Much is already at stake for the Denver Broncos in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season. Which players should be watching out for in this matchup? The Broncos actually haven't beaten the Las Vegas Raiders in a few years. I believe the last time Denver bested the Raiders, Shelby Harris batted down a two-point conversion attempt at the end of the game. This was all the way back in 2019.
It's insane that the Raiders have had the Broncos number for this long. And it's plenty enough that the team has to live with the massive losing streak to the Kansas City Chiefs. Well, Denver looks to be in a better position for 2023 than the Raiders, and I think Denver has advantages all over this matchup. I'm confident that the Broncos can own the Raiders this year.
However, the Broncos are a pretty new team when you consider the changes in the coaching staff and on the roster. I am expecting this team to start a little bit slow and catch on as the season progresses. Which three players should be watch out for in this Week 1 matchup?
3 Denver Broncos to watch in Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders
1. Ben Powers and Mike McGlinchey
I'm already cheating and doing a two-for-one with this first player to watch. The two biggest additions Denver made this offseason, literally and figuratively were Ben Powers and Mike McGlinchey. These two players are elite run blockers and welcome additions to the Denver Broncos' offensive line, which has been a problem for years.
Powers had an up-and-down preseason, and McGlinchey did not appear in preseason action because of a knee injury that he's back from. Garett Bolles, Lloyd Cushenberry, and Quinn Meinerz are returning players from this offensive line and have all been in the picture since at least 2021, with Bolles returning for his seventh year as the Broncos' left tackle.
I am just eager to see how Powers and McGlinchey look because they are two of the best in the NFL at what they do. There's a reason why Powers got over $50 million and McGlinchey got nearly $90 million. They aren't no-names that Denver overpaid. They are expected to play at a nearly-elite level, and I am really wondering how they will look, especially against a talented Raiders defensive line.
2. Javonte Williams
Javonte Williams is apparently 100% from his torn ACL that he suffered against the Raiders in the 2022 NFL season. His recovery has been way ahead of schedule and Williams even played in the preseason. There's also some added pressure on this run game since Denver figures to be a run-first team. Their offseason moves on offense indicate that they plan on running the snot out of the rock.
Well, I am eager to see how Javonte Williams looks in his first regular-season action since last October. Reports indicate that the Broncos are going to limit his workload a bit, but what if Williams doesn't need those limitations to be in place? What if he is truly ready to resume his RB1 duties? I think simply by the nature of his contract, we'll always see Samaje Perine get carries.
Perine is not a good running back in my opinion and I think Denver could have signed someone else in free agency. However, Perine is good as a pass protector and can catch passes, but I don't trust him much as a runner. Perine is likely going to get close to, if not more carries than Williams in the early part of the season, but I bet Javonte Williams presses the issue some.
If the former second-round pick is at his best, he's arguably the best pure runner in football. He can break tackles better than any other RB in the NFL and is someone that opposing defense doesn't want to have to deal with. The run game is going to make or break this offense in my opinion, so I believe that there is a ton of pressure on Javonte Williams to return to his old self.
Denver also didn't sign Ezekiel Elliott or Dalvin Cook, nor did they trade for Jonathan Taylor, so that tells me that there is a ton of belief in the RB room.
3. Russell Wilson
No one should be surprised by this. All eyes will be and should be on Russell Wilson, who is entering a make-or-break year not just for the Denver Broncos, but likely for his NFL career as we know it. Wilson was a shell of his former self in 2022. Not only was he playing at nearly 230 pounds, but between injuries, a clear loss in confidence, and a lack of an offensive identity, Wilson was arguably the worst starting QB in football.
Now, a new-look Wilson is here, well, new-look for the Broncos. He's down to about 213 pounds, and according to Sean Payton, has lost 15 pounds. He's back to his old self in many ways. He's moving like he used to and Payton has even said that he sees no physical difference between the Russell Wilson now and what he saw from him in 2020.
Wilson also gets to face a pretty bad defense in Week 1. The Las Vegas Raiders don't really have much to write home about on defense besides Maxx Crosby, so Denver should be able to move the ball against this team. Russell Wilson should be able to have a strong game through the air in Week 1, especially when the Raiders' best cornerback is a washed-up Marcus Peters.
Now, if Wilson is a bit shaky in Week 1, all isn't lost. It may take the Denver Broncos a little bit to get up to speed on offense and as a team, so I am bracing myself for some early-season struggles, but at the very least, we need to see something from Russell Wilson. Something to make us believe again.