The Denver Broncos and Nathaniel Hackett have had a miserable 2022 season, but with the team seemingly hitting its stride, there could potentially be a path to salvation for Coach Hackett.

With that said, in order to walk the tightrope and save his job, Coach Hackett will have to keep the train rolling this week against a beleaguered Los Angeles Rams unit, who have seemingly found a spark, courtesy of Baker Mayfield.

“He’s been in a lot of places right now. I think three places just this year,” Coach Hackett remarked when reflecting on how much the former No. 1 overall pick has bounced around the past few months. “I know that’s difficult, so I give him so much credit for what he’s going through. To be able to enter into a team and pick up the system and be able to operate it—I don’t think anybody understands how difficult that is. I look at Freddie Swain for us. Heck, he started [on Sunday] and he played three positions. He was all over the field. He had a catch and he had only been here for a couple days, also. Anytime you do that, it’s impressive. It will be good to see what they’re going to do today now that they’ve had a little extra time to be able to get some more of the playbook to him. That was an amazing, amazing game that he had [vs. Las Vegas].”

But, although Mayfield has impressed Coach Hackett, he’s been even more impressed by the Broncos’ defense, which Mayfield will be tasked with defeating, come Sunday.

“[Our defense has] got a tenacity about them back there,” Coach Hackett told the press, on Monday. “It doesn’t matter what’s going on. Those guys go out there and they think that they can get a pick at any time. Look at Pat Surtain [II]. He’s had two in the past two games, also. He’s been in the right place at the right time. Those guys are communicating, they’re talking, and they’re understanding the different route concepts. Ejiro [Evero], ‘CP’ (Defensive Backs Coach Christian Parker), [Assistant Defensive Backs Coach] Ola [Adams] and all those guys have done a great job in having those guys continue to develop while preparing them for what they’re going to see. In the end, it’s about those players going out there and executing. Those guys are playing at a very high level, and it starts with the rush. It goes with everybody. There were a couple of times that the quarterback was under duress. He kind of threw it out there, but we still have to be in the right spot at the right time. It’s just a testament to everybody. It was the linebackers last week, and it was the [defensive backs] this week. It was great to see.”

That defensive unit is likely licking its chops in preparation for a Christmas Day feast.