Broncos hope new QB Zach Wilson can give them the same spark he provided against the Chiefs in 2023
The Denver Broncos have a new quarterback, and he might be exactly the player they need to get past their biggest division rival. Zach Wilson comes over to Denver via trade with the New York Jets, with a late-round pick swap being the primary driver of the deal. That's pennies on the dollar for a […]
The Denver Broncos have a new quarterback, and he might be exactly the player they need to get past their biggest division rival.
Zach Wilson comes over to Denver via trade with the New York Jets, with a late-round pick swap being the primary driver of the deal. That's pennies on the dollar for a former first-round draft pick who has shown flashes of elite talent, but has lacked consistency throughout his NFL career.
Wilson is particularly appealing because of a game he had against the Broncos' biggest AFC West rival during the 2023 NFL season. By all accounts, it was the game of his life and it came against the Kansas City Chiefs in primetime during Week 4 last season. He completed 71.8 percent of his passes (fourth-highest of his career) for 245 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions. His 105.2 passer rating was the second-best mark of his career. Those numbers were far better than the 18 completions for 203 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions that Patrick Mahomes put up during that game.
Two miscues really hurt Wilson in this game, which ultimately was the deciding factor in the Jets' loss. He bobbled a low snap that led to a fourth-quarter turnover on what could have been a game-winning drive. The team also settled for a field goal after this dropped pass by Tyler Conklin in the red zone.
The Broncos proved in Week 8 that they have a defense that can shut Kansas City down under the right conditions. They held Mahomes to no touchdowns and the Chiefs' offense to just nine points at Mile High Stadium.
This isn't the end-all-be-all trade for Denver. They'll likely continue to explore quarterback options in the 2024 NFL draft and pair Wilson with a rookie. However, if Sean Payton can harness some of that moxie and poise Wilson showed in Week 4 against the Chiefs, this move could quietly turn into a steal for the Broncos. That could especially be the case when it comes to facing their biggest in-division rivals.
