The Denver Broncos feel more equipped to be a competitive team in 2023 than they have in recent memory. Let's make some bold predictions for the upcoming season. I feel like getting extra bold today. The Broncos are a team that could bottom out with Russell Wilson and perhaps only win five or six games.
They're also a team that can break out in 2023, win double-digit games, and make a deep playoff run. They have a much easier path if the AFC wasn't as stacked as it was, but oh well.
There are numerous bold predictions we could make for the Denver Broncos in 2023, but lets zone in on these three.
Three absurdly bold predictions for the Denver Broncos in 2023
Bold prediction 1: Broncos go 4-2 in AFCW, beat Chiefs in '23
The first bold prediction has the Broncos going 4-2 in the AFC West this year. They'll also beat the Kansas City Chiefs for the first time since the 2015 season.
Denver does seem well-positioned in the division. They have a better roster than the Chargers and Raiders, and better coaching than both of those teams.
They've also won most recently versus the Chargers and kept both matchups against the Chiefs very close in 2022. This year, they'll get over the hump and finish 4-2 in the division, which will be tied with the Chiefs for the top record.
Three absurdly bold predictions for the Denver Broncos in 2023
Bold prediction 2: Russell Wilson wins Comeback Player of the Year
This one is interesting, mainly because Damar Hamlin should be back on the football field this year, but I'm still going to bet on Russell Wilson winning the Comeback Player of the Year award.
That award went to Geno Smith in 2022 after his surprising breakout season. It would be just perfect if Wilson could put together a solid campaign in 2023 to win the CPoY award. Many of my friends have rightly told me that if anyone could "fix" Russell Wilson, it's Sean Payton.
Russell Wilson was at his best in Seattle when the team was a run-first offense. They ran the play-action off of that. Those moon balls and QB bootlegs were staples of Wilson's efficiency for that decade.
The Broncos are going to run a similar offense in 2023. Unless Wilson truly is cooked and doesn't belong in the kitchen anymore, he'll bounce back to his Seattle days. That may be good enough for him to win the award.
This would also mean the Broncos are likely a team that finishes with a winning record...
Three absurdly bold predictions for the Denver Broncos in 2023
Bold prediction 3: Broncos win double-digit games and make the playoffs
I am currently predicting Denver to go 10-7 in 2023 and clinch a playoff spot. Sean Payton led the New Orleans Saints to a 10-6 record and a playoff berth in his first year with the team, so I think he can also have immediate success in Denver.
Payton also seemed to have built a solid coaching staff. The Broncos' staff is littered with coaches that have decades of experience, and also many who have much lesser experience. The staff also has numerous former players, so I think this staff is a nice mix of new and old, along with having former players.
This operation is going to run much smoother than it has in recent years in Denver. At the end of the day, coaching trumps all.
On the roster and schedule side, I think Denver did a fine job at filling their holes this offseason, most importantly along the offensive line and adding some pass catching depth.
Their schedule also does them some favors. They have a bye week in the middle of the season, have no international games, have what appears to be an easier slate of NFC games, and don't face a particularly rough stretch of opponents.
A competently run football team should be able to win a ton of games with all things considered. Denver will do that in 2023.