NFL.com predicts the Denver Broncos’ quarterback strategy for 2024 following Jarrett Stidham’s initial appearance as the starter.

The Denver Broncos secured a 16-9 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday; however, their playoff hopes were dashed as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs secured wins. Jarrett Stidham assumed the quarterback role on Sunday after Russell Wilson was benched.

Stidham’s performance was deemed acceptable, given that he had his sole first-team practice of the year this week. Yet, those anticipating an exciting display of fireworks were left sorely disappointed.

Despite the Broncos emerging victorious, their playoff aspirations have been shattered, leaving them with the possibility of ending the season with a winning record. The separation between Russell Wilson and head coach Sean Payton has become the focal point of discussions within the Broncos community, and this narrative is expected to persist throughout the week and into the offseason.

The Broncos find themselves in a noteworthy position as Jarrett Stidham’s performance yielded a stat line similar to that of Russell Wilson against the Chargers. Interestingly, in NFL.com’s Week 18 power rankings, the Broncos did not experience any change after their triumph.

The Broncos are currently ranked 22nd. Despite a remarkable resurgence from a 1-5 start that included a significant defeat, winning six of their last seven games, including a five-game winning streak, seems to have only postponed the inevitable. The anticipated separation between head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Russell Wilson looms, and it may not be a smooth parting.

The future role of Jarrett Stidham as the starting quarterback is uncertain, and the decision to potentially go with a lower-salaried starting QB, like Stidham, might have its advantages. Payton could also consider pairing Stidham with a promising rookie to mitigate the impending financial impact of cutting Wilson.

While Stidham’s performance was satisfactory in his first start with the team, it did not conclusively establish him as the unquestionable favorite for the QB1 position in 2024. With Payton at the helm, there is an expectation that the quarterback situation will continue to be dynamic and far from ordinary.

Certainly, one key observation from Denver’s victory in Week 17 is that there’s no reason to delay the Broncos from actively pursuing a legitimate quarterback search in 2024 based on what Stidham demonstrated.

It’s evident that Wilson’s time in Denver is limited. The mismatch between Wilson’s neutral demeanor and Payton’s tough, no-nonsense approach makes it clear that they are not an ideal pairing.

Despite factors beyond Wilson’s performance, such as his contract, playing a role in his benching, his on-field contributions, particularly outside the fourth quarter, have been disappointing. His tendency to leave a clean pocket prematurely stands out as his most prominent weakness, and its impact on the Broncos’ offense has been significant.

Wilson has proven to be more detrimental to his offensive line than any other quarterback. While Denver’s offensive line may not be flawless, it is generally a strong unit, consistently earning a top-10 ranking by Pro Football Focus for several weeks.

The frustration of witnessing Wilson consistently escape a clean pocket only to end up in the grasp of a defender is palpable. While Wilson has demonstrated the ability to create extraordinary plays when leaving the pocket, the predictability of his unpredictable movements has become a source of concern.

Given Payton’s preference for operating within the structured plays he calls, it’s logical that working with Wilson might pose challenges. Payton opted to elevate Stidham to the starting role because of his ability to execute the offense more efficiently than Wilson.

Stidham, exclusively receiving first-team reps for the week and playing without key players like Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., and right tackle Mike McGlinchey, delivered a performance comparable to Wilson’s.

In a recent game against L.A., Wilson accumulated 224 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and a 91 QB rating. In Stidham’s inaugural start, he threw for an eerily similar 224 yards with one touchdown, no interceptions, and a 93.8 passer rating. The striking resemblance in their stats is both conspicuous and concerning, especially considering the vast difference in their salaries.

The Broncos’ impressive six-out-of-seven-game winning streak after a challenging 1-5 start, largely attributed to the defense’s historic takeaway performance, somewhat concealed the team’s underlying flaws. As they head into the Week 18 finale against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Broncos have an opportunity to secure a winning record for the first time since 2016.

A victory on Sunday holds significant importance in building momentum for the team as they approach what promises to be a compelling offseason.Sean Payton