The Denver Broncos appear to be in a solid spot heading into the 2023 NFL season, but could the coming campaign already be over for the team? I don't necessarily think that the season is already in the trash, but there could be a few reasons why it's the case. The 2022 NFL season for the Denver Broncos was supposed to be a bit of a rebirth for the franchise.
The team finally brought in a young, offensive head coach in Nathaniel Hackett and also made a huge trade for a future Hall of Fame QB in Russell Wilson. Many looked at the Broncos as being a competitor once again, but we all know how that year ended up. Now, even more change was brought to the franchise this offseason.
Out went Hackett, and in came Sean Payton, along with well over $200 million in various free agency roster additions. The second act of the Russell Wilson era seems to be in a better place than 2022. Wilson is down about 15 pounds and is back to his old playing weight. Payton has spoken highly of Wilson during the offseason and how he's picked up the offense, and the free agency decisions made improved the roster on paper.
I could easily argue that Denver is one of the seven best teams in the AFC and one of the 12 best teams in football. Sean Payton is even on record saying that he'd be angry if this was not a playoff team this year. However, could there be reason to believe that this season is already over? Let's cover three reasons why this could be the case.
3 reasons why the Denver Broncos 2023 season could already be over
1. QB Russell Wilson could indeed be washed up
The 2022 version of Russell Wilson was probably the worst year of his entire football career at any level. His passer rating was in the mid-80s and he couldn't hit 20 touchdown passes. He was also playing a nearly 230 pounds and was battling hamstring and lat injuries. On the surface, those with a more aerial view of the Denver Broncos, or I guess, fans of other teams, could say that Wilson's bad play is just because he was and is washed up.
That could be the case indeed even though I don't personally agree. Some have even said that Wilson's 2021 season showed evidence of some decline. Well, I'm not sure the Broncos would win more than a handful of games if Russell Wilson is damaged goods. As great of a coach as Sean Payton is, there are surely things he probably can't overcome, and a washed-up QB might be one of them.
2. The Denver Broncos' roster might not be good enough in 2023
The Denver Broncos made a few additions in the trenches by signing Ben Powers, Mike McGlinchey, and Zach Allen. Games in the NFL are won on the inside, and I do think Denver's OL and DL are competent at worst. However, even though the trenches might be solid, the rest of the roster simply might not be good enough in 2023, especially playing in the loaded AFC.
Denver doesn't exactly have anyone of note at pass rusher. Their wide receivers are already dropping like flies, and unless Greg Dulcich or Adam Trautman take off in 2023, their tight ends don't have much juice. I think at worst, the Broncos' roster is league average, and that might not nearly be good enough to make the playoffs in this AFC, which features a slew of top-flight quarterbacks and elite playmakers on both sides of the ball.
Outside of Patrick Surtain II and Justin Simmons, you could honestly argue that Denver does not have a single other "elite" player on the roster. Now, good, great coaching could mask roster issues. Just look at the 2022 New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars. Both rosters were "meh" at best but both clubs won nine games in the regular season and won a playoff game because of good coaching.
I have a burning hot take that Sean Payton is a better head coach than both Brian Daboll and Doug Pederson, so there is reason to believe that Denver can have that type of success in 2023, but their roster might not be good enough at the end of the day, and only time will tell.
3. The injury bug still seems to be clouding the team
Tim Patrick is out for the second straight year. KJ Hamler has a heart condition and was cut from the roster. Jerry Jeudy is battling a hamstring injury. Jalen Virgil is out for the year. Brandon Johnson and Mike McGlinchey both had injuries already during the game. DJ Jones had a concussion, and Justin Simmons battled a minor injury as well. Jonas Griffith is out for the ear with a torn ACL.
The Broncos are already facing some injuries, and if this trend keeps up, the team might not be able to keep up and may end up faltering as the season progresses. Injuries are simply the worst, especially if a team is talented enough to win a lot of games. It's one thing if a bad team is battling injuries, but let's say the Denver Broncos win five of their first eight games and are in a playoff spot at the time of their bye week.
Even the thought of them dealing with injuries in the latter half of the season would just be devastating and could derail a potential playoff push for them. No matter what team you cheer for, injuries suck, plain and simple. Hopefully, the Broncos, who have been one of the most injured teams in the NFL over the last five or so years, can enjoy some good injury luck and not have to deal with what they did last year.
If so, and if the injury bug is still with the team, you can kiss 2023 goodbye.