Drew Lock leads one-play game-winning drive in 1st career start

Drew Lock threw two touchdown passes as he led the Denver Broncos past the Los Angeles Chargers.

Drew Lock made his first NFL appearance Sunday and the rookie quarterback picked up a victory in his first start.

Not only that, but his first NFL touchdown will be quite memorable.

The Broncos won the game 23-20, but Lock also got the No. 1 play on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays from Sunday with his first-ever NFL TD. He hit wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the end zone on a 26-yard pass for a 7-0 lead over division rival Los Angeles Chargers.

Later in the quarter, Lock nailed Sutton in the back of the end zone for a second score. That made it 14-0 as it quickly appeared that the Broncos made the right decision in activating their second-round pick.

The quarterback struggled in the preseason and was placed on injured reserve after a right thumb injury he suffered in August against the San Francisco 49ers. He began to practice this month and was activated Saturday before being announced the starter Sunday.

Lock and the offense cooled off the first quarter, but the quarterback made one last play to bring home his first-career victory.

The Chargers tied the game at 20 and the Broncos took over with just nine seconds left on the clock. With time for just two plays, Lock threw a deep pass to Sutton, who was cut off by Chargers defender Casey Hayward. The referee threw a flag for pass interference, setting Broncos kicker Brandon McManus up with a 53-yard field goal and the win.

The veteran drilled the game-winner and Lock danced off the field the victor.

Lock explained what he was thinking after the flag was thrown to the CBS crew after the game.

"“That was my first time ever really seeing that flag get enforced,” Lock said of the pass interference spot foul. “Most of the time in college football, that’s 10, 15 yards. I was like wait, the ball’s up there? We have a chance to win now.”"

Lock went 18 of 28 for 134 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. He’ll move on to next week’s game in Houston against the Texans as the presumable starter for the rest of the season, and the Broncos hope even longer.

Media members now are getting a glimpse of the swagger he had at Mizzou over the past four years. After Lock and the Broncos take on the Texans, they head to Kansas City for a homecoming matchup with the Chiefs before two home games against the Detroit Lions and the Oakland Raiders.

For now, the Lock era has begun at Mile High. And it was a fun opener for the former Mizzou football QB.