DENVER BRONCOS
2021 Record - 7-10-0
Head Coach - Nathaniel Hackett
New Additions - Russell Wilson (QB), Randy Gregory (LB), D.J. Jones (DL), K'Waun Williams (CB), Alex Singleton (LB), Billy Turner (OL)
Offensive Rank in 2021 - 19th (331 YPG); Scoring - 23rd (19.7 PPG)
Defensive Rank in 2021 - 8th (326 YPG); Scoring - 3rd (18.9 PPG)
Russell Wilson comes into Denver to take over as the starting quarterback after ten seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson passed for 3,113 yards in 2021 with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions and also scored two rushing touchdowns while missing time with various injuries. He will have wide receivers Jerry Jeudy (38 receptions for 467 yards) and Courtland Sutton (58, 776, two TD) along with rookie Montrell Washington (Samford), Seth Williams, KJ Hamier and Kendall Hilton. The tight ends include Albert Okwuegbunam, Eric Tomlinson and rookie Greg Dulcich (UCLA). WR Tim Patrick is out this season after suffering a knee injury. The running tandem includes Javonte Williams (903 yards, 4.4 YPC average and four TD with 43 receptions for 316 yards and three TD) and Melvin Gordon, who had 918 rushing yards (4.5 YPC) and scored eight touchdowns last season.
Dre'Mont Jones had 5 1/2 QB sacks last year and plays the end spot opposite DeShawn Williams. Randy Gregory is a linebacker who had six sacks in 2021 with Dallas and will team with Bradley Chubb and Alex Singleton (137 tackles in 2021), who comes over this season from Philadelphia. Rookie pick Nick Bonitto (Oklahoma) is another option on the edge position. The secondary has Pat Surtain II (four interceptions) at cornerback along with Ronald Darby. The safeties are Kareem Jackson and Justin Simmons, who led the team with five interceptions.
Outlook for 2022 season - After finishing last in the rugged AFC West division a year ago, the Broncos went all in by obtaining Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks and bringing in some defensive stalwarts to help out an already solid unit. New Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett will be looking for positive results with Wilson running the offense.
The Broncos have some weapons in the passing attack at wide receiver, but losing Tim Patrick (team leading five TD receptions last year) to a knee injury hurts, but in order to stay afloat in the division, Denver must move ahead with the players they have. The running tandem of Williams and Gordon provides a one-two punch that keeps things balanced. Wilson can still scramble when necessary, but it would be better for him to not have to do that as injuries have been catching up with him in recent years.
As long as the defense plays steady as it usually does and the offense can score more points (the Broncos averaged under 20 points a game in 2021), then perhaps they can contend for a playoff spot. Make no mistake, the AFC in general is loaded and the AFC West could very well be the best division in the NFL this season. Time will tell what this team can do, but there is optimism in the Mile High City for the upcoming season.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Seattle
Week Two - vs. Houston
Week Three - vs. San Francisco
Week Four - at Las Vegas
Week Five - vs. Indianapolis
Week Six - at L.A. Chargers
Week Seven - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week Eight - vs. Jacksonville (London, England)
Week Nine - BYE
Week Ten - at Tennessee
Week Eleven - vs. Las Vegas
Week Twelve - at Carolina
Week Thirteen - at Baltimore
Week Fourteen - vs. Kansas City
Week Fifteen - vs. Arizona
Week Sixteen - at L.A. Rams
Week Seventeen - at Kansas City
Week Eighteen - vs. L.A. Chargers
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