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James Scott
November 2023
The last eight years or so have been some of the worst in Broncos franchise history. Losing season has come after losing season and nothing seems to have changed. Over that whole stretch, there was only one real sign of hope, Russell Wilson. However, that hope diminished quickly after a 5-11 2021-22 season. When Sean Payton was hired, Broncos fans may have been a little excited, but we know not to get our hopes up. When the Broncos started 1-5, everybody could see this was another lost season and the city of Denver was getting frustrated. A super bowl win in 2015 was enough to excuse a few bad seasons, but the Broncos just made mistake after mistake. But now, all of a sudden, Denver is on a five game winning streak and will have a chance to make the playoff push. The question now becomes are the Broncos the same losing franchise they have been throughout recent history that will disappoint fans again, or are they back to their old winning ways.
1. Vance Joseph and the Broncos Defense
1. Vance Joseph and the Broncos Defense
On September 24, the Broncos defense gave up a near NFL record of 70 points to the Dolphins. The two weeks following, they allowed 28 and 31 points to the Jets and Bears respectively. While that may not seem like a lot compared to 70, the average game this year has a combined total of 43 points between both teams. This means those numbers are still above average and on top of that, the Bears and the Jets have had two of the worst offenses in the league. At that point, people wanted Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph gone. He was a new hire this off-season and the defense, which had previously been the team's only real strong suit, was the worst in the NFL. Fans were mad that the Broncos let their previous defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero leave to take the same job with another team. However, since then, Joseph’s defense has done a 180. The defense is winning this team games just like it has in previous years. Against good offenses like Kansas City and Buffalo, this defense is wreaking havoc. Probably the biggest marker in how elite they are playing is the take-aways. Patrick Mahomes, one of the league’s best players, and his offense turned the ball over five times while being held to just nine points in week eight in Denver. Josh Allen, another superstar, and his supposedly elite offense turned the ball over four times two weeks later. Overall, over the last four weeks the Broncos have 15 takeaways, an absurd number. From week one through week five, the Broncos only forced five turnovers combined. The points allowed by this defense has also dropped dramatically, as they haven’t allowed more than 22 points since week five against the Jets. The most impressive part of this turnaround, however, is that the Broncos have done it against a tough stretch of their schedule.
2. Russel Wilson
2. Russel Wilson
When Russell Wilson came to Denver, he was supposed to be the savior. However, he turned nothing around. In fact, he looked just as bad as the quarterbacks leading this team before him. Going into this season, he was not expected to be good and his legacy was on the line. These last six or so weeks have shown he is still a more than capable quarterback and have left people questioning if he ever was the problem in Denver. Despite low yardage totals, anyone watching the Broncos can see Wilson is making all the right plays at the right times, even occasionally making an incredible throw or scrambling for a big chunk of yards. His experience is being shown this year in the smart and careful style of play he is using. He tries to make the big play much less than he did during his prime and instead just takes what the defense is giving him. As much chaos the Broncos defense causes other teams, the opposite is shown in the Broncos offense. Wilson is calm under pressure and repeatedly makes the right move. This mistake-free football he has played this year is much different from the superstar Russell Wilson the league knew in Seattle, but it is a key part in the success the Broncos are currently having.
3. Coaching & Culture
3. Coaching & Culture
After six weeks of failure, Broncos Country felt like the firing of former head coach Nathaniel Hackett, and the hiring of new head coach Sean Payton, hadn’t done anything. None of the team’s previous issues had been fixed and it looked like another failed season. However, over the last few weeks the Broncos have shown the difference a winning coach can bring to the team. You can notice this in the little things that decide games, like the turnover battle and other small details. You notice this when on a game deciding drive, the clock is managed correctly and no time is wasted. You notice this when on plays that determine the game, a good play is called and executed. Broncos country is used to losing these close, tight games that come down to the wire. With a much better coach and a winning culture that appears to be getting established, the Broncos win these games that at the end of the day will play a huge role in the teams future.
4. Clutch-ness
4. Clutch-ness
There is a saying that football is a “game of inches.” This is not just a saying but a fact. You can look at almost any football game and point out two or three plays that, if changed, could have flipped the entire outcome of a game. As a game goes on each play becomes more important than the last until you get to the fourth quarter and eventually the last few minutes where each play has the potential to change the whole story. These moments that seem small at the end of games add up over a whole season. If things go your way, like they did for the 2022 Minnesota Vikings, who were 11-0 in one score games (eight points or less), you can go to the playoffs with an incredible record. If they don’t, teams will be watching the playoffs from the couch. For the Broncos, these games have not gone the right way. We can look at a couple examples from the Russell Wilson era. Last year in week one, the Broncos lost 17-16 on a missed 60+ yard field goal attempt. If the clock been better managed, the offense had got closer for kicker Brandon McManus, had the Broncos not failed to score on multiple opportunities from the one yard line earlier in the game, or had McManus made the near-record-breaking kick, the Broncos would have won. Those are four factors that could have changed the winner of that game. The same thing could be said for the Broncos first two losses of this year, against Las Vegas and Washington respectively. A missed extra point cost them that first game and a no-call pass interference the second. The difference over this four game stretch has been drastic. The Broncos are actually making the right plays at the right times and that is why they are, and will continue to, win games.
Run Game
Run Game
One of the best parts of the offense this year has been the run game. The combination of hard-running Javonte Williams and the speedy Jaleel McLaughlin has been keeping the offense moving and is a huge part of the Broncos success. Even when Wilson drops back to pass, he often will find Samaje Perine, another running back for a short pass. This trio of running backs running behind a much improved offensive line is setting the tone for a Broncos offense that has looked the best we have seen it since the 2015 Super Bowl run.
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