What are realistic expectations now that Russell Wilson is a Bronco?
Mar 8, 2022, 12:50 PM
There are three offseason moments that stand out in the history of the Broncos franchise. All three involve quarterbacks.
On May 2, 1983, Denver acquired John Elway from the Baltimore Colts. The No. 1 overall pick in the draft instantly became the biggest star in the Mile High City.
On March 20, 2012, the Broncos signed Peyton Manning. The (at the time) four-time NFL Most Valuable Player was the biggest acquisition by any team in Colorado sports history.
On March 8, 2022, Denver traded for Russell Wilson. The former Super Bowl champion instantly joins an exclusive club, one of the most-ballyhooed players to ever don the orange and blue.
With that comes expectations. Monster ones at that.
From day one, Elway was saddled with the pressure of getting the Broncos their first-ever championship. It took him 16 years, with a lot of disappointments along the way, but he finally got the job done, winning back-to-back Super Bowls before riding off into the sunset.
Manning faced similar stresses. As the wins mounted, coupled with a loss to Wilson and the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, questions started to be asked. The Sheriff finally answered them in his fourth and final season in Denver, helping the Broncos to a win in Super Bowl 50.
Now, Wilson will be the next to endure the weight of expectations in Denver. He will soon feel the strain of being the most-famous person in the state of Colorado.
Playing quarterback for the Broncos is different. It just is. And it takes a special breed to survive it.
Elway did. Manning did. Others didn’t.
It got to Jake Plummer. It got to Jay Cutler. And it got to the litany on would-be successors to No. 18 in the past six years.
But it won’t get to Wilson. Like Elway and Manning, he has the talents and mental toughness to survive in Denver.
Make no mistake, however, the pressure will be on. Already, the talk in Broncos Country is about a return to the Super Bowl.
Why? Because that’s the expectation in this town. It’s not about playing meaningful games in November and December. It’s not about making the playoffs. It’s about competing for the Lombardi Trophy.
That’s been the standard for four decades. And while it might have been squelched in recent years, it wasn’t extinguished.
But it might be a little lofty in year one. The Broncos do have a new head coach, someone who has never been the top guy before. They also have a new quarterback, one who will be learning a new system and getting comfortable with new teammates.
Thus, it might be wise to temper expectations. Just a bit.
Could the Broncos win the Super Bowl this season? Sure. They’ll be one of the top five or six favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Glendale, Ariz. come February. There’s no reason why they can’t run the string of QBs winning a title in their first season with a new team to three-straight years.
But anything short of that won’t be a disappointment. Not at all.
The Broncos are relevant again. Immediately.
People will be back on the hill at training camp. The national media will be talking about the team. And they’ll be a mainstay on national television.
They’ll also be a contender in the AFC West. While maybe not quite on par with the Chiefs, they certainly have a chance to compete with Kansas City for the division title. And they’ve vaulted ahead of the Chargers and Raiders in the power rankings.
They’ll win 10-plus games and make the playoffs. The six-year drought without a postseason has to come to an end. That’s why the Broncos made this trade. That’s the reason they gave up two first-round picks, two second-rounders, Noah Fant, Shelby Harris and Drew Lock for Wilson.
That’s a reasonable expectations. That’s a viable goal.
Get in the tournament. Get back into the mix. And take your chances.
That’s the standard again in Denver. Thanks to Russell Wilson, the Broncos are once again a contender.
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