Rejoice, Broncos fans! Football season is finally here.
And for the first time since the Peyton Manning era, Denver enters the season with zero quarterback controversy as it puts its hopes in a former Rockies infield prospect turned Lombardi Trophy-hoisting slinger.
Can Russell Wilson lead the Broncos back to the postseason for the first since the 2015 season? Can first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett hack it? And what’s the deal with the new ownership group?
Enough dilly-dallying. Check out our complete Broncos preview coverage below.
— Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post
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What’s on tap?
NEXT GAME: At Seattle Seahawks, 6:15 p.m. Monday, ESPN, KMGH-7 | Scouting report
TV/RADIO: Here’s what sports are airing today
Must-Read
The buzz is back: Quarterback Russell Wilson’s arrival heightens expectations for Broncos season
Following six consecutive years out of the playoffs and five consecutive losing seasons, the Broncos were relevant. Finally. They were a part of the AFC conversation. And they had The Quarterback. Finally.
A week later, the trade was official. A week after that, Wilson hosted teammates in San Diego for a throwing camp. Two months later, he was on the practice field. And Monday night, he makes his hype-filled return to Seattle to face his former team. It is Game 1 of 17, but it could serve as the catalyst for the Broncos to start their march up the division and conference.
What seemed unfathomable a year ago and unlikely in early March will become a reality: Wilson will lead the Broncos out of the tunnel in the stadium he thought he would always call home, Ryan O’Halloran reports.
Striking Gold: Broncos banking on Nathaniel Hackett, Russell Wilson to improve woeful red (or gold) zone offense
Hackett helmed the NFL’s second-ranked red zone offense in 2017 with Jacksonville and was also the coordinator for Green Bay when it finished eighth and first in 2019 and ’20, respectively.
Wilson had 194 red zone touchdowns and only 12 interceptions in 10 years with Seattle.
Adding Hackett’s play design and play-calling and Wilson’s moxie to a mix of talented returning skill players, the Broncos feel they have found a red zone elixir. Finally, Ryan O’Halloran reports.
Broncos ownership group takes over with high expectations for instant success
For a world sports franchise record-setting $4.65 billion, the Broncos were purchased by the team led by Rob Walton, Greg Penner and Carrie Walton-Penner, which includes limited partners Mellody Hobson, Condoleezza Rice and Lewis Hamilton.
League owners unanimously approved their bid during a special meeting on Aug. 9. The next day, Penner was named CEO. The day after that, the Broncos hired Damani Leech as president, putting him in charge of the business operations.
Under Bowlen’s flag, the Broncos played 608 regular season games and 36 of the team’s 42 all-time postseason games, winning three Super Bowls. Success became the expectation and, for most of the nearly four decades, the norm. From 1984-2015, the Broncos had more Super Bowl appearances (six) than losing seasons (five), Ryan O’Halloran reports.
Quick Hits
+ The power of positive thinking and preparation: Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson leans on lessons from late friend.
+ Broncos defensive bios: Justin Simmons & Co. feature improved secondary, pass rush.
+ Broncos offensive bios: Russell Wilson expected to bring juice — and more than 20 points per game — back to Denver’s attack.
+ Keeler: How Broncos’ trade for Russell Wilson changed lives of Denverites who share his name: “He wanted to punch me in the face.”
+ Ignoring half-measure options, Broncos adopted aggressive approach this offseason.
+ Why Broncos could have a top-5 NFL offensive line — and why that’s huge for Russell Wilson.
+ Broncos are one of 10 NFL teams with new head coaches. Here’s a look at each of them.
+ Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero embracing previous scheme but with nuances.
+ Super Bowl champion quarterbacks’ second act: From gold standard of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady to the busts.
+ Will Russell Wilson be the key that unlocks Jerry Jeudy’s potential for Broncos? Or Courtland Sutton’s ceiling?
+ Russell Wilson’s arrival makes Broncos tickets a hot commodity again on secondary market, where their value’s increased 61% since 2021.
+ Pressure on Broncos tight ends Albert Okwuegbunam, Greg Dulcich to produce with Noah Fant off to Seattle.
+ “Incredible” play-calling in January 2018 playoffs could provide hint to how Nathaniel Hackett will direct Broncos.
+ As play-calling head coach, Nathaniel Hackett will lean on Broncos’ staff for support.
+ Broncos RBs Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon haven’t settled on a nickname: “Both of us are really thunder.”
+ Broncos all in on zone blocking run scheme: How does it work and why does it help an offense?
+ Three outdoor big screens where you can watch the Denver Broncos this season.
+ Broncos’ game-by-game predictions: Can Denver end its six-year postseason drought.
+ Denver Post sports staff predictions for 2022 NFL season.
+ Ranking the NFL teams 1-32 entering regular season.
+ The top 10 games to watch on the 2022 NFL schedule.
+ Want to chat about the Broncos? Ask to join our closed discussion group on Facebook.
Ask the Expert
+ Broncos Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Tap here to ask Ryan O’Halloran.
By the Numbers
+1,500
The odds the Broncos will win Super Bowl LVII, according to MaximBet.
Parting Shot
Kiszla: Less DangeRuss is more. How Nathaniel Hackett is trying to convince Russell Wilson to become better quarterback.
“Less hero ball by Wilson equals more wins by the Broncos.
“Will this experiment work? Nothing less than the happiness of Broncos Country, to say nothing of a healthy relationship between Wilson and Hackett, depends on it,” Mark Kiszla writes.
Get in Touch
If you see something that’s cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at jnguyen@denverpost.com or tweet me @joenguyen.
