The Bronco’s vacation is over. It’s time for the team to get back to work and prepare to face Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. After a dominant win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the team believes they can keep winning. All of Denver is holding its breath, waiting to see if these Broncos are for real. But as the season reaches its midway point, there’s a lot on the line for the man at the helm of Denver’s offense. Russell Wilson is playing to stay with the Broncos, and maybe playing to stay in the NFL. Wilson has been excelling under Sean Payton. What are the lofty expectations he has to reach if he wants to be QB1 next year?
How Russell Wilson Can Make A Case To Stay With The Broncos
Why Wilson’s Success Isn’t Enough
So far this season, Russell Wilson has been electric on the stat line. He has 16 touchdowns (5th in the NFL), has a passer rating of 101.7 (5th in the NFL), and only has 4 interceptions while being sacked third most in the league. After a year where he lost the Broncos more games than he won them, Russell Wilson has bounced back as one of the top quarterbacks in the league. It seems that Payton and his offensive genius have allowed Wilson to get back to form.
Though Wilson has had success, the Broncos sit at 3-5. Wilson is no longer losing games for the Broncos, but he isn’t winning games for them either. As a player who is paid an average of $49 million a year (5th among QBs in the NFL), not losing the Broncos games is the minimum requirement. With the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson had 37 game-winning drives and led his team to 10 straight winning seasons and the Broncos paid him to do the same.
Sadly, Russell Wilson hasn’t had the same results with the Broncos. Wilsons is now 7-16 with the Broncos and has continued to come up short on big drives in the fourth quarter. This lack of success has worn out Wilson’s welcome in Denver. Most assume that he will be shown the door this offseason unless the team has success.
What The Broncos Are Looking For From Russell Wilson
It is time for Russell Wilson to prove himself as the leader and quarterback that the Broncos need. If Wilson wants to keep his job and reputation intact he will have to prove that he can not only play well but win games. He will have to become the Russell Wilson of old, making spectacular plays that seem unfathomable when they happen. These goals seem lofty and almost unfair to put on a player, but the Broncos paid Wilson with the idea that he could meet them.
For the next nine games, Wilson will have to prove that his play can match his salary. This means that Wilson will have to do something that hasn’t been done in Denver for eight years, he has to make the playoffs. The Broncos are under .500 by two games and their upcoming opponents are anything but easy. The biggest tests for Wilson will be the Bills and the Lions. If Wilson can lead the Broncos past these juggernauts, he could make a case for staying in Denver.
What Russell Wilson Is Playing For
Since the trade happened, Wilson and his character have been attacked quite a bit. A year later, Wilson is now playing for more than his job with the Broncos. He’s playing for a starting role in the NFL. If the Broncos cut Wilson and decide to pay the rest of his salary, he will be looked at as one of the worst trades in NFL history. After that, there’s a strong possibility many teams will avoid signing him due to a tainted image. Wilson is almost 35 now, many teams will only see an aging star who lost his magic touch.
Wilson has a lot on the line for the rest of the season. If he proves himself to be the quarterback the Broncos have been paying all that money to, Russell Wilson will have a starting job in the NFL next year. If not, he may never have a starting role in the NFL again.
Main Photo: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
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