeks.
With that said, it’s hard to find much else to really be happy about.
Lynch did rush for 20 yards on two carries, which is respectable. But passing the ball, he was 9-for-14 for a paltry 41 yards. Worse, the Broncos were shut out while he was out there. That included an interception in the end zone, which doubled as Oakland’s first interception of the season.
Lynch staying in the game was admirable. That said, his performance was rough. It went a long way towards the Broncos losing a winnable game. When he returns to the field, it will be important to see how Lynch bounces back from this. But objectively, he didn’t do much to build on.
