It finally happened. The NFL rainbows led to the Mile High City once again! The Russell Wilson we all expected showed up for the Denver Broncos.
“Yeah, it was huge for us,” said Wilson after the Broncos massive come from behind win over the Chicago Bears. “We were all in this thing together. It was a “we” thing. Everybody just believed. It was a beautiful demonstration of resilience, beautiful demonstration of just not giving up and not giving in.”
Chicago QB Justin Fields was having his best game of his beleaguered NFL career. The Broncos went three and out to start the second half. Fields took over, leading his team on an epic 15 play, 9:26 time melting 66 yard touchdown drive to make the score 28-7. Moving vans were en route to Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s house. It was about to be the most humiliating start to a season in a litany of horrible starts to the seasons in the past seven years of Broncos football.
However, Russell Wilson wasn’t having it.
“Yeah, third down conversions were huge in the second half,” said Wilson. “We just kept converting and making plays.”
The Broncos would convert their next four third down chances, including a touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton in drives that would go Touchdown, Touchdown and Field Goal.
Buoyed by the clutch sack by Nik Bonitto resulting in the scoop and score of Jonathan Cooper, Wilson came up huge for a team that barely had a pulse.
“He had good poise and command,” said sleeve shorn head coach Sean Payton. “He’s moving well and picking up things well. He made some big plays for us really. All the things you’re looking for.”
21-point comebacks on the road are more infrequent than Taylor Swift NOT showing up on TV when at an NFL game. Comeback Russ was on full display.
Wilson was relentlessly efficient going 21 of 28 for 223 yards. A 75 percent completion rate with a high convergence of third downs mixed with no interceptions and only one sack is going to give you more than a fighting chance.
Bigger than the numbers was making his teammate believe they COULD actually win a game that looked hopeless. The secret sauce to winning period is thinking you can win in the first place. In the kitchen that was Soldier Field, Russell Wilson finally cooked.
