Funviralpark Now is not the time for quarterbacks to drop out entirely. As such, the Broncos traded multiple draft picks and players to Wilson, giving him a five-year contract extension worth over $240 million.
Trades and contracts could rank among the worst in NFL history. Wilson’s name seems to be forever cursed in Colorado for putting the franchise back several years.
Sunday’s 51-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams was the worst moment for the Broncos after a dismal season since week one. Wilson threw an interception in each of his two series in the Broncos’ first, both outright quarterbacks. On the one hand he flipped the pass badly and on the other he threw it to linebacker Bobby Wagner right over the middle.
It was 17-0 right after that second interception.
If you want to see what it looked like when the team gave up on the season altogether and wanted it to end, take another look at the Broncos effort on Christmas afternoon. was torn to shreds. The Rams scored 31 points at halftime. They scored his 31st in one game this season. The Rams combined for quarterback Baker Mayfield’s first two games with 39 points. And with the offense unable to score, Denver was practically drawdead from the start of the game. The Broncos trailed 41-6 before the offense scored its first touchdown.
Denver’s Nathaniel Hackett is having the worst rookie season in NFL history and would infuriate the Broncos fanbase if he returned for a second season. But firing Hackett may not solve the obvious Wilson problem.
Russell Wilson continues to struggle
Wilson’s game started so badly that even Patrick Starr joked about it on the Nickelodeon broadcast.
At some point in the third quarter, CBS’s Tracy Wolfson reported that backup quarterback Brett Ripien had words on the sideline offensive line and the offensive line heated up with him. As if the Broncos need to add “total malfunction of the sidelines” to their list of woes.
Wilson has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL this season. When measured by the curve of how much money and resources were spent, Wilson was the worst. Everyone in Denver was thrilled when the Broncos acquired him. Quarterback Blues after Peyton Manning is finally over rice field. The Broncos would be a candidate.
The 2016-21 starters were Trevor Simian, Paxton Lynch, Brock Osweiler, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Drew Locke, Brandon Allen, Jeff Driskel, Brett Rippien and Teddy Bridgewater. Either way, Hackett’s hiring, trade and Wilson deal look like anchors that will drag the Broncos along for a while.
Things are really bad in Denver, and no matter how many times CBS’s Tony Romo tries to paint a bright future for the Broncos, it’s not. Unless the new head coach can fix Wilson, that’s what it takes.
The Broncos suffer an embarrassing defeat
The Broncos defense was also less than glorious. The group performed well for most of the season. On Sunday, the Broncos made Mayfield look like a superstar.
It’s hard to blame the Broncos defensive player either. It must be hard to keep an edge when you know your offense is utterly useless.
It was handled by Mayfield. He was 18/20 by halftime for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Aside from a few magical minutes in his Rams debut against the Las Vegas Raiders, Mayfield hasn’t had a great season. The Broncos made him look great. Mayfield set a Rams single-game record for completion percentage, breaking Kurt Warner’s old mark. Mayfield went 24-of-28 from 230 yards. He’s looked better than Wilson at any point this season.
Not that the Broncos are coming back. Wilson threw another terrible interception early in the third quarter, blindly throwing the ball deep into his zone with no receiver open end. Jalen Ramsey intercepted easily. His interceptions are outstanding, but nearly every play Wilson makes is abysmal, replicating his problems throughout the season. He held the ball too much and took 6 of his sacks. He misfired too many passes a $240 million quarterback has to do. With 6:16 remaining, Ripien entered the game after Wilson finally led a touchdown drive. Rypien threw a pick 6 on the first possession.
Even with signs of Wilson’s play slipping last season, it was impossible to predict such a collapse.Throughout NFL history, no quarterback has gone from elite level to complete incompetence at Wilson’s age. Not many. Joe Namath’s disappointing season with the Los Angeles Rams came at age 34. This may be the best comparison to Wilson from 45 years ago.
It’s not even a matter of one year. Even if Hackett or General his manager George Peyton are fired, Wilson’s problems won’t go away. Who will take over as coach or GM will start with a huge hole that won’t go away anytime soon.
