Russ-O-Meter: Birthday boy’s Bronco bummer

The Denver Broncos offense equaled their lowest total points output this season for the third time, scoring just nine in a one-point loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Without scoring a touchdown in the contest, Denver’s points per game fell to 13.8, which ties the franchise’s worst mark. The leader of the attack, Russell Wilson, wasn’t all that bad in Baltimore, but the lack of scoring led to a historic Ravens win.

“NFL teams were 0-206 since 1995 when committing two turnovers, forcing none and failing to exceed 10 points, according to Pro Football Reference. The Ravens made it 1-206 by beating the Broncos”

— Stuckey (@Stuckey2) December 5, 2022

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: 1 (->0)

Stat line: 17-for-22 passing, 189 passing yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 2 carries, 21 rushing yards, 0 TD, 2 sacks for 5 yards, 65.1 QBR, 102.3 Passer Rating

This is now game three of changed play-caller from Nathaniel Hackett to Klint Kubiak. It’s made little to no difference. Wilson did not find the end zone again, and has only scored four touchdowns since and including Week 5.

Wilson was mostly equaled by Baltimore’s backup Tyler Huntley, who did throw a pick but also rushed for a touchdown. Former MVP Lamar Jackson was hurt early on in the contest.

Wilson nearly led his fourth fourth-quarter comeback of the season — he’s led one in each of the Broncos three wins. Wilson gave Brandon McManus a chance from far out, but his field goal didn’t have enough leg.

Wilson’s once-creative scrambling appears to be a thing of the past; he still hasn’t had more than 29 yards rushing in a game this season. Something even Huntley was able to do.

Wilson got Jerry Jeudy back but lost Courtland Sutton to another hamstring injury. KJ Hamler is now on IR. With Melvin Gordon cut, Javonte Williams and Tim Patrick injured for the year, where are Wilson’s weapons? This past Sunday it was mostly rookie tight end Greg Dulcich.

Denver is home this week against a Chiefs team coming off a loss. What if Wilson is able to pull the huge home upset and end the KC streak of 13 wins against the Broncos? That’d be a small win in a lost season.

Meanwhile, due to another loss, the pick going back to Seattle is now slated to be third overall. The chances are increasing that Denver will send Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s CJ Stroud to the Pacific Northwest in the Wilson trade.

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