As the free agency period comes to a close, the Denver Broncos are poised to win the Super Bowl. Here are 3 reasons why they can do it in 2022.
If I said the Denver Broncos will win Super Bowl 57, I’d get blasted in the comments. Well, the Denver Broncos can win Super Bowl 57.
Surely with a new coaching staff and new quarterback, it’s unlikely, but I think if anything, it just got much more likely that the team can win the big game in 2022.
When the Russell Wilson trade happened, the Denver Broncos instantly become playoff contenders. To me, I think that is the bare minimum. If Denver sincerely cannot make the playoffs in 2022, there’s an issue.
I do think this team has vaulted itself into Super Bowl contention, even in the loaded AFC. Obviously, if I’m going to make a very aggressive statement like this, I need to back it up.
That’s precisely why I’m typing this article.
Some may disagree regardless, but I do think there is a viable path for the team into Super Bowl 57 in 2022.
Three reasons why Denver Broncos can win Super Bowl in 2022
1. Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford
Both Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford are perfect reasons why the Denver Broncos can win Super Bowl 57.
Both players won Super Bowls in their first season with a new team.
Both the Buccaneers and Rams dumped their good-but-not-great quarterbacks in Jameis Winston and Jared Goff for elite signal-callers.
Firstly, Russell Wilson is better than Matthew Stafford. Wilson has won the most games in NFL history by a player in their first 10 seasons. Wilson has also won a Super Bowl before and appeared in another.
So, he has an exponentially better resume than Stafford.
No one’s accomplishments can touch Brady’s, but the 2019 Bucs and 2021 Broncos have some similarities.
Both teams had good defenses, great weapons on offense, and were being held back by a quarterback. Jameis Winston threw 30 interceptions, which was the biggest reason for their lack of success. As for Teddy Bridgewater, he was simply not good enough to push the ball downfield consistently.
I do wonder if Rams’ and Buccaneers’ fans both thought that winning a Super Bowl in 2021 and 2020 was premature? It’s funny because both clubs went through a bit of turmoil during their respective seasons. In 2020, the Buccaneers lost three of four games during their 2020 season, and the Rams lost three games in a row in 2021.
Clearly, it was not all easygoing for both teams, but they managed to get through it.
With Denver’s third-ranked scoring defense, elite receivers, and running back, why can’t Russell Wilson follow in Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford’s footsteps in 2022 and win the Super Bowl? We have 2 teams worth of evidence.
Three reasons why Denver Broncos can win Super Bowl in 2022
2. Russell Wilson has done this before
Russell Wilson has been in the big game before. Twice.
Why can’t he get back in his first year in Denver? Wilson is an elite quarterback who is going into the Hall of Fame. In 10 years, Wilson has won 104 regular-season games and boasts a 9-7 playoff record, throwing 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in those 12 games.
He’s got 8 Pro Bowls and has produced at an efficient, high level most of his career.
His record and accomplishments speak for themselves, and Wilson has done a lot of his winning with a worse roster than he currently has in Denver. Russell Wilson has never had a combination of competent offensive line play, elite receivers, and a great running back all at once.
Couple that with Denver’s stout defense, which wasn’t present in his last few years in Seattle.
He’s also playing for a General Manager who has shown a strong capability to draft quality players, something Seattle General Manager John Schneider hasn’t been able to do consistently.
People seem to think that Wilson is approaching the end of his career, or is out of his prime, but I don’t see any evidence of that.
He injured his finger in a freak accident during the 2021 season, which caused him to miss games for the first time in his career. He also managed to pass for 25 touchdowns on just six interceptions in his 14 games played in 2021.
If he had played a full 17 game season, he’d have thrown 30 touchdowns on seven interceptions. On what planet would that be a down year for anyone?
Russell Wilson is still firmly in his prime, and he’s been in and won on the big stage before. There is no reason he can’t do it in Denver.
Three reasons why Denver Broncos can win Super Bowl in 2022
3. Denver has elite players
The Denver Broncos have elite players, plain and simple. If they don’t have elite players, they at least have very good position groups as a whole.
Quarterbacks can’t win games on their own, and Denver has a plethora of talented players who will help this team win a ton of games.
In 2019, with many of the same players, they managed to win seven games with Joe Flacco, Brandon Allen, and Drew Lock at quarterback.
In 2021, they managed to win seven games with Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock at the helm, with the same players.
They were able to do this mostly because of an elite defense without a consistent pass rush.
Obviously, the offensive talent is as good as any team in the NFL. Denver will score a ton of points and boast a top 10 offense, at least. The offensive line is good enough, and the defense is great.
Not only is Denver returning an elite secondary, but they also added big-time players to their front seven.
Take a look at some of the past Super Bowl winners across the years. Many of these teams relied on playing efficient football on offense and shutting down the opponent on defense.
The 2013 Seahawks, 2014 Patriots, 2015 Broncos, 2016 Patriots, 2018 Patriots, and 2020 Buccaneers all relied on their defenses heavily to close out their games.
Denver had the third-ranked scoring defense in 2021 without a consistent pass rush. Some of that is due to Vic Fangio’s expertise, but it was also due to Denver having elite players on all 3 levels of the defense.
Denver Broncos 4 free agents to sign after solidifying offensive line
The Denver Broncos signed Billy Turner to solidify their offensive line, filling the right tackle spot. Which free agents should be up next for this team?
They’ve brought some of those players back and have added to the unit too. Randy Gregory figures to give the pass rush a much-needed boost, D.J. Jones helps fortify the run defense, and K’Waun Williams adds talent to a secondary that features Justin Simmons, Ronald Darby, and Patrick Surtain II.
Denver has elite, Super Bowl-caliber players.