While it wasn’t a pretty game, the Denver Broncos won their fourth game of the season in Week 15, defeating the Arizona Cardinals. Russell Wilson, who has had a miserable first season in Denver, was sidelined after sustaining a concussion in Week 14. But while the Broncos won without Wilson in Week 15, they will not attempt to do the same in Week 16.
Shortly after Denver’s win over the Cardinals, coach Nathaniel Hackett said that while he was impressed with the play of backup Brett Rypien, Wilson would start for the Broncos in Week 16’s game against the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day.
“Russell is going to be playing next week,” Hackett said, H/T Charean Williams, Pro Football Talk. “But I thought Brett did a really good job.”
Football fans were less than excited about this announcement.
Wilson has struggled throughout the season in Denver. In 12 games, he has completed 60.4% of his passes for 2,805 yards with six interceptions, only 11 touchdowns and an 85.0 passer rating. It’s been the worst season of his career and there has been no close second. Worse, the team is 3-9 in those games.
That said, there’s no real reason for the Broncos to try to see if he can work into more of a comfort zone over the season’s final three weeks. Denver is eliminated from playoff contention so there’s no real benefit in winning. But the Broncos also don’t have a first-round draft pick, thanks to the Wilson trade. So, there’s no real benefit in losing, either.
[Pro Football Talk on Twitter]
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