When asked about the fact that Wilson was taking the brunt of the blame, Payton did not come to Wilson’s defense. He explained that there is no feasible way for him to replace all the players surrounding Wilson, and that the decision regarding Wilson is something that happens all the time. Here is the full quote from Payton:
Payton said that if this level of play continued on his watch, there would be someone replacing him as well. While Payton didn’t outright say they were moving on from Wilson as a team in the future, he referred to this as one of those “difficult decisions.”
Wilson has an injury guarantee in his contract, which means an injury would prevent the Broncos from releasing him without paying him. This implies that Payton and the Broncos might be trying to move on from Wilson in 2024.
Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson improved upon his 2022 season, but he is aging
Oct 1, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton talks with quarterback Russell Wilson (3) before a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
Wilson showed improvement this season after one of the worst seasons his career has seen in 2022. Wilson had 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last year, and improved to 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions this year.
Wilson’s 26 touchdowns are good enough for sixth in the league, but Denver’s offense as a whole has sputtered throughout the year. The Broncos are 25th in total yards per game as well as passing yards per game.
Wilson’s only 300-yard passing game this season came in the 70-20 blowout loss against the Miami Dolphins . His passer rating of 98 is the best he’s had in three years, and it is higher than the odds-on MVP favorite Lamar Jackson (97.2). His passer rating is also higher than other star QBs such as:
Josh Allen (93.7)
Jalen Hurts (89.6)
Patrick Mahomes (91.7)
Justin Herbert (93.2)
Matthew Stafford (93)
Jordan Love (91.8)
Trevor Lawrence (89.1)
His 66.4% completion rate is good for eighth among QBs with over 400 attempts, and he is just four touchdowns behind Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s league-leading 30 touchdowns.
Wilson has also not had much help scoring when it comes to Denver’s ground game. Despite having the fifth most rushing yards in the NFL, the Broncos are tied for second to last in the NFL in rushing touchdowns. Starting running back Javonte Williams scored his first rushing touchdown of the season against the Chargers on Dec. 10.
Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images
The Broncos’ inability to convert on third downs and score when close to the end zone has costed them games this season. They are 31st in the league in goal-to-go situations, and 20th in third-down conversion rate.
The Denver Broncos are benching QB Russell Wilson despite having a chance at making a playoff game
Dec 24, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton talks with quarterback Russell Wilson (3) before the game against the New England Patriots at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
The 26-23 loss to the New England Patriots put the Broncos at 7-8, and nearly eliminated them from playoff contention. That being said, Denver still has a slim chance of making the postseason (1.4%).
Denver’s season was a rollercoaster as they started out 1-5 in a stretch of games that included one of the worst blowouts in NFL history, and then proceeded to go on a five game win streak in a collection of games that included beating the defending Super Bowl champions.
After becoming one of the hottest teams in the NFL, the Broncos sputtered and went 1-3. In that time, they lost to a Bailey Zappe-led team in a game that all but killed their playoff hopes.
The Broncos will win the AFC West if they win out by beating the Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders , and the Kansas City Chiefs lose to the Cincinnati Bengals and the Chargers.
The Broncos can also sneak in as a wild card team, but that scenario is a little bit more complicated. A Yahoo Sports guide to Denver’s playoff hopes illustrated how they can get knocked out, and who Broncos fans should be rooting for in week 17.
Their chance of making the playoffs, albeit slim, raises a lot more questions about the decision to bench Wilson. To give up on the team for a financial reason despite a chance to make the playoffs is likely not the message Payton wants to send to his team. If that is the case, then the Broncos truly believe Wilson does not give them the best chance to win, and will be moving on from him in the near future.
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