Games that the Denver Broncos must win during 2022 season
The Denver Broncos are entering a crucial season for their franchise, and there are several games on their 2022 schedule that they must win. Usually, most teams have a few games on their schedules that are essentially guaranteed wins. As we know, anything can happen in the NFL, but good teams typically beat not so good teams frequently.
The Broncos do have an easier slate of games on their roster in 2022. They do have the easiest schedule in the AFC West and should be able to take advantage of this easier schedule. Russell Wilson has led his teams to nine winning seasons in his 10 years in the NFL, so there’s a very, very good chance than the Broncos win double digit games.
Starting at the beginning, which games are ones that the Broncos must win in 2022?
Denver Broncos must-win games in the 2022 NFL season
Week 1 – Seattle Seahawks
This is a must win for the Denver Broncos for obvious reasons. The Seahawks are one of the worst rosters in the NFL and are clearly moving to a rebuilding phase after trading for Russell Wilson.
No matter if Drew Lock or Geno Smith is under center, the Broncos need to win this game.
Week 2 – Houston Texans
I’m a fan of the Texans. I think Davis Mills can be that dude but it’s clear that the Texans are a very weak team overall. They are a few years away and should have a very high draft pick for the next couple of years.
The Broncos should be able to win this game by multiple scores.
Week 5- Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are a good team. They were 9-8 last year before dumping Wentz for Matt Ryan. I personally do not believe that Ryan is that much of an upgrade over Wentz, and while the Colts are a legitimate playoff contender, I don’t think they have enough firepower to compete with the Broncos.
I think when your best player is a guard (Quenton Nelson), there’s an issue. Their weapons are below average as an entire unit and Matt Ryan wasn’t exactly efficient last year.
Week 4 or 11 – Las Vegas Raiders
The Broncos must win at least one game against the Raiders this season for obvious reasons. The division rival went 10-7 last season and earned a playoff spot. The Broncos do have advantages over the Raiders and should be the better team this year.
Denver has noticeable advantages at quarterback, defense, and offensive line. The Raiders and Broncos usually play each other very tough, so each matchup should be a back and forth.
Week 6 or 18 – Los Angeles Chargers
The same theory applies to the Chargers, and the Broncos have had an easier time beating Los Angeles than they have the Raiders or Chiefs.
Denver may need a winning record in the division this year if they want to make the playoffs or get ideal seeding. Beating the Chargers and Raiders is a good start. I do think they also would need to beat the Chiefs at least once, but they haven’t beaten them since 2015, so games against them aren’t the best bets to make.
Week 7 – New York Jets
The Jets are another rebuilding team and are still a year or two away from being a legitimate team. This should be an easy win.
Week 8 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Not much to say about the Jaguars. They might surprise some people this year and win a few more games than people think, but it’s clear they are not yet on the level of the Denver Broncos.
I think 2023 or 2024 will be the year that the Jaguars breakout, but the Broncos should be able to take care of business.
Week 10 – Tennessee Titans
The Ryan Tannehill-high that the Titans rode seemed to have worn off a bit in 2021. Sure, the Titans were the top seed in the AFC, but Tannehill wasn’t good and the team had to deal with a Derrick Henry injury.
They didn’t do much in the offseason to make their team appreciably better, and I don’t see them being much of a threat this year. I think they’re going to finish around 10th in the conference. The Broncos have too many advantages over the Titans to not win a game against them right after a bye week.
Week 12 – Carolina Panthers
The Panthers recently named Baker Mayfield their starting quarterback. I do like their roster, and they have a chance at the playoffs in a weak NFC, but, again, like several other of these teams on this list, they do not have enough talented players on their roster to compete with a team like the Denver Broncos.
Russell Wilson is significantly better than Baker Mayfield. The Broncos also have better weapons and should field a better defense than Carolina.
By my count, the Denver Broncos must win at least these nine games during the 2022 season. There are obviously some tougher matchups that they will have to deal with, like the Rams, Chiefs twice, Cardinals, Ravens, and 49ers, but I see a clear path for the team to win double-digit games because I think they can win at least a couple from the slate of teams I just mentioned.