Since the retirement of Peyton Manning, there has been little to be positive about for the Denver Broncos. Fans have endured a carousel of mediocre quarterbacks and coaches since 2017. But for the first time in what seems like forever, there seems to be a bit more optimism heading into the 2022 season. With the acquisition of superstar quarterback Russell Wilson, there is hope that the team will finally succeed on offense.
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Broncos Way Too Early Predictions For The 2022 NFL Season
The Broncos will finally beat the Chiefs
The last time the Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs was in September of 2015. That was eight years ago! And the thing is, Patrick Mahomes wasn't even drafted yet. The quarterback battle was between Peyton Manning and Alex Smith. Smith didn't throw a single touchdown and had two interceptions, but the score was still somehow close. The game was slated to go to overtime until Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles fumbled the ball late in the 4th deep in their own territory. The Broncos' defense recovered the ball and ran it back for a touchdown, stunning the Chiefs.
The Broncos have been effectively handled by the Chiefs ever since. Even if the Broncos' defense had a strong showing, which it did on most occasions, they were still unable to stop Patrick Mahomes. The Broncos never had a quarterback that could play up to par with Mahomes, but that might change this season. A Wilson vs. Mahomes battle will sure be fun to watch. Plus, the Broncos don't have to worry about covering Tyreek Hill anymore! The Broncos should win one or even both of the matchups against their AFC West foe this season.
Javonte Williams will establish himself as the best running back in the AFC West
Williams was one of the few bright spots in the Broncos' 2021 season. In his rookie season, Williams ran for 903 yards and 4 touchdowns. The touchdown stat line might not jump off the page, but keep in mind, the Broncos didn't score much in general last year.
Williams has a knack for breaking tackles and refusing to go down. It seemed like every game he put up highlight tape-worthy runs. In 2022, he should establish himself as the Broncos' top back ahead of Melvin Gordon, and he should also eclipse 1000 yards rushing.
The AFC West includes running backs Austin Ekeler, Josh Jacobs, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Williams could easily eclipse all three of them in productivity and stats in 2022. Plus, Williams is still relatively flying under the radar in terms of notoriety, so he could be a great fantasy football pickup.
JAVONTE WILLIAMS 💪
📺: #BALvsDEN on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/88aqDlawBb— NFL (@NFL) October 3, 2021
Pat Surtain will be voted to the Pro Bowl
Surtain was George Paton's first pick as the Broncos' general manager, and so far, it looks like a home run of a pick. Some could argue that Surtain's performance in his rookie season could have gotten him to the Pro Bowl. Unfortunately, he was overlooked by voters due to the poor performance of the team as a whole.
In his rookie season, Surtain had four interceptions (one being run back for a touchdown), 58 tackles, and 14 passes defended. It did not take long for him to establish himself as the Broncos' top cornerback.
Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett has already said that Surtain is having an incredible minicamp, even saying that “he's a pain out there” for the quarterbacks to practice against.
Expect Surtain to significantly improve his already great stats in 2022. If the Broncos can perform well in 2022, the hope is that fans will recognize just how good Surtain is and vote him into the Pro Bowl in his second year in the league.
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