Russ-O-Meter: Was Wilson’s possible final showing a winner?

The Denver Broncos more than doubled their previous scoring average of 13.5 points per game, going off for their highest score of the season—28 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

But the offensive explosion still ended in a loss for the Broncos, who now have absolutely nothing to play for since they have been eliminated from playoff contention. Worse for the team is that they lost their star quarterback, Russell Wilson, to a concussion just as he’s finally found some rhythm.

In the weekly “Russ-O-Meter,” we’ll grade and cover what’s gone on in the wide world of Wilson this week. The meter represents how psyched Broncos Country is with Russell.

Meter: 5 (↑4)

Stat line: 23-for-36 passing, 247 passing yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 4 carries, 57 rushing yards, 0 TD, 6 sacks for 49 yards, 58.2 QBR, 100.1 Passer Rating

Wilson finally won some Broncos fans over on Sunday, putting his body on the line in a matchup against Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs. Wilson’s return to rushing was a success and helped break the backed-up Broncos offense. But Wilson’s head-down running style also downed him from the rest of the contest, leaving backup Brett Rypien to finish what would’ve been the biggest comeback in Broncos history—he couldn’t. It would’ve been the fourth fourth-quarter comeback of the season, all led by Wilson—the only time Denver has won this season.

Wilson’s yards per toss was not a good number and it’s made look even better than it truly was by Marlon Mack breaking open a screen pass for a long touchdown.

Wilson had Jerry Jeudy back but was without Courtland Sutton to another hamstring injury. KJ Hamler is now on IR and Kendall Hinton may be out to injury now too. With Melvin Gordon cut, Javonte Williams and Tim Patrick injured for the year, where are Wilson’s weapons?

Well, he finally seemed to develop some chemistry with Jeudy, who was playing Sutton’s normal position. Should the Broncos leave him there even when Sutton comes back? The younger wideout broke free for three touchdowns.

But should Wilson suit up again? The Broncos have nearly a quarter billion committed to their quarterback and Denver has nothing to gain by winning or playing Russ. He finally showed a flash of his former self before being knocked out.

Denver also does not gain anything by losing since they don’t own their first or second-round pick.

The Broncos stay home this week to play the Cardinals, which may be a battle of the backups.

The Texans nearly upset the Cowboys but it’s highly unlikely that Denver finishes lower than Houston meaning the pick going back to Seattle is most likely to be the second overall pick in the Draft. The Seahawks could use that selection on Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s CJ Stroud.

Wilson benefited from some good field position and a KC team that started to mess around and quickly found out. But the Russ that could cook was there, and quietly he’s had his two best QBR scores of the year in back-to-back games. Maybe, just maybe, something clicked—and that could be worth playing for and getting more reps at heading into next season.

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