5 takeaways from Broncos 22-14 loss to Seahawks in preseason Game 2

The Broncos dropped preseason Game 2 to the Seahawks. What were the biggest takeaways?

The Denver Broncos were unable to get the 'W' in Seattle, falling to the Seahawks 22-14. It was an exhibition game in which the Broncos started out relatively strong and went into halftime with a three-point lead. 

But in the second half, it became a slopfest for Denver, replete with miscues, penalties and an overall lack of execution. In Vic Fangio's 'death by inches' estimation, it was a mostly disappointing finish, with a few encouraging highlights, to a promising start. 

Paxton Lynch had the game of his life against Denver's third-team defense. No doubt that'll stick in the fanbase's craw. But I remind you, it was an exhibition game. 

Lynch is four years into his pro career and he's still a No. 3 QB. Let that console you and give the man his props for a modest victory. 

What did we learn about the Broncos? Quite a lot, actually. Let me share five takeaways. 

Lock shows progress

Drew Lock calls the signals at the line of scrimmage in Seattle.  :: Alika Jenner/Getty

Drew Lock didn't blow the doors down, exactly, but he looked significantly better in his second NFL game. Lock showed improved poise and command, and flashed that arm strength a time or two. 

But two additional attributes we saw on Thursday night in Seattle were Lock's anticipation and athleticism to pick up yards with his legs and move the chains. 

The highlight of Lock's night was his first throw on third down, wherein he showed poise in the face of interior pressure and fired a dime to TE Troy Fumagalli on a seam out-route that hit his target in the breadbasket right as he came out of his break. It was a big boy throw and an encouraging flash of what this exciting young player has it in him to become. 

The lowlight to Lock's night was the interception he threw on third down with the Broncos trailing by eight and two minutes left to go. He missed the blitzing DB and was hit as he threw, resulting in his first NFL interception. 

Lock showed signs of life later in the fourth quarter, moving the ball and throwing his first NFL TD, but honestly, even if he'd been pulled to open the final period, he accomplished at least what I had hoped to see. He showed progress in Game 2.

That throw he made on the two-point conversion, threading the needle, was another showcase of his special arm talent. He's still raw but the tools are there. 

The safety Lock took wasn't entirely his fault. Backed up near the goal-line on a 3rd-&-long, the young QB was sacked by a blitzing linebacker that should have been picked up by RB Khafani Muhammad to give Seattle two additional points. 

In 48 snaps, Lock finished the game 17-of-28 for 180 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. His QB rating was 76.5. 

If Lock's performance over Game 1 to Game 2 was any indication, he'll learn from his mistakes in Seattle and be better for it in next week's game. 

Flacco's debut solid if unspectacular

Joe Flacco surveys the defense from under center in Seattle.  :: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

Joe Flacco made his Broncos debut on Thursday night. The Broncos received the ball to open the game, and Flacco led the (mostly) first-team offense on a 12-play, 78-yard scoring drive that culminated in a Brandon McManus field goal. 

A few things jumped out to me on that opening drive that I'll get to shortly. First, let's focus on Flacco. 

The 12th-year veteran looked like a significantly more polished and poised product than any other Broncos QB we've seen in preseason action thus far. That was at least encouraging to see. 

Flacco went through his progressions, found his targets and finished the night 3-of-4 for 19 yards and a QB rating of 84.4. The Broncos offense appeared as if it might have something cooking, with the sum being greater than its parts. 

“We just hit some simple things," Flacco said after he took a seat. "I thought the line played really well for the time I was in there. The backs did a really great job. Yeah, you'd love to punch the ball in the end zone; it would make you feel a lot better about things, but like I said, we did some really simple things and I thought we did them well.”

Winfree shows out in the clutch...again

Juwann Winfree runs a route in Seattle.  :: Stephen Brashear/Getty

After a quiet start to the night, Juwann Winfree had yet to make a play by more than halfway through the fourth quarter. 

However, after Drew Lock made a few nice throws (and benefited from a couple Seahawks defensive penalties), culminating in a four-yard TD strike to RB Devontae Jackson, Winfree was on deck to make one of the biggest plays of the night for his team. 

On the ensuing two-point try, Lock threaded the needle and Winfree hauled in the pass, taking a massive sandwich shot for his efforts. Conversion good!

Winfree caught the game-winning TD pass late in the first preseason game, in acrobatic fashion, and proved that when the chips are down, that's when he plays his best ball. 

Risner looking long and strong

Dalton Risner in Seattle :: Alika Jenner/Getty

Dalton Risner played a couple series but the highlight of the rookie's night had to be the block he laid on a Seahawks defensive tackle that sprung Royce Freeman for a 50-yard gain on Denver's opening possession. 

Royce Freeman with a 50-yard burst!

🏃‍♂️💨#DENvsSEA

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— PFF (@PFF) August 9, 2019

Risner's presence could have a stabilizing force on LT Garett Bolles, if the early returns are any indication. The Broncos really needed to hit on their premium-round picks again and thus far, it looks like the team did just that. 

Noah Fant did not drop a ball on Thursday night, finishing with a modest two receptions (on two targets) for 14 yards, while the previously mentioned Drew Lock improved by leaps and bounds over his debut. 

Phillip Lindsay poised for a big year

Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay totes the rock vs. Seattle in preseason Game 2.  :: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

For those worried that Phillip Lindsay's whirlwind Pro Bowl rookie campaign might have been an outlier, I'd put that idea to bed. Lindsay's 2019 debut was replete with that explosive, twitchy play-making ability that made him a household name. 

He only saw snaps on the opening possession, but he touched the ball five times. It only culminated in 19 yards from scrimmage and his long was a 10-yard carry but he looked elusive and hungry. 

Phillip Lindsay is on deck for a big year two in Denver. 

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen.