The 2022 Broncos were an absolute disaster. There is no getting around it. The offense scored a measly 16.9 points per game which was ranked last in the league. They won only 5 games and lost 11 of their last 14 after starting the season off 2-1. They led the league in penalties. Russell Wilson had his worst year by far throwing for 16 TDs and 11 ints while completing a career-low 60% completion. The Broncos had over 20 people go into the injured reserve which led the league. Everything that could have gone wrong this season did go wrong. However, despite all that, there is a little optimism going around dove valley on the outlook of this team for the 2023 season. First, let's briefly relive the painful 2022 season:
Week 1: Broncos @ Seahawks(MNF)
Score: 16-17 Hawks(L)
This game was not horrible as it is difficult to go back to your home grounds and win as it can be emotional and Russell Wilson certainly was emotional before the game. Unfortunately, the Broncos fumbled twice on the one-yard line as each running back fumbled once preventing the Broncos from any opportunity to score. Then came the infamous decision to kick a 63-yard field goal down 16-17 with 20 seconds left rather than letting your quarter of a billion-dollar QB convert a 4th and 5.
Week 2: Texans @ Broncos
Score: 16-9 Broncos(W)
The Broncos' home opener was not exactly thrilling as they once again logged 16 points against a bad Texans team. This was the game where it was clear Nathaniel Hackett was not fit to be a head coach of a team. Fans were counting down the play clock to help prevent delay-of-game penalties which the Broncos struggled with mightily in week 1. Hackett then had to hire Jerry Roseburg to help with time management.
Week 3: 49ers @ Broncos(SNF)
Score: 11-10 Broncos(W)
Looking back on this, how the hell did we beat the 49ers?!! I get that this isn't the same team as the team now has CMC and Brock Purdy has looked much better than Jimmy G but it's still crazy. This game was the opposite of pretty as the Broncos won the game 11-10. This might as well have been a high-scoring baseball game. However, fans were feeling pretty optimistic after this game as they believed the offense will eventually turn it around, the defense was balling, and Denver was tied for first in the west with KC at 2-1! Not too bad huh? Unfortunately, that optimism lasted a week.
Week 4: Broncos @ Raiders
Score: 23-32 Raiders(L)
Denver lost to a winless Raider team at that point. The offense did finally eclipse 20 points and played one of their finer games of the season and Russell Wilson also played a pretty good game logging 2 passing and 1 rushing TD. It was the defense, specifically, the run defense that struggled and they allowed Josh Jacobs to run them out of the building. Javonte Williams blew his knee and would miss the remainder of the season. Despite all that, there was still a renewed sense of hope as they were at .500 the offense finally looked decent and many people such as I believed the defense would not repeat a performance like this in a while.
Week 5: Colts @ Broncos(TNF)
Score: 9-12 Colts(L)
This is by far the worst game I have ever seen. The Broncos lost a game 12-9 in OT. Neither team scored a TD and Matt Ryan and Russel Wilson combined for 4 interceptions. It was awful to watch. Russell Wilson's 2 interceptions were atrocious and pretty much cost the Broncos the game and now the fans began to get restless.
Week 6: Chargers @ Broncos(MNF)
Score: 16-19 Bolts(L)
The Broncos played their 4th primetime game in 6 weeks and NFL fans were getting weary of watching this team. The Broncos, however, pleasantly surprised everyone for a quarter after jumping out to a 10-0 lead over the Chargers in which Russell Wilson started 10/10 with 116 yards and a TD. He was cooking. But of course, the Broncos were allergic to playing football for 4 quarters so that lasted for a quarter. The rest of the game was on par with what we've seen so far. Poor offense, great defense, and in OT a special teams blunder cost Denver the game putting them at 2-4 on the season.
Week 7: Jets @ Broncos
Score: 16-9 Jets(L)
The Broncos were facing a suddenly red-hot jets team that was 4-2 and had won 3 straight. The Broncos playing this game without Russ certainly did not help vs a stout Jets defense that held them to 9 points. Once again another TD-less game from the Broncos and dropped their 4th straight.
Week 8: Broncos @ Jaguars(London)
Score: 21-17 Broncos(W)
The Broncos finally managed to win a game in London. After a slow start, Russell Wilson put together a couple of scoring drives in a row. The defense once again came up clutch in the end sealing it with an interception. Looking back on it now this was certainly a quality win. Denver was 3-5 heading into the bye week and looked to string together some wins coming out of their bye week. Spoiler alert: they didn't
Week 9: Bye Week
Score: 20-0 Bye Week (L)
This is not even a joke. The Broncos managed to lose on their bye week. Several key players suffered hamstring injuries including Justin Simmons and KJ Hamler who we never saw for the rest of the season. Simmons came back a few games later but to somehow further injure the team on a bye week is an indictment on the strength and conditioning regimen of this team. Something the Broncos have to look into this offseason.
Week 10: Broncos @ Titans
Score: 17-10 Titans(L)
Denver jumped out to a 10-0 lead and once again ended up losing the game. This was a game the Broncos needed at 3-5 to turn around their season and injuries to Jeudy and the O-line prevented any real chance the Broncos had in the game, especially in crunch time. With the Broncos at 3-6, the season was slowly but surely slipping away from them.
Week 11: Raiders @ Broncos
Score: 22-16 Raiders(L)
Hackett once again made another change giving up play-calling duties to Klint Kubiak. Under Klint, the offense scored an opening drive TD and it looked to be the right move but as the game progressed the offense made the same mistakes they were making under Hackett and it also certainly did not help that Davante Adams torched the entire Denver secondary. This was the game that caused Melvin Gordon to be released as his fumbling issues got out of hand.
Week 12: Broncos @ Panthers
Score: 23-10 Panthers(W)
This was one of those games that I couldn't explain. Denver was competitive all season but laid an egg on the lowly Panthers. The defense looked like they quit and the offense was just being themselves. Mike Purcell was seen screaming at Russ while Hackett was standing right in front of them oblivious to the situation. The team was a mess.
Week 13: Broncos @ Ravens
Score: 10-9 Ravens (L)
Much better showing by the defense this game but the offense still was contributing nothing to the game as they had their 3rd touchdown-less game of the season. Denver was now 3-9 and it was time to turn the page to 2023.
Week 14: Chiefs @ Broncos
Score: 28-34 Chiefs(L)
Honestly one of the more watchable games of the season. After going down 27-0, the team fought their way back with a chance to win the game but Russ got concussed in the 4th quarter which derailed any chance of a comeback. Russ finally had a good game throwing for 3 TDs and 260+ yards.
Week 15: Cardinals @ Broncos
Score: 24-15 Broncos(W)
Denver finally got their 4th win and looked efficient in the win as well running for over 150 yards against a bad Cardinals Team backup Brett Rypien was efficient as well as the offense started showing signs of life and maybe just maybe Hackett could save his job. Then Christmas happened.
Week 16: Broncos @ Rams(Christmas)
Score 51-14 Jesus(L)
No explanation is needed. Hackett was fired after this. Russ was bad. The sky was falling.
Week 17: Broncos @ Chiefs
Score: 24-27 Chiefs(L)
The Broncos once again played the Chiefs tight but lost making that 15 straight losses to the team in Missouri. Russ played another good game running for 2 TDs and throwing for 1 as the offense looked much more competent under OC Justin Outten.
Week 18: Chargers @ Broncos
Score: 31-28 Broncos(W)
It was a nice way to end a tough season and Russ once again was very good, the run game was awesome with Latavius Murray and company going for more than 200 yards. The Chargers already had their seeding locked up but still for some reason kept their starters in on both sides of the ball for most of the game so the game by Russ and the offense certainly had some merit to it.
That was the 2022 season. Just be glad it is over and before I wrap up the blog, I will provide some things I am optimistic about:
Hackett seemed to be the issue, not Russ
Jerry Jeudy has been thriving as WR1
Justin Outten has called 2 very good games vs quality opponents
The last 2 games make the HC position for Broncos much more attractive
The defense will only get better with health next year
Tim Patrick and Javonte Williams will be back
I will always miss Broncos football no matter how bad they play. Onto 2023! Go Broncos!
Who should be the next HC?
Jim Harbaugh
Sean Payton
Dan Quinn
Other
2023 Opponents:
Comments