To be sure, this doesn’t mean it wasn’t one of the Seahawks’ greatest trades. And to be even surer, it doesn’t mean the subject of this piece didn’t make a mistake by forcing his way out.
But that Russell Wilson guy? The nine-time Pro Bowler making nearly $50 million per year and current Seattle sports supervillain? It would appear that he is back. Or phonetically speaking — ba-ack.
It seemed at the end of last season that the Broncos quarterback had dipped into permanent mediocrity. At age 34 he posted what was easily his worst professional season, finishing with 16 touchdowns against 11 interceptions with a passer rating (84.4) 16 points below his career average. The Broncos went 4-11 in his 15 starts.
But now, according to certain metrics, Wilson is having what looks to be a typical Russell season. And given that he seemed bound for the Pro Football Hall of Fame before the Seahawks dealt him last year, “typical” basically means sensational.
Through nine games, Wilson is fourth in the NFL in passer rating (104.0), tied for third in touchdown passes (18) and first in touchdown percentage (6.9). He has thrown just four interceptions, and at 4-5 has won just as many games this season as he did the last.
No, this doesn’t mean Russell has rediscovered the elite status that once made him the highest-paid quarterback in football. But the Broncos, likely to the shock of millions, are in the playoff hunt — and probably wouldn’t be without him.
One of Wilson’s signature characteristics during his time in Seattle was his ability to engineer game-winning drives. Well, consider Monday night’s game in Orchard Park, N.Y., a throwback, because he did it again.
With the Bills leading 22-21 with 1:55 left, Wilson took the Broncos from their 25-yard line to Buffalo’s 18 before Will Lutz drilled a 36-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Bills to a 24-22 victory. Wilson’s stats weren’t mind-blowing — he had 193 passing yards and two touchdowns on 29 attempts. But considering he completed 24 passes and committed no turnovers, he seemed to be about as efficient as could be within the confines of the game plan.
A few caveats (and a warning — lots of numbers in this paragraph): Wilson did take four sacks Monday and has 30 for the season. He is on pace to surpass the career-high and league-leading 55 sacks he endured last season. Additionally, Wilson has five fumbles — tied for 10th among quarterbacks. He also averages 200.7 passing yards per game — which is 22nd among QBs who have played at least seven contests. Perhaps this is why Wilson’s QBR — an advanced statistic — is just 52.7, which is 19th in the NFL.
This is reasonable ammunition for the anti-Russellers trying to justify their sports hate. So is the fact that Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes had his worst game of the season vs. the Broncos two Sundays ago, and that Bills QB Josh Allen has been nursing a shoulder injury.
None of that, however, takes away from the fact that the Broncos have won three in a row, or that Wilson has three comeback victories and game-winning drives — both of which are on pace to surpass his career highs.
So what should Seahawks fans make of all this? How do the thousands that rained boo birds down on Wilson in last season’s opener feel about him finding his (or at least something resembling it) old form?
I can’t tell you that with any certainty … but I’m thinking they aren’t totally hating it.
Wilson isn’t Alex Rodriguez or Howard Schultz, whose deeds (leaving the Mariners as he hit his prime/selling the Sonics) will never be forgiven by this town. Wilson had 10 great years here, was instrumental to Seattle’s Super Bowl win and other appearance, and he was a fixture in the community. Many will question his authenticity, and even more will gripe about him wanting out with two years left on his massive contract. But I don’t think there was a move that got him permanently 86’d from PNWers’ hearts.
And let’s be real here — without the Wilson trade, there is no Devon Witherspoon, the cornerback who looks primed to be an All-Pro for years to come. That’ll help heal a wound.
More than anything, though — I think folks see what he’s been through over the past year. The constant jokes, the regular ridicule. Most of it stemmed from unforced errors, yes, but there are feelings that even a $240 million contract can’t protect you from.
I don’t know if Wilson is really back to his old quarterbacking self. The numbers do look encouraging, though. And as long as he doesn’t go out and, you know, win a title — I’m guessing Seattleites are OK with that.
