2022 NFL Preview: Denver Broncos

Read on for all you need to know about the Broncos in this preseason series of NFL betting previews. We’ll check the latest NFL news, stats, injury reports and NFL odds before capping it all off with NFL picks and predictions for your consideration.

Denver Broncos Odds

• To win AFC West +250
• To win AFC +800
• To win Super Bowl +1600
• To make playoffs Yes -150/ No +120

Broncos Offense

The Denver Broncos will go as far as Wilson can take them. He is the kind of quarterback that can elevate an offense and bring out the best in those players around him.

Wilson will be surrounded by skilled players and he should get solid protection from an offensive line that could be amongst the staunchest in 2022. Top wideout Cortland Sutton will enjoy the benefit of catching Wilson’s passes compared to former QBs Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater, to name a few.

Russell Wilson has been one of my top QB targets in fantasy football in 2022.

I’ll tell you why: pic.twitter.com/tVNvxPKyDN

— Moody (@EricNMoody) August 27, 2022

So, too will wide receivers K.J Hamler and Montrell Washington, along with tight ends Albert Okwuegbunam, Greg Dulcich and Eric Tomlinson. That said, arguably, WR Jerry Jeudy is the player that could benefit the most.

Jeudy has a ton of potential, but he’s yet to play with a future Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback and in the kind of offense that will allow him to shine.

Player to Watch: WR Jerry Jeudy

Broncos Defense

The Bronco’s defense is oft overlooked since the Wilson trade. Everyone is banging on about the offense and how amazing it’s going to be with Wilson at the helm. But the defense could be the bread and butter of this team.

It will be interesting to see how this unit performs now that it’s not going to be required to carry an inept offense. Moreover, Wilson appreciates good defense. His lone Super Bowl victory came on the back of the “Legion of Boom” doing the hard graft.

Defensive end Dre’Mont Jones is poised for a breakout season. He will be complemented by nose tackler D.J. Jones, who has signed this offseason to give the defense more depth. Arguably, the big name on this defense is Bradley Chubb, who could also have a breakout season if he remains healthy.

Player to Watch: Bradley Chubb

Broncos Team Strength

It’s a total toss-up between the offense and defense here because both could be seen as a source of strength for this team. However, we’re giving it to the offense because the mile-high expectations expressed by the bookmakers at the sportsbook exchange are the direct result of the Wilson trade. They’re not mutually exclusive.

Wilson has carried so-so offenses to better results than most would have expected. Now that he has a pretty good crop of players around him, he should thrive – and so should they in turn

Broncos Team Weakness

There’s a lot to like about the Broncos, but the new coaching staff is the one glaring wild card going into 2022. Nathaniel Hackett is an offensive-minded head coach who comes to Denver after several years as the Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator.

His coaching staff features a lot of new blood that has little experience in their current roles, respectively. New OC Justin Outten joins Hackett from Green Bay where he was the tight ends coach. New DC Ejiro Evero joins the team after several years in Los Angeles Rams where he was the safeties coach (2020-21). Then the secondary coach and passing game coordinator with the Super Bowl-winning Rams last year.

Broncos Forecast

If the Broncos live up to expectations, the battle for the AFC West title could be intense, just like the NFL odds suggest. However, the uncertainty around Hackett and his team coupled with the experience and stability of their division rivals, and the quality of quarterbacking among some of those neighbors could see Denver go through a lot of growing pains. More so than most are expecting.

So, don’t be surprised if the Broncos don’t even make the playoffs, let alone win the AFC West.