Hackett says “potential” is nice, but laments Broncos not scoring more points
Sep 21, 2022, 1:44 PM
Through two weeks, the Broncos’ magic number is 16.
That’s not where they want to be. Denver managed just 16 points on the scoreboard against the Seahawks and Texans. One was obviously a win, the other was a loss.
For the most part, though, Denver has been able to move the football. The Broncos are seventh in the NFL in yards per game with 391.5 a contest. However, their 16 points a game ranks 24th in the league.
Clearly, the ability to move the football is there. So far, the ability to score touchdowns is not. Denver has just two on the season, one in each game. Head coach Nathaniel Hackett was asked on Wednesday about the team’s potential given those numbers. He acknowledges it’s somewhat encouraging, but ultimately points are all that truly matter.
“That word potential is a scary word. I mean it’s one of those things, yes, there are certain aspects of the game we’ve performed at a high level. But in the end this game’s about scoring points. And I think it’s just about finishing for us. We have to finish. It’s been very close. It’s frustrating at times, but it can also be potential and positive at the same time,” Hackett said.
QB Russell Wilson spoke on Wednesday and essentially said the same thing. Wilson lamented chance after chance in the red zone that’s gone awry for Denver. Fumbles, penalties and toes out of bounds have all hurt the Broncos. Then again, the team has also been almost exclusively pass near the goal line outside of two killer fumbles in Seattle. Both Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams coughed the football up.
Hackett was asked about finding more balance in the red zone and says that will be a priority moving forward.
“Oh, of course. You want that all across the field. Whether it’s the red zone. Whether it’s in the field, anything. Really, third down and two-minute are kind of the only ones you typically pass a little bit more,” Hackett said. “But, yeah, we need to be more balanced across the board.”
Will the Broncos “feed” Williams and Gordon more against the San Francisco 49ers? That will be something to watch. But with Jerry Jeudy not practicing on Wednesday and iffy at best for the game on Sunday night, it would be a wise strategy.
It’s one thing for Hackett to say it at a press conference. It will be another to actually see it on the field.
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