ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Six weeks doesn’t always seem like a long time, but in the world of quarterback evolution it can be a generation.

As in, a kid grows up and can discuss things with the adults.

And after six consecutive starts for quarterback Brock Osweiler -- the team is 4-2 in those games -- Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak certainly likes how Osweiler has played in some tight spots with the swirl of what’s-happening-with-Peyton-Manning around him. But the measure of Osweiler’s progress, Kubiak said following Monday's win over the Cincinnati Bengals, may be the "feedback" the quarterback gives.

“Where I see the growth ... his input, that’s where I see growth. He talks during the game a lot more now than he did in the first two starts," Kubiak said. “His opinion -- 'Kube, I don’t like that, gimme this' -- that’s where I see the growth and that’s his confidence in what we’re doing, confidence in his teammates and what he’s trying to get done."

The Broncos’ level of confidence in Osweiler showed as well when Monday, facing a 14-0 deficit, they decided to turn Osweiler loose and let him work. The Broncos went no huddle with three wide receivers in the formation much of the time -- or exactly the way they would have picked up the pace with Manning behind center.

It worked and Osweiler showed he has learned his lessons well in the 43-month wait as a professional to start his first game.

“That’s what you see," said wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. “You see a guy who’s learned with Peyton, who does his work, and when we changed things up he was ready to go."

The Broncos went the no-huddle route on their last possession of the first half. At that point Osweiler was 8-of-13 passing for 53 yards. He went 4-of-4 for 66 yards on that drive -- which finished with a field goal -- and the Broncos stayed in the up-tempo look for much of the second half.

In all, Osweiler was 19-of-26 passing for 246 yards with a touchdown after the move to the up-tempo look. So, there is a comfort level there and the lure will be to try it moving forward.

Here are some other items off the game video that come with that:

The issue will be protection. Osweiler still takes too many hits and his trips to the training room over the last two weeks (left shoulder, left elbow) are proof of why that isn’t a wise vocational decision. He has to be more willing to dump the ball. He took a sack Monday night on a bootleg play, and many in the league would say the first rule of bootleg plays is if the unblocked defender didn’t buy the fake and flashes in front of you, get the ball out. So, while the Broncos may feel like opening up the formation is the way to move things along, the defensive response will be to go after the quarterback. The Broncos will likely face a team, or teams, in the postseason that blitz more than the Bengals feel like they need to. Osweiler has been sacked 22 times in just under 26 quarters of work. Osweiler is taking a sack on every 12.7 dropbacks (excluding dropbacks that turned into rushing attempts). By contrast, Manning, who has a higher-than-usual pace in sacks behind some spotty play up front, has been sacked once per 22.5 dropbacks this season.

C.J. Anderson's 39-yard touchdown run helped save both the Broncos’ day and the team’s rushing output. On their other 20 carries in the game, including three by Osweiler, the Broncos averaged 3.7 yards per carry. And take out Anderson's 14-yarder later in the fourth quarter and the Broncos averaged 3.2 yards per carry on their other 19 attempts. That kind of output at the point of attack will not get it done in January.