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.
2. Denver Broncos running backs vs the Seattle Seahawks’ safeties and linebackers.
If there is one thing that Broncos Country should expect from Nathaniel Hackett this season, it is that he will stay committed to the run game. That does not mean keeping Russell Wilson from cooking but giving him the proper ingredients to cook.
Look at it like this, in order to bake a cake, you don’t just take the cake out of the box and throw the powder in the oven. You have to mix the ingredients, pre-bake the oven, and maybe grease the pan depending on if it is non-stick.
This isn’t a cooking class, but what it is, is an explanation of why the Denver Broncos should stick to a plan that prepares Russell Wilson to bake the best cake possible. In order to bake a cake, you need eggs, the mix, and oil at least.
Saying here Russell Wilson, go bake this cake without the eggs, or go run a successful offense, without the most important ingredient would simply be a misuse of the ingredients you have at your disposal.
Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon, and Mike Boone are the eggs for this offense. They are needed to have the best, moist cake that could possibly be baked.
Let this talented trio “pre-bake” the oven that will be the Seattle Seahawks, safety group. Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs are a very talented duo. They both bring different skill sets, Adams being more heavily involved in run support, Quandre Diggs being the ballhawk safety who tallied five interceptions last year.
Coach Hackett will utilize the trio of runningbacks out of the backfield as well as put forth a heavy dosage on the ground. There will be opportunities for this group to make a play in the passing game, or for Javonte Williams to run through Jamal Adams and spark the offense.
There will be games where Russell Wilson carries the Denver Broncos offense, but with the circumstances and how little the first-team unit has had in live-game action, I think it would be wise to lean on the trio of Melvin Gordon, Javonte Williams, and Mike Boone in Week One.
Denver Broncos pass rush against the Seattle Seahawks offensive line
For the past decade, there has been one familiar face that headlined the Denver Broncos pass rush group, Von Miller. With Miller now being a part of Bills Mafia, there is an opportunity for first-time team captain, Bradley Chubb, to put his stamp on the Denver Broncos franchise.
If I’m being honest, I’m almost as excited to see this group play together at full strength as I am to see Russell Wilson. There is so much potential at the top of this group with Bradley Chubb, a free-agent acquisition, Randy Gregory, and swiss-army knife, Baron Browning.
Facing an offense led by long-time backup, Geno Smith, the Denver Broncos’ pass rushers have an opportunity to come out of the gates firing. I expect nothing less.
There is optimism and fresh hope for a newly revamped room, that probably needed some change. Randy Gregory is hungry to prove he is worth the contract George Paton signed him to, Baron Browning just looks like Von Miller out there in a way. He isn’t there yet, he may never be, but he just brings up so many comparisons there, even in his celebrations.
Bradley Chubb is looking to prove himself in a contract year and what bigger moment that the opening night of Monday Night Football?
Seattle drafted a left tackle, Charles Cross, with their top selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. Cross is a very talented player, but he will have his hands full with this group. If the Denver Broncos pass rushers can have a big game, this game could get out of hand quickly.
5 mistakes the Denver Broncos made with their final 53-man roster
The Denver Broncos have an outstanding 53-man roster, but did they make any mistakes in the overall construction of the group?
If the Seattle Seahawks are forced to become a one-dimensional team, I think the Denver Broncos can very easily record six sacks and force Geno Smith into a couple of turnovers and ultimately wreck the game.