The Denver Broncos’ offense has underwhelmed since Peyton Manning’s retirement in 2016, a trend that continued in 2021.
The Broncos had a bottom-10 offense in scoring last year (19.7 points per game) as quarterback play continued to hold the team back. Denver opted not to re-sign veteran Teddy Bridgewater (he’s now a backup with the Dolphins) and the Broncos included fourth-year QB Drew Lock in a trade to acquire Russell Wilson from the Seahawks in March. Denver paid a high price in the trade — three total players and five draft picks in exchange for Wilson and one pick — but it was a price worth paying for a franchise QB.
The Broncos have missed the playoffs in each of the last six seasons since Manning’s retirement, primarily due to underwhelming play on offense. Wilson, under Hackett’s guidance, will be asked to fix that offense and all signs to him being up to the task.
Wilson had a down season last year, missing three games with a finger injury, but his 25 touchdown passes were still more than any Broncos QB in a single season since Manning and Wilson’s six interceptions marked a low no Denver QB has hit since the Manning era (among full-time starters).
Even “down year” numbers for Wilson would be a big upgrade for the Broncos, and a change of scenery with an exuberant coaching staff should help the QB return to his elite level, perhaps even nearing a 40-touchdown season like he had in 2020.
This post originally appeared in a special edition of USA TODAY Sports: NFL Forecast 2022.
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