Russell Wilson playing well despite poor offensive execution
Russell Wilson has played well the past two weeks for the Denver Broncos in spite of the horrid offensive personnel, coaching, and execution. The past two games have personally shown me that Russell Wilson is far from the primary issue with the Denver Broncos offense.
He can be playing better, and that is an objective truth, but the last two games against the Ravens and Chiefs, two playoff teams, have seen Russell Wilson play well in spite of the disaster situation around him.
Wilson was efficient against the Ravens, completing 77.3% of his passes while also adding some nice runs to set the Broncos up late in the game for what would have been a game-winning field goal. Against the Chiefs on Sunday, Wilson continued to play well. The interception he threw was a bit odd.
It was an odd play, as the 5’10” Wilson wasn’t able to sail the ball over the head of Chiefs’ Willie Gay. After that, though, Wilson turned it on and began to cook, throwing three touchdown passes, two to Jerry Jeudy, in what would have been one of the most improbable comebacks in NFL history.
On the day, Wilson threw for 247 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and earned a 100.1 passer rating. He was also the leading rusher, adding 57 yards on four carries. He was able to help the Broncos outscore the Chiefs 28-7 since going down 27-0 in the second quarter.
His mobility seemed back to normal and he was making some plays that the team had envisioned when they made the trade for him back in March. The offensive line, which is down to the second-string left tackle, played down to the fourth-string left guard on Sunday, second-string center, and second-string right tackle allowed six sacks in what was their worst performance of the season.
I still do not understand how people sincerely believe that Wilson flat-out stinks now when his offensive line is legitimately 80% backups, some as far down as fourth string. The offensive line was so bad on Sunday that the team was using all of Netane Muti, Luke Wattenberg, and Quinn Bailey at left guard.
Calvin Anderson and Cameron Fleming, two OK backups, Graham Glasgow, and Quinn Meinerz have all remained in the lineup the past few games, but only Meinerz is starting caliber at this point.
Overall, Wilson has been asked to make chicken salad out of chicken you-know-what, and in the last two games, he has served us chicken salad.