The Broncos dodged a major bullet by avoiding the Rams until Christmas

Merry Christmas, Broncos Country!

You got an early gift Tuesday morning when the NFL announced the Broncos and Rams won’t play until Christmas Day.

We can debate all we want whether we like the idea of the Broncos playing on Dec. 25. It could be a present you love, or it could be one you’re rushing to return as soon as your mother-in-law leaves town. Christmas does fall on a Sunday in 2022, so there was always a chance Denver would be in action.

Sure, the whole league isn’t participating that day, but when you trade for Russell Wilson, this type of thing happens. It’s a major audience for the biggest sports league in the country and Roger Goodell is going to do it big on a day where viewership will undoubtedly be massive. A relevant Broncos team hunting for a playoff berth versus the defending Super Bowl champions? Sign the NFL up.

And the kickoff slot is perfect. With a 2:30 p.m. MST start, presents will be unwrapped and the bottom of the Christmas tree long since empty. The game should finish around 6:00 with a big family dinner on deck and mom happy the television’s turned off. If the news ruined your Christmas plans, I’m sorry to tell you I don’t have much sympathy.

But the bigger picture is more important. With rumors swirling the Broncos could kickoff the NFL season against the Rams on Thursday, Sept. 8, the team dodged a major bullet. Going to L.A. to start the season a few days early sounds fun on paper, but did anyone want Denver to face such a major test in Week 1?

Every win in the competitive AFC West is going to be critical, and the Broncos should root for a soft schedule early. They still have to play the NFC contending Rams, but I’d much rather it be in December once they’re battle tested than right out of the gate.

Like it or not, Wilson and new head coach Nathaniel Hackett are going to have growing pains. Remember how good Peyton Manning’s Broncos were his first season in town in 2012? That team finished 13-3, won the division and earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Everything was going perfect until Rahim Moore happened against the Ravens, but we don’t have to rehash that.

The point here is one you may not remember. The Broncos got off to a slow start that year — with Manning and his new teammates experiencing growing pains. And that’s to be expected with Wilson as well. Denver began just 2-3, winning the opener against the Steelers before dropping games against the Falcons, Texans and Patriots. The Broncos only beat the lowly Raiders during that stretch.

In Week 6, a Monday Night Football showdown in San Diego, the Broncos were down 24-0 to the Chargers at halftime before staging an epic comeback and winning 35-24. It was the catalyst to their 11-game win streak to end the regular season and announce to the NFL they were for real.

I expect Wilson’s Broncos to need a similar amount of time before everything starts clicking sometime in the middle of October. Would you rather the Broncos open Week 1 in L.A. against the Rams and take a quick loss, or play a soft opponent and start with a victory even if it isn’t pretty? That’s an obvious answer.

This team will be on national television plenty of times, so how about a Week 1 showdown in Seattle with Wilson’s old team on Sunday night or Monday night? Denver’s defense would mop the floor with Drew Lock or Geno Smith leading the Seahawks and get the Broncos out of the gate with a win, even if the offense needs time to gel. A Week 1 tilt with the  Panthers, Texans or Jets would also be preferred over a visit to Los Angeles.

And luckily, that’s no longer an option. Come December, the Broncos could very well beat the Rams. Just four months from now in the season opener, that probably wasn’t going to happen.

Denver got an early Christmas gift from the NFL on Tuesday; now let’s hope the rest of the schedule is as joyous when the league releases the whole feast on Thursday night.
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