2022 Denver Broncos season

2022 Denver Broncos season
OwnerRob Walton[a]
General managerGeorge Paton
Head coachNathaniel Hackett (fired on December 26, 4–11 record)
Jerry Rosburg (interim; 1–1 record)
Home fieldEmpower Field at Mile High
Results
Record5–12
Division place4th AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersCB Patrick Surtain II
AP All-ProsS Justin Simmons (2nd team)
CB Patrick Surtain II (1st team)
Uniform

The 2022 season was the Denver Broncos' 53rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 63rd overall, their second under the leadership of general manager George Paton, and their first and only season under head coach Nathaniel Hackett. This was also their first season under the ownership of the Walton-Penner Family Group, replacing the Pat Bowlen Trust that had existed following the death of longtime owner Pat Bowlen in 2019.

Despite a surprising 2–1 start, the Broncos failed to improve on their 7–10 record from 2021 or make the playoffs for the first time since 2015, as they made a blockbuster trade to land former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. The team's defense ranked near the top in several categories; however, injuries, poor offensive performances and numerous penalties plagued the team, ranking at or near the bottom of the league in several offensive categories, including last in scoring. The Broncos did not score 30 or more points until their final game of the season. The Broncos suffered their sixth consecutive losing season and missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season. Hackett was fired on December 26, two weeks before the end of the season, after a 4–11 start.[1] This was the second time the Broncos fired a head coach in the calendar year 2022.

The Broncos finished their disastrous season with a 5–12 record, tying a franchise record for losses in a season, with a 4–12 record that was previously set in 2010. The Broncos also finished the season with 22 players on injured reserve, the second most in the league. Several analysts and observers argued that Hackett's coaching was a major reason for Wilson's decline and Denver's woeful underachieving in 2022.[2][3][4][5]

Coaching changes

[edit]

On January 9, one day after the Broncos' 2021 regular season finale, head coach Vic Fangio was fired after compiling a 19–30 (.388) record in three seasons and two consecutive last-place finishes.[6] On January 27, the Broncos finalized a deal for Nathaniel Hackett to become the 18th head coach in the franchise's history, replacing Fangio. This was Hackett's first head coaching job, after previously serving as the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator from 2013 to 2014, the Jacksonville Jaguars' quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator from 2015 to 2018 and the Green Bay Packers' offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021. Hackett becomes the Broncos' sixth different head coach since 2008.[7]

In the month after Hackett's hiring, the Broncos underwent the following coaching changes:

2022 Denver Broncos coaching staff changes
Position Previous coach 2022 replacement Source
Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, 2020–2021 Justin Outten [8]
Offensive line coach Mike Munchak, 2019–2021 Butch Barry
Passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Shula, 2019–2021 Klint Kubiak
Assistant offensive line coach Chris Kuper, 2019–2021 Ben Steele [9]
Assistant special teams coach Chris Gould, 2017–2021 Mike Mallory
Linebackers coach Reggie Herring, 2015–2021 Peter Hansen
Outside linebackers coach John Pagano, 2020–2021 Bert Watts
Offensive quality control coach Chris Cook, 2021
Justin Rascati, 2019–2021
Ramon Chinyoung
Senior defensive assistant None Dom Capers
Tight ends coach Wade Harman, 2019–2021 Jake Moreland
Assistant defensive backs coach None Ola Adams [10]
Running backs coach Curtis Modkins, 2018–2021 Tyrone Wheatley [11]
Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, 2019–2021 Ejiro Evero [12]
Defensive line coach Bill Kollar, 2015–2021 Marcus Dixon
Special teams coach Tom McMahon, 2018–2021 Dwayne Stukes
Defensive quality control coach Nathaniel Willingham, 2019–2021 Andrew Carter [13]
Note: Bill Kollar remained on the Broncos' coaching staff as a defensive consultant.[14]

In-season

[edit]

On December 26, one day after an embarrassing 51–14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and as a result of the team's offensive struggles, head coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired after a 4–11 start. Jerry Rosburg, who was hired in Week 3 to assist Hackett following a series of game management errors in the team's first two games, was named the team's interim coach for the last two games of the season. Rosburg served as the Baltimore Ravens' special teams coach from 2008–2018. Hackett became the fifth head coach in NFL history to not last a full season, and his tenure was the shortest for a non-interim coach in franchise history.[1] That same day, offensive line coach Butch Barry and special teams coach Dwayne Stukes, both in their first season with the Broncos, were also fired.[15]

Front office changes

[edit]

On February 3, Darren Mougey, who served as the Broncos' Director of Player Personnel in 2021, was promoted to assistant general manager. Mougey previously served as a Broncos' scouting assistant from 2012 to 2020.[16]

Roster changes

[edit]

Future contracts

[edit]

All players listed below were signed to reserve/future contracts from January 10–12, unless noted otherwise. Each player was officially added to the active roster on March 16—the first day of the 2022 league year.[17]

Position Player Notes
TE Shaun Beyer waived May 13[18]
RB Damarea Crockett placed on injured reserve August 2[19]
WR Travis Fulgham waived August 16[20]
OT Drew Himmelman waived May 13[18]
G Zack Johnson waived May 13,[18] re-signed May 16,[21] waived August 30[22]
DE Jonathan Kongbo waived August 30,[22] assigned to the practice squad on August 31,[23]
promoted to the active roster on October 6,[24] waived October 11,[25]
promoted to the active roster on December 31[26]
DE Marquiss Spencer designated as waived/injured on August 22[27]
OT Casey Tucker signed January 20,[28] designated as waived/injured on August 23[29]
LB Barrington Wade designated as waived/injured on August 25[30]

Free agents

[edit]

Unrestricted

[edit]
Position Player 2022 team Notes
QB Teddy Bridgewater Miami Dolphins signed with the Dolphins on March 14[31]
CB Bryce Callahan Los Angeles Chargers signed with the Chargers on May 4[32]
OT Cameron Fleming Denver Broncos signed July 27[33]
CB Mike Ford Atlanta Falcons signed with the Falcons on April 8[34]
CB Kyle Fuller Baltimore Ravens signed with the Ravens on May 24[35]
RB Melvin Gordon Denver Broncos re-signed April 27,[36] waived November 21[37]
CB Nate Hairston Minnesota Vikings signed with the Vikings on March 28[38]
NT Justin Hamilton Washington Commanders originally an RFA, signed with the Commanders on June 14[39]
S Kareem Jackson Denver Broncos re-signed April 11[40]
LB Josey Jewell Denver Broncos re-signed March 15[41]
LB A. J. Johnson None
C Brett Jones None
LB Micah Kiser Las Vegas Raiders signed with the Raiders on March 21[42]
OT Bobby Massie None
LB Natrez Patrick Detroit Lions originally an RFA, signed with the Lions on May 16[43]
TE Eric Saubert Denver Broncos re-signed May 4[44]
G Austin Schlottmann Minnesota Vikings originally an RFA, signed with the Vikings on March 16[45]
WR Diontae Spencer None originally an RFA
DE Shamar Stephen None
LB Stephen Weatherly Cleveland Browns signed with the Browns on April 18[46]
NT DeShawn Williams Denver Broncos originally an RFA, re-signed March 18[47]
LB Kenny Young Las Vegas Raiders signed with the Raiders on May 9[48]

Note: Unrestricted free agents who were originally Restricted free agents (RFA) had three accrued seasons whose contracts expired at the end of the previous season, and did not receive a qualifying offer before the start of the 2022 league year on March 16.

Restricted and exclusive-rights

[edit]
Position Player Tag 2022 team Notes
OT Calvin Anderson RFA Denver Broncos re-signed March 13[49]
TE Andrew Beck RFA Denver Broncos re-signed March 13[49]
LB Jonas Griffith ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 13,[49] placed on injured reserve November 18[50]
RB Adrian Killins ERFA None
S P. J. Locke ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 13,[49] re-signed April 11[51]
LB Malik Reed RFA Pittsburgh Steelers assigned tender on March 17,[52] re-signed April 11,[51]
traded to the Steelers on August 30[22]
QB Brett Rypien ERFA Denver Broncos assigned tender on March 13,[49] re-signed April 11[51]
Restricted Free Agent (RFA): Players with three accrued seasons whose contracts expired at the end of the previous season
Exclusive-Rights Free Agent (ERFA): Players with two or fewer accrued seasons whose contracts expired at the end of the previous season

Signings

[edit]
Position Player 2021 team(s) Notes
LB Dakota Allen Jacksonville Jaguars signed November 22,[53] placed on injured reserve December 19[54]
CB Blessuan Austin Denver Broncos
Seattle Seahawks
signed April 27,[55] waived August 29[56]
RB Tyler Badie None signed off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad on December 29[57]
CB Essang Bassey Denver Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers
claimed off waivers from the Chargers on February 14,[58] waived September 1,[59]
promoted to the active roster on September 14[60]
G Ben Braden Green Bay Packers signed March 14,[61] released August 15[62]
OT Tom Compton San Francisco 49ers signed March 17,[63] placed on the physically unable to perform list August 23,[29]
activated from the physically unable to perform list November 15,[64]
placed on injured reserve December 22[65]
LS Mitchell Fraboni None signed October 24,[66] placed on injured reserve November 17[67]
DE Elijah Garcia None signed off the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad on December 7[68]
DE Randy Gregory Dallas Cowboys signed March 18,[69] placed on injured reserve October 4,[70]
activated from injured reserve on December 17,[71]
placed on season-ending injured reserve December 31[26]
T Christian DiLauro None promoted from the practice squad on December 19[54]
RB JaQuan Hardy Dallas Cowboys signed August 10,[72] waived August 29[56]
S Anthony Harris Philadelphia Eagles promoted from the practice squad on November 8,[73] waived December 6[74]
DE Jonathan Harris Denver Broncos promoted to the active roster on November 15[64]
CB Lamar Jackson None promoted from the practice squad on December 31[26]
QB Josh Johnson New York Jets
Baltimore Ravens
signed March 18,[75] released August 30,[22]
assigned to the practice squad on August 31[23]
DT D. J. Jones San Francisco 49ers signed March 14[76]
CB Donnie Lewis None signed April 27,[55] designated as waived/injured on August 29[56]
RB Marlon Mack Indianapolis Colts signed October 24,[66] placed on injured reserve January 3[77]
CB Ja'Quan McMillian None promoted from the practice squad on January 3[77]
RB Latavius Murray Baltimore Ravens signed October 4[70]
RB Devine Ozigbo None claimed off waivers from the New Orleans Saints on August 22,[78]
waived August 30,[22] assigned to the practice squad on August 31[23]
CB Darius Phillips Cincinnati Bengals signed September 1[59]
WR Trey Quinn None signed April 27,[55] waived August 23[29]
S J. R. Reed Los Angeles Rams
New York Giants
signed March 21,[79] waived August 30[22]
LB Joe Schobert Pittsburgh Steelers signed August 15,[62] released August 23[29]
RB Stevie Scott III None signed August 10,[72] waived August 23[29]
WR Darrius Shepherd None signed August 4,[80] waived August 30,[22]
assigned to the practice squad on August 31,[23]
released from the practice squad on October 11[25]
T Will Sherman None promoted from the practice squad on January 3[77]
LB Alex Singleton Philadelphia Eagles signed March 18[81]
WR Freddie Swain Seattle Seahawks signed December 14[82]
TE Eric Tomlinson Baltimore Ravens signed March 15,[83] released August 30,[22] re-signed August 31[84]
OT Billy Turner Green Bay Packers signed March 24,[85] placed on injured reserve November 15[64]
CB K'Waun Williams San Francisco 49ers signed March 23[86]

Departures

[edit]
Position Player Notes
WR Tyrie Cleveland waived November 15[64]
RB Melvin Gordon waived November 21[37]
WR Kendall Hinton released August 30,[22] assigned to the practice squad on August 31,[23]
promoted to the active roster on October 10[87]
S Jamar Johnson waived August 16[20]
P Sam Martin released August 29[56]
LB Andre Mintze waived May 16[18]
G Netane Muti waived August 30,[22] assigned to the practice squad on August 31[23]
CB Michael Ojemudia waived December 27[88]
NT Mike Purcell released August 30,[22] re-signed August 31[84]
WR Seth Williams waived August 30[22]

Draft

[edit]
2022 Denver Broncos Draft
Round Selection Player Position College Notes
1 9 Traded to Seattle[A]
2 40 Traded to Seattle[A]
64 Nik Bonitto LB Oklahoma from LA Rams[B]
3 75 Traded to Houston[C]
80 Greg Dulcich TE UCLA from New Orleans via Houston[C]
96 Traded to Indianapolis[D] from LA Rams[B]
4 115 Damarri Mathis CB Pittsburgh
116 Eyioma Uwazurike DE Iowa State from Seattle[A]
5 145 Traded to Seattle[A] from Detroit[E]
152 Delarrin Turner-Yell S Oklahoma
162 Montrell Washington WR Samford from Philadelphia via Houston[C]
171 Luke Wattenberg C Washington from Green Bay[F]
179 Traded to Green Bay[F] from Indianapolis[D]
6 187 Traded to San Francisco[G]
206 Matt Henningsen DE Wisconsin from Tampa Bay via Jets and Eagles[H]
7 232 Faion Hicks CB Wisconsin
234 Traded to Green Bay[F] from Cleveland via Detroit[E]
250 Traded to Minnesota[I] from San Francisco[G]

Draft trades

  1. ^ a b c d The Broncos traded QB Drew Lock, DE Shelby Harris, TE Noah Fant, first-, second- and fifth-round selections (9th, 40th and 145th overall), and 2023 first- and second-round selections to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for QB Russell Wilson and a fourth-round selection (116th overall).
  2. ^ a b The Broncos traded LB Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for second- and third-round selections (64th and 96th overall).[89]
  3. ^ a b c The Broncos traded a third-round selection (75th overall) to the Houston Texans in exchange for third- and fifth-round selections (80th and 162nd overall).[90]
  4. ^ a b The Broncos traded a third-round selection (96th overall) to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a fifth-round selection (179th overall) and a 2023 third-round selection.[91]
  5. ^ a b The Broncos traded WR Trinity Benson and a 2023 sixth-round pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for fifth- and seventh-round selections (145th and 234th overall).[92][93]
  6. ^ a b c The Broncos traded fifth- and seventh-round selections (179th and 234th overall) to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a fifth-round selection (171st overall).[94]
  7. ^ a b The Broncos traded a sixth-round selection (187th overall) and a 2023 seventh-round selection to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for LB Jonas Griffith and a seventh-round selection (250th overall).[95]
  8. ^ The Broncos traded CB Kary Vincent Jr. to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a sixth-round selection (206th overall).[96]
  9. ^ The Broncos traded a seventh-round selection (250th overall) to Minnesota Vikings in exchange for DE Stephen Weatherly and a 2023 seventh-round selection.[97]

Post-draft trades

[edit]

Undrafted free agents

[edit]

All undrafted free agents were signed at the conclusion of the 2022 NFL draft on April 30,[101] unless noted otherwise.

2022 Denver Broncos Undrafted Free Agents
Player Position College Notes
Christopher Allen LB Alabama placed on injured reserve August 10[72]
Max Borghi RB Washington State originally signed and waived by the Indianapolis Colts,
signed by the Broncos on August 3,[102] waived August 16[20]
Cortez Davis CB Hawaii waived May 16[21]
Kaden Davis WR Northwest Missouri State waived August 16[20]
Jeremiah Gemmel LB North Carolina signed August 25,[30] waived August 29[56]
Sebastian Gutierrez OT Minot State waived August 29[56]
Brandon Johnson WR UCF placed on injured reserve August 30,[22] promoted to the active roster on December 3[103]
Tyreik McAllister RB Charleston designated as waived/injured on August 10[72]
Ja'Quan McMillian CB East Carolina waived August 30,[22] assigned to the practice squad on August 31[23]
Kana'i Mauga LB USC waived August 30,[22] assigned to the practice squad on August 31[23]
Michael Niese OT Temple waived August 30[22]
Dylan Parham TE NC State waived August 30,[22] assigned to the practice squad on August 31[23]
Jalen Virgil WR, RS Appalachian State the only undrafted rookie to make the Week 1 roster
Rodney Williams TE UT Martin waived August 16[20]
Kadofi Wright LB Buffalo waived July 27[33]

Trade for Russell Wilson

[edit]

On March 16, the Broncos acquired quarterback Russell Wilson and a 2022 fourth-round selection (No. 116 overall) from the Seattle Seahawks, in one of the largest trades in NFL history. The Broncos sent quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, defensive end Shelby Harris, their 2022 first-, second- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 9, 40 and 145 overall) and their 2023 first- and second-round selections to the Seahawks in exchange. In his ten seasons in Seattle (2012–2021), Wilson reached nine Pro Bowls, led the Seahawks to eight playoff appearances and two Super Bowl berths, including a 43–8 victory over the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. Wilson became the Broncos' 12th different starting quarterback since Peyton Manning's retirement after their 2015 Super Bowl-winning season—tied with the Washington Commanders for the most in the NFL during that span.[104][105] Wilson was released after the 2023 season.[106]

Injuries

[edit]
Position Player Time & type of injury Games missed Source(s)
LS Jacob Bobenmoyer hand/wrist, Week 5 injured reserve, Weeks 6–10 [107][87][108]
OT Garett Bolles leg fracture, Week 5 season-ending injured reserve, starting with Week 6 [109][87]
RB Mike Boone ankle, Week 7 injured reserve, Weeks 8–12 [66][103]
ankle, Week 14 season-ending injured reserve, starting with Week 15 [110]
LB Baron Browning strained hip flexor, Week 7 Week 8 [66]
T Tom Compton back, Week 15 season-ending injured reserve, beginning with Week 16 [65]
RB Damarea Crockett torn ACL, preseason workouts injured reserve, missed the entire 2022 season [19][102]
C Lloyd Cushenberry groin, Week 8 season-ending injured reserve, starting with Week 10 [73]
CB Ronald Darby torn ACL, Week 5 season-ending injured reserve, starting with Week 6 [109][87]
TE Greg Dulcich hamstring, training camp injured reserve, Weeks 1–5 [111][84][112]
hamstring, Week 16 season-ending injured reserve, starting with Week 17 [113]
RB Chase Edmonds high ankle sprain, Week 11 injured reserve, Weeks 12–15 [114][53][100]
LS Mitchell Fraboni fractured finger, Week 10 season-ending injured reserve, starting with Week 11 [67]
LB Randy Gregory knee, Week 4 injured reserve, Weeks 4–14 [70][71]
knee, Week 16 season-ending injured reserve, starting with Week 17 [26]
LB Jonas Griffith foot, Week 10 season-ending injured reserve, starting with Week 11 [50]
WR K. J. Hamler hamstring, November 9 practice Weeks 10–12; season-ending injured reserve, starting with Week 13 [115][116][103]
RB Marlon Mack hamstring, Week 17 injured reserve, Week 18 [117]
WR Jerry Jeudy ankle, Week 10 Weeks 11–12 [118][119]
DE Dre'Mont Jones hip, Week 14 season-ending injured reserve, starting with Week 15 [71]
CB Michael Ojemudia elbow, preseason injured reserve, Weeks 1–5 [120][84][112]
WR Tim Patrick torn ACL, preseason workouts injured reserve, missed the entire 2022 season [19][102]
G Dalton Risner elbow, Week 17 injured reserve, Week 18 [117]
S Justin Simmons quad, Week 1 injured reserve, Weeks 2–5 [60][112]
OT Billy Turner knee, Week 10 injured reserve, Weeks 11–14 [64][71]
RB Javonte Williams torn ACL, Week 4 season-ending injured reserve, starting with Week 5 [70]
CB K'Waun Williams knee, Week 10 season-ending injured reserve, starting with Week 11 [118][119]
QB Russell Wilson hamstring, Week 6 Week 7 [121]
concussion, Week 14 Week 15 [122]

Practice squad elevations

[edit]

Each NFL team is permitted to elevate up to two players from the practice squad to the active game day roster per week, with those designated players being allowed to return to the practice squad after each game without being exposed to waivers. Each player can be elevated a maximum of three times.[123]

Week Player(s) promoted Source
2 WR Kendall Hinton, G Netane Muti [124]
3 DE Jonathan Harris, WR Kendall Hinton [125]
4 WR Kendall Hinton, G Netane Muti [126]
5 S Anthony Harris, RB Devine Ozigbo [24]
6 LS Mitchell Fraboni, S Anthony Harris [112]
7 LS Mitchell Fraboni, QB Josh Johnson [127]
10 T Quinn Bailey, DE Jonathan Harris [128]
11 WR Brandon Johnson, LB Harvey Langi [108]
12 CB Faion Hicks, WR Brandon Johnson [129]
13 CB Faion Hicks, LB Harvey Langi [103]
14 G Netane Muti, LB Harvey Langi [130]
15 QB Jarrett Guarantano, RB Devine Ozigbo [71]
16 CB Lamar Jackson, LB Wyatt Ray [100]
17 LB Wyatt Ray, LB Ray Wilborn [26]
18 LB Wyatt Ray, LB Ray Wilborn [131]

Personnel

[edit]

Staff / Coaches

[edit]
2022 Denver Broncos staff

Front office

  • Owners – Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group
  • CEO – Greg Penner
  • President – Damani Leech
  • General manager – George Paton
  • Assistant general manager – Darren Mougey
  • Director of player personnel – Reed Burckhardt
  • Director of pro personnel – A. J. Durso
  • Executive director of football operations – Kelly Kleine
  • Vice president of football administration – Rich Hurtado
  • Vice president of football operation and compliance – Mark Thewes
  • Vice president of player development – Ray Jackson
  • Director of college scouting – Brian Stark
  • Senior personnel executive – Roman Phifer
  • Assistant director of college scouting – Nick Schiralli

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Ejiro Evero
  • Defensive line – Marcus Dixon
  • Linebackers – Peter Hansen
  • Outside linebackers – Bert Watts
  • Defensive backs – Christian Parker
  • Assistant defensive backs – Ola Adams
  • Senior defensive assistant – Dom Capers
  • Defensive quality control – Andrew Carter
  • Defense - special projects – Mayur Chaudhari
  • Defensive/special projects – Bill Kollar
  • Billy Thompson coaching fellowship – DeAndre Thompson

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Head strength and conditioning – Loren Landow
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Richard Guarascio
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Korey Jones
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Pierre Ngo


Final roster

[edit]
2022 Denver Broncos roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 22 reserve, 14 practice squad

Preseason

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 13 Dallas Cowboys W 17–7 1–0 Empower Field at Mile High Recap
2 August 20 at Buffalo Bills L 15–42 1–1 Highmark Stadium Recap
3 August 27 Minnesota Vikings W 23–13 2–1 Empower Field at Mile High Recap

Regular season

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 12 at Seattle Seahawks L 16–17 0–1 Lumen Field Recap
2 September 18 Houston Texans W 16–9 1–1 Empower Field at Mile High Recap
3 September 25 San Francisco 49ers W 11–10 2–1 Empower Field at Mile High Recap
4 October 2 at Las Vegas Raiders L 23–32 2–2 Allegiant Stadium Recap
5 October 6 Indianapolis Colts L 9–12 (OT) 2–3 Empower Field at Mile High Recap
6 October 17 at Los Angeles Chargers L 16–19 (OT) 2–4 SoFi Stadium Recap
7 October 23 New York Jets L 9–16 2–5 Empower Field at Mile High Recap
8 October 30 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 21–17 3–5 United Kingdom Wembley Stadium (London) Recap
9 Bye
10 November 13 at Tennessee Titans L 10–17 3–6 Nissan Stadium Recap
11 November 20 Las Vegas Raiders L 16–22 (OT) 3–7 Empower Field at Mile High Recap
12 November 27 at Carolina Panthers L 10–23 3–8 Bank of America Stadium Recap
13 December 4 at Baltimore Ravens L 9–10 3–9 M&T Bank Stadium Recap
14 December 11 Kansas City Chiefs L 28–34 3–10 Empower Field at Mile High Recap
15 December 18 Arizona Cardinals W 24–15 4–10 Empower Field at Mile High Recap
16 December 25 at Los Angeles Rams L 14–51 4–11 SoFi Stadium Recap
17 January 1 at Kansas City Chiefs L 24–27 4–12 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
18 January 8 Los Angeles Chargers W 31–28 5–12 Empower Field at Mile High Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

[edit]

Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks

[edit]
Week 1: Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 3 10 0316
Seahawks 7 10 0017

at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

Game information

The 2022 season opener marked Russell Wilson's return to Seattle, where he led the Seahawks to eight playoff appearances and two Super Bowl berths during his ten seasons there from 2012–2021. After his trade from the Seahawks to the Broncos in March, he became the Broncos' sixth different opening day starting quarterback in as many seasons. This also marked Nathaniel Hackett's debut as the Broncos' head coach.[132]

The teams alternated scoring in the first half. The Seahawks took the early lead on the game's opening drive, with quarterback Geno Smith connecting on a 38-yard touchdown pass to tight end Will Dissly in the first quarter. Placekicker Brandon McManus got the Broncos on the scoring board with a 30-yard field goal. The Seahawks increased their lead to 10–3 midway through the second quarter with a 49-yard field goal. The Broncos then pulled even with the Seahawks, when Wilson threw his first touchdown pass as a Bronco—a 67-yarder to wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. However, the Seahawks responded, with Smith's second touchdown of the first half—a 25-yarder to tight end Colby Parkinson prior to the 2-minute warning. The Broncos' defense held the Seahawks scoreless for the remainder of the game. McManus added a 30-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to narrow the Seahawks' lead to 17–13.[132]

The Broncos had the ball on the 1-yard line on back-to-back drives in the third quarter, but suffered two very costly turnovers when running backs Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams fumbled on the goal line on consecutive possessions. In between the two fumbles, Broncos' linebacker Randy Gregory forced a fumble off Seahawks' wide receiver D. K. Metcalf near midfield, which was recovered by safety Justin Simmons. After a scoreless third quarter, the Broncos started their first possession of the fourth quarter with 12:50 remaining in the game, but failed to reach the end zone after a 1st-and goal at the 3-yard line. McManus kicked a 26-yard field goal to narrow the Seahawks' lead to 17–16 with 6:16 left. After the defense forced a three-and-out from the Seahawks' offense, the Broncos started their final drive at their own 22-yard line with 4:02 remaining. Wilson marched the Broncos down the field and faced a 4th-and-5 on the Seahawks' 46-yard line with 56 seconds to play. Instead of calling a timeout, Hackett decided to let the clock run down to 20 seconds and called his first timeout to send out placekicker Brandon McManus to try a 64-yard game-winning field goal, which he missed wide left, sealing the win for the Seahawks. Hackett's decision to burn over 40 seconds of game clock to kick a 64-yard field goal instead of letting the offense try to convert and move the ball further down the field was widely criticized. The Broncos' offense failed to reach the end zone on all three of their red zone trips.[132]

Week 2: vs. Houston Texans

[edit]
Week 2: Houston Texans at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Texans 3 3 309
Broncos 3 3 01016

at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Game information

Through the midway point of the third quarter, all of the scoring came courtesy of the placekickers—40-, 44- and 24-yard field goals by the Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn, and 24- and 50-yard field goals by the Broncos' Brandon McManus. The 24-yard field goal by Fairbairn occurred after an interception of Broncos' quarterback Russell Wilson on the first possession of the first half. The Broncos took the lead for good early in the fourth quarter, with Wilson connecting on a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Eric Saubert—the game's only touchdown. After forcing a Texans' punt, McManus added a 50-yard field goal with 3:36 remaining in the game. The Broncos' defense forced two Texans' turnovers on downs, ending their rally attempt, and in the process, held the Texans to 234 total yards, helping Nathaniel Hackett earning his first win as Broncos head coach.[133]

Week 3: vs. San Francisco 49ers

[edit]
Week 3: San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
49ers 7 0 0310
Broncos 0 3 2611

at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Game information

The Broncos' offense had ten drives that ended in a 3-and-out, but their defense stymied the 49ers throughout the entire game. The only scoring plays within the first quarter were a 3-yard touchdown pass from 49ers' quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in the first quarter, and a 55-yard field goal by Broncos' placekicker Brandon McManus early in the second quarter. After the Broncos went 3-and-out on their first two possessions of the third quarter, the 49ers were backed up near their own goal line. Garoppolo accidentally stepped out of the back of the end zone for a safety while being pressured by Broncos' nose tackle Mike Purcell—a play which proved critical to the game's outcome. The Broncos trailed 10–5 following a 51-yard field goal by 49ers' placekicker Robbie Gould early in the 4th quarter, but finally found their rhythm on a 12-play, 80-yard drive, which running back Melvin Gordon capped off with a 1-yard touchdown run. While they failed to convert the 2-point conversion, they took an 11–10 lead with 4:13 remaining in the game. The Broncos' defense then forced two game-saving turnovers. First, Garoppolo was intercepted by linebacker Jonas Griffith, following a deflection by cornerback Kareem Jackson. Then, after the Broncos went 3-and-out just after the two-minute warning, and in the process, forcing the 49ers to burn two of their team timeouts, safety P. J. Locke forced a fumble off 49ers' running back Jeff Wilson deep in 49ers' territory, with Jackson recovering the fumble to seal the Broncos' victory.[134]

Week 4: at Las Vegas Raiders

[edit]
Week 4: Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 7 9 0723
Raiders 3 16 31032

at Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada

Game information

After a 30-yard field goal by Raiders' placekicker Daniel Carlson early in the first quarter, the Broncos responded, with a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson to wide receiver Courtland Sutton. It would be their only lead of the game, as a 5-yard touchdown run by running back Josh Jacobs early in the second quarter gave the Raiders the lead. Like the previous three games, red zone struggles continued to plague the Broncos, as they were forced to settle on a 28-yard field goal by placekicker Brandon McManus to tie the game at 10–10. After forcing a Raiders' punt on a 3-and-out, disaster struck on the Broncos' next possession just as they were hoping to re-take the lead. Running back Melvin Gordon fumbled, and Raiders' cornerback Amik Robertson recovered the football, returning it for a 68-yard touchdown (with a missed extra point attempt). The Broncos pulled even with the Raiders, with a 5-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. McManus missed short on the extra-point attempt that would have given the Broncos the lead. The Raiders then drove down the field that resulted in a 39-yard field goal by Carlson for a 19–16 lead just before halftime. A 22-yard field goal by Carlson was the only scoring play of the third quarter. The Broncos' running game struggled after running back Javonte Williams was forced to leave the game with, what turned out to be, a season-ending knee injury. After the Broncos went 3-and-out on the first possession of the fourth quarter, Carlson's fourth field goal of the game—from 30 yards out, gave the Raiders a 25–16 lead. The Broncos drove down the field, culminating a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Wilson to narrow the Raiders' lead to 25–23 with 7:19 remaining in the game. The drive was aided by a 55-yard completion from Wilson to wide receiver K. J. Hamler to the Raiders' 3-yard line, after two holding penalties backed up the Broncos with a 1st-and-30 from their own 19-yard line. However, the Broncos' defense was unable to hold the Raiders a pair of 3rd-down conversions. Carr scrambled for 9 yards on a critical 3-and-6 for a first down, and backup running back Zamir White scrambled for 22 yards on a 3rd-and-2 from the Broncos' 29-yard line. On the next play, Jacobs rushed for a 7-yard game-clinching touchdown. Wilson rushed for 5 yards on their first play from scrimmage just before the 2-minute warning, then threw three straight incomplete passes to end the Broncos' rally attempt.[135]

Week 5: vs. Indianapolis Colts

[edit]
Week 5: Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Colts 0 3 33312
Broncos 3 3 3009

at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Game information

All of the scoring came by way of the placekickers—Brandon McManus (Broncos) and Chase McLaughlin (Colts). McManus gave the Broncos a 6–0 lead with a 33-yarder in the first quarter, followed by a 44-yarder early in the second quarter. McLaughlin got the Colts on the board just before the halftime, with a 52-yard field goal, then pulled the Colts even with the Broncos, with a 51-yarder midway through the third quarter. McManus' third attempt of the game—from 34 yards out—was blocked by Colts' defensive tackle Grover Stewart—a play that would prove to be critical to the game's outcome. Following an interception of Colts' quarterback Matt Ryan by safety Caden Sterns, McManus redeemed himself with a 45-yarder late in the third quarter. The Broncos advanced into field goal range early in the fourth quarter; however, they blew a chance to add to their lead, when quarterback Russell Wilson was intercepted by Colts' safety Rodney Thomas II near the goal line. The Broncos' defense was able to stop the Colts from advancing past midfield on this possession and the next. The Broncos held a 9–6 lead with 6:47 remaining in the game, and marched down the field, hoping to either add to their lead or run out the clock. Wilson completed a 9-yard pass to tight end Eric Saubert, after facing a 4th-and-1 at the Colts' 28-yard line, forcing the Colts to use all of their team timeouts on defense. However, three plays later, Wilson was intercepted by Colts' cornerback Stephon Gilmore in the end zone for a touchback, on a pass intended for wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland. With 2:19 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Colts marched down the field, and McLaughlin sent the game to overtime with a 31-yard field goal. The Colts won the overtime coin toss, and grabbed a 12–9 lead, with McLaughlin's fourth field goal, from 48 yards out midway through overtime. The Broncos reached the Colts' 5-yard line in only six plays, and faced a 4th-and-1. However, instead of tying the game, they decided to either go for a new set of downs or try to win with a touchdown. However, Wilson's pass intended for wide receiver Courtland Sutton was broken up by Gilmore, resulting in a gut-wrenching loss for the Broncos. Wilson missed a wide-open K. J. Hamler on the game's final play.[136] It was later revealed that Wilson had playing with a partially torn lat in his throwing shoulder since the second quarter of the Broncos' previous game against the Raiders.[137]

Week 6: at Los Angeles Chargers

[edit]
Week 6: Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Broncos 10 3 03016
Chargers 0 10 33319

at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

  • Date: October 17
  • Game time: 6:15 p.m. MDT/5:15 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 70,240
  • Referee: Ronald Torbert
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Yet another stellar effort by the Broncos' defense was wasted by a poor performance from their offense. A 51-yard field goal by placekicker Brandon McManus, followed by a 39-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson to rookie tight end Greg Dulcich gave the Broncos a 10–0 lead in the first quarter. However, the offense struggled through the remainder of the game. The Chargers responded in the second quarter, with a 6-yard touchdown run by running back Austin Ekeler and a 37-yard field goal by placekicker Dustin Hopkins. A 27-yard field goal by McManus gave the Broncos a 13–10 lead at halftime. After the Broncos went 3-and-out on the opening possession of the second half, Hopkins tied the game with a 31-yard field goal. The Chargers faced a 4th-and-2 at the Broncos' 29-yard line; however, the Broncos' defense came up with a stop, forcing an incomplete pass off Chargers' quarterback Justin Herbert. On the Chargers' next possession, Herbert was intercepted by linebacker Baron Browning, giving the Broncos good field position at the Chargers' 30-yard line. However, the Broncos failed to gain any yardage, and McManus kicked a 47-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 16–13 lead midway through the fourth quarter. The Chargers responded once again, and Hopkins' third field goal of the game—from 35 yards out, tied the game at 16–16 with 4:02 remaining in the fourth quarter. Neither team advanced past midfield, sending the game to overtime. The Broncos went 3-and-out on both of their overtime possessions, and Hopkins later kicked the game-winning 43-yard field goal. Wilson threw for 188 yards, but 173 of those came in the first half, and Wilson played through a hamstring injury during the second half.[138]

Week 7: vs. New York Jets

[edit]
Week 7: New York Jets at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jets 7 3 0616
Broncos 6 3 009

at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Game information

The Broncos fell behind early, after Jets' running back Breece Hall ran for a 62-yard touchdown. The Broncos responded late in the first quarter, with a 2-yard run by running back Latavius Murray. However, placekicker Brandon McManus missed wide-right on the extra point attempt, and again on a 56-yard field goal attempt early in the second quarter. McManus later atoned for his missed kicks, with a 44-yard field goal to give the Broncos their only lead of the game, at 10–9. However, the Broncos were held scoreless for the remainder of the game, and the Jets took the lead for good, with a 45-yard field goal by placekicker Greg Zuerlein at the end of the first half. Quarterback Brett Rypien, starting in place of the injured Russell Wilson, was intercepted by Jets' safety Lamarcus Joyner, resulting in the Jets adding to their lead, with a 33-yard field goal by Zuerlein early in the fourth quarter. After the Broncos went 3-and-out, the Jets increased their lead to 16–9, with a 40-yard field goal by Zuerlein with 4:39 remaining in the game. The Broncos faced a 4th-and-3 at the Jets' 25-yard line at the two-minute warning, but Rypien's deep pass intended for wide receiver Courtland Sutton was incomplete. The Broncos' defense forced a 3-and-out from the Jets, and had one last offensive possession with 1:30 remaining in the game, but turned the football over on downs after two first downs and reaching midfield.[139]

Week 8: at Jacksonville Jaguars

[edit]

NFL London games

Week 8: Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 7 7721
Jaguars 7 3 0717

at Wembley Stadium, London, England

Game information

This was the Broncos' second appearance in the International Series in London—the other occurred in 2010. After quarterback Russell Wilson was intercepted on the Broncos' second possession, the Jaguars capitalized, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence throwing a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Evan Engram. The Jaguars were attempting to add to lead, with a 1st-and-goal, but Broncos' safety Justin Simmons intercepted a pass in the end zone from Lawrence intended for wide receiver Marvin Jones. The Jaguars eventually added to their lead on their next possession, with a 37-yard field goal by placekicker Riley Patterson. The Broncos finally got on the scoreboard late in the first half, with Wilson connecting with wide receiver Jerry Jeudy on a 6-yard touchdown pass, and later took the lead in the third quarter, with running back Melvin Gordon rushing for a 1-yard touchdown. Following several punt exchanges, the Jaguars took a 17–14 lead, with running back Travis Etienne rushing for a 1-yard touchdown. With 3:54 remaining in the game, Wilson engineered a fourth quarter comeback, culminating in a 2-yard touchdown run by running Latavius Murray with 1:47 remaining. After a touchback on the kickoff, the Broncos' defense subdued the Jaguars' rally attempt, as Lawrence was intercepted by cornerback K'Waun Williams on the first play from scrimmage.[140]

Week 10: at Tennessee Titans

[edit]
Week 10: Denver Broncos at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 10 0010
Titans 0 7 7317

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

  • Date: November 13
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 35 °F (2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 69,240
  • Referee: Scott Novak
  • TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon, James Lofton and Amanda Renner
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

The Broncos' entire scoring output occurred in the second quarter—a 66-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson to wide receiver Jalen Virgil, along with a 39-yard field goal by placekicker Brandon McManus. The Titans got on the scoreboard just before halftime, with quarterback Ryan Tannehill connecting on a 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in the corner of the end zone. The Titans grabbed the lead in the third quarter, with Tannehill throwing a 63-yard touchdown pass to Westbrook-Ikhine by way of a flea-flicker. A 35-yard field goal by placekicker Randy Bullock increased the Titans' lead to 17–10 with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Broncos' punted on their first five possessions of the second half, failing to advance past their own 42-yard line on four possessions. Wilson tried to engineer a rally, and the Broncos faced a 4th-and-8 at the Titans' 25 line with 20 seconds remaining. However, Wilson was intercepted by Titans' cornerback Terrance Mitchell near the goal line, ending the Broncos' rally attempt.[141]

Week 11: vs. Las Vegas Raiders

[edit]
Week 11: Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Raiders 0 7 36622
Broncos 7 3 06016

at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Game information

The Broncos reached the end zone on their opening possession, with a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Latavius Murray, and placekicker Brandon McManus gave the Broncos a 10–0 lead, with a 48-yard field goal early in the second quarter. In between, Raiders' placekicker Daniel Carlson missed wide right on a 46-yard field goal attempt, but a 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Derek Carr to wide receiver Davante Adams put the Raiders on the scoreboard. The Broncos marched down the field, and were attempting to add to their lead just before halftime; however, McManus' field goal attempt from 25 yards out was blocked by Raiders' defensive end Maxx Crosby. After the Broncos' went three-and-out to begin the second half, a 52-yard field goal by Carlson tied the game at 10–10. After an exchange of punts, McManus countered with a 52-yard field goal of his own at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Each team went three-and-out on their next offensive possessions, and a 57-yard field goal by Carlson tied the game at 13–13. McManus responded, with a 48-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 16–13 lead with 3:34 remaining in the game. After a forcing a three-and-out, the Broncos were attempting to run out the clock, but only earned one first down and were forced to punt just after the two-minute warning. The Broncos' defense was unable to stop the Raiders, as Carlson kicked a 25-yard field goal to send the game to overtime tied a 16–16. The Raiders' game-tying drive was aided by two deep pass completions from Carr—a 21-yarder to wide receiver Keelan Cole, and from midfield, a 43-yarder to running back Josh Jacobs. The Raiders won the overtime coin toss, and on the third play from scrimmage, Carr threw the game-winning 35-yard touchdown pass to Adams.[142]

Week 12: at Carolina Panthers

[edit]
Week 12: Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 3 0710
Panthers 7 3 7623

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

The Broncos' struggled offensively throughout the entire game, in a 23–10 loss to the Panthers. The Broncos trailed 23–3 midway through the fourth quarter, and failed to advance past their own 38-yard line in seven of their first ten possessions. The only scoring play came by way of a 27-yard field goal by placekicker Brandon McManus early in the second quarter, after a Panthers' fumble on a punt return. In the other two possessions in which the Broncos' found themselves past midfield, quarterback Russell Wilson was strip-sacked after reaching the Panthers' 23-yard line, and McManus missed wide left on a 56-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half. The Broncos finally reached the end zone at the 3:24 mark of the fourth quarter, with Wilson throwing a 1-yard touchdown pass to undrafted rookie wide receiver Brandon Johnson. The Broncos' subsequent onside kick attempt was successful but earned a total of 0 yards in 4 downs. Defensively, the Broncos surrendered two touchdowns to Panthers' quarterback Sam Darnold—one passing and one rushing, as well as three field goals by placekicker Eddy Piñeiro.[143]

Week 13: at Baltimore Ravens

[edit]
Week 13: Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 3 3 309
Ravens 0 3 0710

at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

  • Date: December 4
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/11:00 a.m. MST
  • Game weather: Clear, 43 °F (6 °C)
  • Game attendance: 70,443
  • Referee: Alex Kemp
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

The Broncos failed to score a touchdown for the third time in 2022, settling for three field goals by placekicker Brandon McManus, going 2-of-12 on third down and never advancing any further than the Ravens' 23-yard line. The Broncos led 9–3 with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The scoring play that the Broncos' defense had yielded to that point was a 26-yard field goal by Ravens' placekicker Justin Tucker in the second quarter. However, the Broncos' defense failed to protect the lead, and Ravens' backup quarterback Tyler Huntley engineered a 16-play, 91-yard game-winning drive, culminating in a 2-yard touchdown run. Huntley entered the game after starting quarterback Lamar Jackson exited with a knee injury in the first half. With 28 seconds left in the game, quarterback Russell Wilson tried to put the Broncos in position for a game-winning field goal. After a 16-yard pass completion to wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and two runs of 17 and 4 yards by Wilson, the Broncos reached the Ravens' 45-yard line with two seconds remaining after exhausting the last two of their three team timeouts. McManus attempted a long field goal from 63 yards out, but it fell short.[144]

Notes

With the loss, the Broncos dropped to 1–7 all-time in Baltimore, including the postseason.[145]

Week 14: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

[edit]
Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 6 21 7034
Broncos 0 14 7728

at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: December 11
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 62 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 73,389
  • Referee: Craig Wrolstad
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Charles Davis and Evan Washburn
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

The Broncos fell behind 27–0 to the Chiefs, following two field goals by placekicker Harrison Butker in the first quarter, two touchdown passes from quarterback Patrick Mahomes to running back Jerick McKinnon and a 47-yard interception of Broncos' quarterback Russell Wilson by linebacker Willie Gay for a touchdown. The Broncos took advantage of two interceptions by Mahomes, and within the last two minutes of the first half, Wilson threw a pair of touchdown passes to wide receiver Jerry Jeudy—from 18 and 5 yards out. The Broncos took the opening possession of the second half, and narrowed the Chiefs' lead to 27–21, with Wilson's third touchdown pass of the game—a 66-yarder to running back Marlon Mack. Following an exchange of punts, the Chiefs increased their lead to 34–21, with Mahomes' third touchdown pass of the game—a 4-yarder to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster near the end of the third quarter. While the Broncos drove down the field on their next possession, Wilson suffered a concussion after a 14-yard scramble to the Chiefs' 2-yard line. Backup quarterback Brett Rypien took over for the remainder of the game, and on the same drive, he connected with Jeudy on a 7-yard touchdown pass— Jeudy's third touchdown reception of the game—to pull the Broncos within a 34–28 deficit. With six minutes remaining in the game, Mahomes was intercepted by linebacker Josey Jewell. However, just as the Broncos were hoping for a miraculous comeback from a 27–0 deficit, they failed to capitalize, as Rypien was intercepted three plays later by cornerback L'Jarius Sneed at the Chiefs' 24-yard line at the 4:34 mark of the fourth quarter. The Broncos' defense was unable to prevent the Chiefs' from running out the clock.[146]

Week 15: vs. Arizona Cardinals

[edit]
Week 15: Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 6 3615
Broncos 3 0 71424

at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: December 18
  • Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 39 °F (4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 56,786
  • Referee: Jerome Boger
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Robert Smith and Jen Hale
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

By the 9-minute mark of the third quarter, all of the scoring came by way of field goals. Broncos' placekicker Brandon McManus made a 52-yard field goal, but missed wide right on a 38-yard attempt—both in the first quarter, and the latter after an interception of Cardinals' quarterback Colt McCoy by safety Justin Simmons. McCoy started in place of Kyler Murray, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during the previous week. Cardinals' placekicker Matt Prater kicked three field goals—from 45 and 50 yards out in the second quarter, followed by a 55-yarder on the initial possession of the second half. McCoy was placed in concussion protocol after the third play from scrimmage of the second half, and was replaced by third-string quarterback Trace McSorley. Trailing 9–3, Broncos' backup quarterback Brett Rypien, starting in place of Russell Wilson, led a 7-play, 80-yard drive, culminating in a 3-yard touchdown run by running back Marlon Mack midway through the third quarter, which gave the Broncos the lead for good. Wilson was cleared from concussion protocol two days earlier, but did not play. Despite an interception of Rypien deep in Cardinals' territory at the end of the third quarter, the Broncos later added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter—a 10-yard run by running back Latavius Murray, followed by a 3-yard pass from Rypien to tight end Eric Tomlinson. The Cardinals finally reached the end zone on their next possession, with running back James Conner rushing for a 1-yard touchdown to narrow the Broncos' lead to 24–15. However, the Cardinals went for an unsuccessful two-point conversion, instead of going for the extra point that would have pulled them to within a one-score deficit. The Broncos then proceeded to run out the clock.[147]

Notes

The Broncos improved their all-time series record against the Cardinals to 10–1–1, including 6–0 in Denver.[148]

Week 16: at Los Angeles Rams

[edit]

Christmas Day games

Week 16: Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 3 3 0814
Rams 17 14 31751

at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

Game information

On Christmas Day, the Broncos traveled to Los Angeles to take on the Rams, who they have not defeated since 2002, when the franchise was based in St. Louis. The Broncos' defense, which was one of their few highs throughout the season, displayed their poorest performance, and failed to force a punt or turnover off the Rams, in a 51–14 loss. The Rams jumped out to a 17–0 lead in the first quarter, and the Broncos never recovered, with the Rams taking advantage of two early interceptions by Broncos' quarterback Russell Wilson. Rams' quarterback Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes—both to tight end Tyler Higbee, running back Cam Akers rushed for three touchdowns, and cornerback Cobie Durant returned an interception off backup quarterback Brett Rypien 85 yards for a touchdown late in the game. Offensively, the Broncos did not reach the end zone, until midway through the fourth quarter, when Wilson connected on an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Greg Dulcich, by which time the game had already been decided in the Rams' favor. The Broncos' surrendered 50+ points for the first time since a 51–23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles during Week 9 of the 2017 season. The loss also secured the Broncos their third consecutive fourth place finish in the AFC West, marking the first time that the Broncos finished last in their division in 3+ seasons since 19631971.[149] The next day, head coach Nathaniel Hackett was dismissed.[1]

Week 17: at Kansas City Chiefs

[edit]
Week 17: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 10 7724
Chiefs 6 7 01427

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

The Chiefs took an early lead over the Broncos, with running back Isiah Pacheco rushing for a 5-yard touchdown, coupled with a botched snap on the extra point attempt. The Broncos then took a 10–6 lead, with a 49-yard field goal by placekicker Brandon McManus, followed by quarterback Russell Wilson scrambling for a 16-yard touchdown run. The Chiefs retook the lead just before halftime, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes connecting on a 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Jerick McKinnon just before halftime. The Broncos took a 17–13 lead midway through the third quarter, with Wilson throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Albert Okwuegbunam. After forcing a three-and-out, the Broncos were trying to add to their lead; however, a costly pass interference penalty negated a 44-yard pass completion from Wilson to wide receiver Courtland Sutton, forcing the Broncos to punt. The Chiefs went back on top on the first play of the fourth quarter, with Mahomes' second touchdown pass of the game—a 17-yarder to tight end Blake Bell. Following a Wilson interception on the next Broncos' first play from scrimmage, the Chiefs increased their lead to 27–17, with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to McKinnon. The Broncos drove down the field, and Wilson ran for a 4-yard touchdown to narrow the Chiefs' lead to 27–24, on a drive that took over six minutes off the clock. The drive was aided by a defensive illegal use of hands penalty on Chiefs' cornerback Joshua Williams that negated an interception of Wilson on a 4th-and-7. After forcing a Chiefs' punt, the Broncos had one last possession with 3:53 remaining in the game. After earning one first down, the Broncos faced a 4th-and-2 from their own 45-yard line with 1:21 remaining; however, Wilson was sacked to end the Broncos' rally attempt. The Broncos' 15th consecutive loss to the Chiefs became the longest losing streak against one opponent in team history, surpassing a 14-game winless skid against the Oakland Raiders from 1965–1971.[150]

Week 18: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

[edit]
Week 18: Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 7 10 3828
Broncos 7 10 7731

at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: January 8
  • Game time: 2:25 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 51 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 60,833
  • Referee: Shawn Hochuli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon and James Lofton
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

In their finale of what was a difficult 2022 season, the Broncos achieved their highest scoring output against the Chargers, in their only game with 30+ points. After a 17–17 tie at halftime, the Broncos took the lead for good early in the third quarter, with quarterback Russell Wilson throwing a 24-yard touchdown pass to running back Tyler Badie. Wilson threw another touchdown pass to tight end Eric Tomlinson just before halftime, and running back Latavius Murray rushed for another. Defensively, the Broncos surrendered two touchdown passes to Chargers' quarterback Justin Herbert—both in the first half, and after building a 31–20 lead, yielded another to backup quarterback Chase Daniel (plus a successful two-point conversion) to narrow the Broncos' lead to 31–28 at the 6-minute mark of the fourth quarter. The Chargers attempted a rally, but turned the football over on downs on their next possession, and the Broncos ran out the clock. With the win, the Broncos avoided a winless division record and avoided setting a new franchise record for most losses in a season.[151]

Standings

[edit]

Division

[edit]
AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(1) Kansas City Chiefs 14 3 0 .824 6–0 9–3 496 369 W5
(5) Los Angeles Chargers 10 7 0 .588 2–4 7–5 391 384 L1
Las Vegas Raiders 6 11 0 .353 3–3 5–7 395 418 L3
Denver Broncos 5 12 0 .294 1–5 3–9 287 359 W1

Conference

[edit]
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1 Kansas City Chiefs West 14 3 0 .824 6–0 9–3 .453 .422 W5
2 Buffalo Bills East 13 3 0 .813 4–2 9–2 .489 .471 W7
3 Cincinnati Bengals North 12 4 0 .750 3–3 8–3 .507 .490 W8
4 Jacksonville Jaguars South 9 8 0 .529 4–2 8–4 .467 .438 W5
Wild cards
5[b] Los Angeles Chargers West 10 7 0 .588 2–4 7–5 .443 .341 L1
6[b] Baltimore Ravens North 10 7 0 .588 3–3 6–6 .509 .456 L2
7[c] Miami Dolphins East 9 8 0 .529 3–3 7–5 .537 .457 W1
Did not qualify for the postseason
8[c] Pittsburgh Steelers North 9 8 0 .529 3–3 5–7 .519 .451 W4
9 New England Patriots East 8 9 0 .471 3–3 6–6 .502 .415 L1
10[d][e] New York Jets East 7 10 0 .412 2–4 5–7 .538 .458 L6
11[d][e] Tennessee Titans South 7 10 0 .412 3–3 5–7 .509 .336 L7
12[d] Cleveland Browns North 7 10 0 .412 3–3 4–8 .524 .492 L1
13 Las Vegas Raiders West 6 11 0 .353 3–3 5–7 .474 .397 L3
14 Denver Broncos West 5 12 0 .294 1–5 3–9 .481 .465 W1
15 Indianapolis Colts South 4 12 1 .265 1–4–1 4–7–1 .512 .500 L7
16 Houston Texans South 3 13 1 .206 3–2–1 3–8–1 .481 .402 W1
Tiebreakers[f]
  1. ^ Other members of the ownership group include Carrie Walton Penner, Greg Penner, Mellody Hobson, Condoleezza Rice, and Lewis Hamilton
  2. ^ a b LA Chargers finished ahead of Baltimore based on conference record (7–5 vs. 6–6).
  3. ^ a b Miami finished ahead of Pittsburgh based on head-to-head victory, claiming the 7th and final playoff spot.
  4. ^ a b c NY Jets and Tennessee finished ahead of Cleveland based on conference record (5–7 vs. 4–8).
  5. ^ a b NY Jets finished ahead of Tennessee based on common record (3–3 vs. 2–4 against: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Denver, Green Bay, Jacksonville).
  6. ^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.

Statistics

[edit]

Team leaders

[edit]
Category Player(s) Value
Passing yards Russell Wilson 3,524
Passing touchdowns Russell Wilson 16
Rushing yards Latavius Murray 703
Rushing touchdowns Latavius Murray 5
Receptions Jerry Jeudy 67
Receiving yards Jerry Jeudy 972
Receiving touchdowns Jerry Jeudy 6
Points Brandon McManus 109
Kickoff return yards Montrell Washington 340
Punt return yards Montrell Washington 271
Tackles Alex Singleton 163
Sacks Dre'Mont Jones 6.5
Forced fumbles Justin Simmons 3
Interceptions Justin Simmons 6

Source for this section: Denver Broncos' official website.[152]

League rankings

[edit]
Offense
Category Value NFL rank
(out of 32)
Total yards 325.1 YPG 21st
Yards per play 5.1 T–23rd
Rushing yards 113.8 YPG 21st
Yards per rush 4.4 T–16th
Passing yards 211.3 YPG 19th
Yards per pass 7.0 T–16th
Pass completions 345/571 (.604) 29th
Total touchdowns 29 T–28th
Rushing touchdowns 11 28th
Receiving touchdowns 18 23rd
Scoring 16.9 PPG 32nd
Red Zone Touchdowns 20/36 (.556) 16th
Third down efficiency 67/230 (.291) 32nd
Fourth down efficiency 12/24 (.500) T–18th
First downs per game 17.6 25th
Fewest sacks allowed 63 32nd
Fewest giveaways 24 26th
Fewest penalties 113 T–30th
Least penalty yardage 970 32nd
Defense
Category Value NFL rank
(out of 32)
Total yards 320.0 YPG 7th
Yards per play 5.0 T–3rd
Rushing yards 109.8 YPG 10th
Yards per rush 4.3 T–11th
Passing yards 210.2 YPG 12th
Yards per pass 6.3 T–1st
Pass completions 392/605 (.648) 18th
Total touchdowns 35 T–6th
Rushing touchdowns 12 T–10th
Receiving touchdowns 20 T–5th
Scoring 21.1 PPG T–13th
Red Zone Touchdowns 24/47 (.511) 7th
Third down efficiency 75/220 (.341) 2nd
Fourth down efficiency 9/14 (.643) 29th
First downs per game 19.1 T–12th
Sacks 36 T–23rd
Takeaways 23 T–14th
Fewest penalties 106 29th
Least penalty yardage 922 31st
Special teams
Category Value NFL rank
(out of 32)
Gross punting 46.6 YPP 17th
Net punting 41.4 YPP T–11th
Kickoffs 62.7 YPK 13th
Punt returns 8.3 YPR T–20th
Kick returns 17.5 YPR 32nd
Punt coverage 8.2 YPR 13th
Kick coverage 21.2 YPR T–8th

Source for this section: Pro-Football Reference.[153]

Awards and honors

[edit]
Recipient Award(s)
Corliss Waitman Week 3: AFC Special Teams Player of the Week[154]
Dre'Mont Jones Week 8: AFC Defensive Player of the Week[155]
Jerry Jeudy Week 18: AFC Offensive Player of the Week[156]

Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections

[edit]

On December 21, cornerback Patrick Surtain II was named a starter for the 2023 Pro Bowl Games. He is the Broncos' lone representative.[157] Surtain was later named as a first-team All-Pro in the NFL's inaugural All-Pro team on January 11, 2023,[158] and two days later (January 13), safety Justin Simmons was named as a second-team All-Pro.[159]

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