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Denver Broncos win: How all three phases performed vs. Seahawks

By Sayre Bedinger

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 9: Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas #88 of the Denver Broncos makes a catch on the edge of the end zone for a fourth quarter touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on September 9, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 9: Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas #88 of the Denver Broncos makes a catch on the edge of the end zone for a fourth quarter touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on September 9, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 9: Running back Phillip Lindsay #30 of the Denver Broncos of the Denver Broncos scores a first quarter touchdown on a reception as cornerback Tre Flowers #37 of the Seattle Seahawks falls to the ground during a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on September 9, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 9: Running back Phillip Lindsay #30 of the Denver Broncos of the Denver Broncos scores a first quarter touchdown on a reception as cornerback Tre Flowers #37 of the Seattle Seahawks falls to the ground during a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on September 9, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Special Teams

We’re going to start this off by addressing the Broncos’ special teams units, which passed the eye test in this game and then some.

Kickoff/punt coverage

Seattle returned only two kickoffs for an average of 19.9 yards, including a long of 30 yards. The Broncos’ kickoff coverage was excellent when it needed to be, which wasn’t often.

On punts, the Broncos gave virtually nothing. Marquette King was as-advertised, pinning the Seahawks inside their own 20-yard line on three of his six punts. The three punts that were returned for King went for a grand total of 11 yards.

Tim Patrick and Phillip Lindsay made standout plays on special teams coverage units, and Joe Jones was a standout, proving the team’s decision to keep him on the active roster was the correct one.

Field Goals

Brandon McManus was clutch in this one, hitting both of his field goal attempts and all three of his extra point attempts, building off of a stellar preseason.

He hit on attempts of 51 and 53-yards in this one. There’s not much to evaluate here since he looks like the player the Broncos signed to a big contract extension.

Punt/Kickoff return units

Pacman Jones had two punt returns for nine yards, but had a really good one called back on a hold by rookie Keishawn Bierria. That cost the Broncos at least 30 yards of field position, if not more. You simply cannot have mistakes like that, especially when the punter is as good as Seattle’s Michael Dickson.

If you thought Marquette King set the bar for excellence, Dickson has done his best to set a new one. He looks like he’s going to be the best punter in the NFL shortly if he isn’t already.

The Broncos had no kickoff returns, which is a victory since they usually just cost field position anyway.

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