Russell Wilson may have headlined Monday’s match between the Broncos and the Seahawks, but his Seattle successor, Gino Smith, left the week one finale victorious. Smith’s nearly flawless performance, along with a physical display of Pete Carroll’s defense in front of a raucous crowd in Seattle, kept the Seahawks in front of their old friend all night. While Wilson threatened to play with spoiler and eventually steal the game, inexplicable clock management in the final Broncos series left Denver unable to complete a comeback, leading the Seahawks to a 17-16 win at “Monday Night Football.”
Here are some instant takeaways from Monday’s big Seattle turmoil:
Why did the Seahawks win?
Believe it or not, Jenno Smith actually played like the most consistent and comfortable quarterback of the night. Aside from a single cross-body exercise early in the competition, the longtime No. 2 not only kept the ball out of harm’s way but also proactively extended play, adopting a semi-backyard approach to engage eight different receivers. Seattle didn’t lock down or extend the driving time like it could have done, but under Smith’s direction, the team never lost ground, with Rashad Penny showing plenty of dash despite only 12 gigs. The defense was as good, if not better, bending and stowing but never breaking, succumbing for over 400 yards in total but forcing a pair of goal-line fumbles, making six stops behind the line and showing consistent fitness. Seattle was, simply put, the most disciplined and inspiring team in the business.
Why did the Broncos lose?
There are many reasons, including the fact that neither Melvin Gordon nor Jafonte Williams can hold the ball in a run on the goal line. But nothing will be louder this week than the collective mental lapse between new QB coach duo Russell Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett, who let 30 seconds tick the clock in their final series, only to run for 64 yards. Try field goal. It was poor and unexplainable running around the clock for any organisation, but in particular the one that all went in to add star strength to the QB in the off-season, only to drive QB to the sidelines in a time of crisis. Denver’s “D” was too daring to keep things close, with Bradley Chap in particular wreaking havoc, and Ross finding Jerry Judy and Cortland Sutton in the big plays. However, none of them added a reliable rhythm; It was a loose and undisciplined start punctuated by 12 penalty kicks.
turning point
Fumbling at the goal line is one thing. Sense the straight goal line is another thing. When Jafonte Williams coughed the ball during the Broncos’ second red zone failure, he assured Seattle that Seattle would maintain its strong lead in the closing minutes of the third quarter. In the end, Denver only got the ball back for two more series, going 15 on his next drive but settling with three points, then driving to the 46-yard Seattle streak in his final series. Once the Broncos ran the ball a second time while knocking on the end zone door, fate felt as if it belonged to the Seahawks.
play the game
Give it to the entire Seahawks defense, which mustered Melvin Gordon at the goal line before dropping the ball to force the first main meal of the night:
What’s Next
The Seahawks (1-0), who are at the top of the NFC West one week later, will travel to San Francisco to visit their 49-man opponent (0-1), who lost to the Bears in sloppy weather Sunday. Meanwhile, the Broncos (0-1) will play their first home game against the Texans (0-0-1), who tied with the Colts.