The Denver Broncos had a very rough season, going just 5-12 and missing the playoffs despite the acquisition of future Hall of Fame quarterback Russell Wilson.
But there is at least a trickle of optimism for them, as they have just hired new head coach Sean Payton, and Payton says he is excited about getting to coach Wilson.
Is Russell Wilson back now that Sean Payton is in town? pic.twitter.com/T8Yl3dRFgB
— PFF (@PFF) February 2, 2023
In 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson was considered one of the game’s premier signal-callers, and he led them to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and a world championship in the 2013 season while being named to the Pro Bowl nine times.
But the 2022 version of Wilson didn’t even remotely resemble his Seattle version.
He completed only 60.5 percent of his passes, threw just 16 touchdown passes and had an 84.4 passer rating, all of which were career lows.
Just two seasons ago, Wilson had a completion rate of 68.8 percent while throwing for 4,212 yards and 40 touchdowns while leading the Seahawks to a 12-4 record.
If he comes even close to that type of production in 2023, the Broncos should have at least a puncher’s chance at reaching the AFC Championship Game.
They haven’t made the playoffs since 2015, the year when Peyton Manning led them to a Super Bowl victory in his final game ever.
Peyton was the longtime coach of the New Orleans Saints, and along with Drew Brees, another quarterback who is headed for Canton, Ohio, he drove them to a win in Super Bowl XLIV over Manning’s Indianapolis Colts.
The Saints often had one of the NFL’s highest-rated offenses, and that is an improvement Denver would love to see, as it was saddled with one of the league’s worst offenses anyone can remember seeing.
