Denver Broncos 3 key matchups against the Seattle Seahawks

What are the key matchups in the Week 1 contest between the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks? No doubt about it, Seattle will have a jam-packed stadium in support of their beloved Seahawks, even more so when considering the circumstances.

Russell Wilson is used to the noise levels from the daunted 12th man, but he is not used to it being his enemy. Looking back to one of the more historic moments in the NFL’s history, not just the Seattle Seahawks, the 12th man once caused what was considered a “man-made earthquake.”

3 key matchups for Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks

1. Russell Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett against the 12th man

While the Denver Broncos are a completely different team, this fan base has seen how much of an impact the Seattle Seahawks fan base can have on a game, even in a neutral environment. In Super Bowl 48, the 12th man traveled and traveled loudly.

How will first-time Head Coach and now play-caller, Nathaniel Hackett, communicate with his quarterback with this added element? Will Russell Wilson know what it is like so well that he actually has the Denver Broncos prepared for this?

It will be different playing against the 12th man for Russell Wilson, but one thing that Russell Wilson and the  Denver Broncos must do early is rip the heart out of the crowd, as early as possible. That added dimension makes the Seattle Seahawks a much better football team, it makes the opposition a mistake-prone team.

This will be a huge test for Coach Hackett and Russell Wilson’s communication as they will have to navigate and understand signals and what the other is thinking while their eardrums are deafened. Sticking to the script, running on hand gestures, hand signals, and silent counts will help the Denver Broncos come Monday Night.

There are two ways the Denver Broncos can do this, go for the jugular early, or just slowly take piece and piece from them until the Seattle Seahawks are disheartened, similar to what the Cleveland Browns did to the Denver Broncos in 2021.

My guess is that the Denver Broncos keep it simple early on, take it play-by-play and methodically attack the Seattle Seahawks until an explosion happens. I’d expect a slow first quarter, a physical first quarter, but when the second quarter comes around, I think that is when the Denver Broncos will really begin to attack.

Mistake-free football, and avoiding penalties will be key in keeping the crowd silent. If there is one thing that a hungry crowd will feed on, it is a false start penalty. If the 12th man sees blood in the water, like a hungry shark, they will feast.

One major key when facing the 12th Man, remain disciplined.