As a Seahawks fan, I was torn as the 2022 NFL season drew nearer. On the one hand, I was furious the Seahawks traded Russell Wilson for the equivalent of a bag of Doritos. While on the other hand, I wanted Russell Wilson to take the Denver Broncos to the playoffs. I wanted Wilson to have the best year of his career to demonstrate just how big of a mistake the Seahawks had made in siding with Pete Carroll over the greatest player in their franchise’s history. However, through the first six games of the NFL season, neither team’s performing how I thought they would.
The Seahawks are far more competitive than I want them to be, while the Broncos are an offensive disaster.
The Denver Broncos have one of the most difficult-to-watch offenses in the league. They’re hovering around the middle of the pack in terms of yards per game, but they’re dead last in points scored per game. Even against the Chargers, Denver scored only 13 points in the first half and three in the second on their way to an overtime loss. Russell Wilson completed just 54% of his passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. A mundane stat line for a quarterback who once struck fear in NFL defenses.
Russ in the second half and OT:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 18, 2022
3/11
15 YDS
0 TD
Cooked. pic.twitter.com/yzHY1NkV2Z
While I do enjoy seeing the Seahawks get a better draft position with every Denver Broncos loss, it’s clear that something has to change. This team appears dead in the water and desperately needs a spark.
Admit Nathaniel Hackett Was a Mistake
Many would say that all Russell Wilson needs to do is play better, and maybe that’s the case. Russell Wilson is posting the worst numbers of his career and has seemingly stopped using his legs as a weapon. His once-perfect deep ball has vanished, and he’s missing wide-open receivers left and right.
— Steven Ruiz (@theStevenRuiz) October 18, 2022
Wonder why KJ Hamler was slamming his helmet at the end of the game… see picture. pic.twitter.com/tNJZdN0LRS
— Miguel Lozada (@MLozada) October 7, 2022
However, Denver just gave him a five-year extension worth $245 million. To trade him now would send their team into salary cap hell for the foreseeable future. So the likelihood of them moving off of Wilson is simply out of the question. The only logical move that the Denver Broncos can make would be to admit the Nathaniel Hackett hire was a mistake and cut bait now while they can still save their season. Between the penalties, lack of offensive execution, and questionable play calls, it’s hard to pinpoint what Hackett does well.
When a team hires a head coach with a specialty, they should show immediate progress in fixing that side of the football. Sean McVay turned the Ram’s offense around in year one. Kyle Shanahan immediately found ways to move the football with the 49ers. The Ravens, for years, have had one of the best special teams units in the NFL, thanks to John Harbaugh. If Nathaniel Hackett is supposed to be an offensive-minded coach, why is his offense one of the worst in the league?
No Excuses
The Broncos are dealing with multiple injuries on offense, but not enough to where their lack of production is excusable. It’s never good when you lose your star left tackle, one of your starting receivers, and your star running back in the same season, but they have enough weapons to do more than they are. I understand the Broncos don’t want to fire two head coaches in back-to-back seasons, but time is not on their side. Given the strength of their division, the AFC as a whole, and their rapidly aging quarterback, the window of opportunity is finite.
Now at 2-4, the Denver Broncos have some big decisions to make regarding turning their season around. If I were the Denver Broncos, I would part ways with Nathaniel Hackett and bring in someone new. Some coordinators are simply that, a coordinator. And the coordinator, currently disguised as the Denver Bronco’s head coach, is in way over his head. It’s better to move off their mistake quickly than to double down on it and look even more foolish later.
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