NFL Week 5 reactions: Roughing the passer must be revisted
We are entering the first week of byes, as the Texans, Lions, Raiders, and Titans will all be off this upcoming week. Nonetheless, there are plenty of storylines and headlines to address from Week 5 of the 2022 NFL season.
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest takeaways from the week that was.
NFL Week 5 takeaways: The Broncos are pretenders
Seems like weeks ago, but the Broncos did in fact play a football game in week five. The game was on Thursday night, and other than Broncos’ fans leaving before overtime, there was nothing that would spark a memory for this game.
Denver fell short to Indianapolis 12-9 in a game that featured seven field goals, 12 punts, and 31 third downs. The offenses on both sides were atrocious and offered little to no hope that they can turn around anytime soon.
The Colts are concerning, but the Broncos are on a whole other level of concern when the organization just paid Russell Wilson $250 million. Wilson is still just 33 years old, but his play on the field makes it seem like he is 38 or 39. The 10-year veteran was once a magician running around in the backfield, extending plays. Now, Wilson refuses to run, eliminating a key element of his once game-changing playstyle.
The lack of mobility is not the only problem when it comes to Wilson’s game. The former Seattle quarterback does not even read the field. Wilson locks on to his first read, which is Courtland Sutton most of the time and forgets about the other receivers on the field. The last play of the game is a great example of that. Jerry Jeudy ran an out route, picking the cornerback guarding K.J. Hamler.
As the play was probably designed, Hamler ran underneath the pick that Jeudy legally set, leaving Hamler wide open on the goal line. Wilson never looked to that side of the field and threw a contested pass to a covered Sutton. Stephon Gilmore knocked the ball down, giving the Colts an unimaginable win.
Denver’s defense is a top-three unit in the league, and the Broncos’ struggles stem one from one thing – quarterback play from what now looks like the most overpaid signal caller in the NFL.