Breaking down the Broncos Two-Minute Drill against the Seahawks

The Denver Broncos lose a heartbreaker in the season opener on Monday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks, 17-16. The 12’s spoiled the return of Russell Wilson as Lumen Field was a hostile environment (as expected) for the whole game.

Wilson posted some great numbers in his first game as a Bronco. He completed 69% of his passes for 340 yards. Wilson and this offense generated 433 total yards of offense yet could not get points on the board.

Nathaniel Hackett had the run game and offense looking good throughout the duration of the game. The play calling was not bad but the difference maker was the execution at the goal line in the second half and the questionable decision-making at the end of the game.

The two-minute drill for the Broncos included the most important and impactful plays that determined the game. Let’s take a deeper dive and break down the four plays in the two-minute drill that led to the end of the game.

Russell Wilson completes it to Javonte Williams on 3rd & 2 to extend the drive

Russell Wilson understands that he needs to get this offense into field goal range and take whatever the defense is giving him. Wilson did just that.

When he takes the snap, Williams leaves the backfield and goes into the flat uncovered. Wilson has an easy first-down completion and checks it down. Williams evades two tacklers and picks up the first down and more.

The offense seems to be on a roll and fans back home are confident that this offense will get into field goal range.

Javonte Williams catches a screen pass and gets blown up on 1st & 10

On what was the biggest play in the two-minute drill, the Broncos go backward on what could have been a huge gain. Hackett calls an HB screen on 1st & 10 to see if the offense can pick up some easy yards once again. The offense had a lot of success earlier in the game with multiple screenplays as well.

As soon as Williams catches the ball, he immediately gets tackled by Cody Barton. When showing the replay, the audience can see the potential the play had if Barton was blocked.

If Graham Glasgow can get a hand on Barton, Williams would have put the offense in field goal range and more. The next closest defender to make a tackle is 20 yards away and Williams has Lloyd Cushenberry to block for him too.

This play has not been talked about enough as being a game changer. If this went to plan, we all would be having a different conversation about the game and Hackett’s decision-making.

The ball slips out, resulting in an incomplete pass from Russell Wilson on 2nd & 14

The most unfortunate play of the two-minute drill occurs on 2nd & 14 with 1:13 left in the game. Wilson appears to be looking KJ Hamler’s way in this specific play.

It appears that when Wilson going to throw it, Hamler was still heading upfield on his route. Wilson may have thought that Hamler was going to cut back in a yard or two earlier. This caused Wilson to hold back on not throwing the ball. This results in the ball slipping forward and causing an incomplete pass making it third and long.

Russell Wilson checks it down to the flat as Javonte Williams gains nine yards on 3rd & 14 making it the last offensive play of the game for the Broncos

The play that led to the decision of attempting the 64-yard field goal to win the game happened on this 3rd & 14 play with 1:11 left in the game.

As Wilson catches the snap, take a look at Jerry Jeudy. Troy Aikman mentioned it on the broadcast after the play that Jeudy was running wide open in the middle of the field. Taking a second look back, this was the case.

Jeudy would have had a better opportunity to get closer than Williams, who caught the ball behind the line of scrimmage. Williams still managed to gain nine yards and get the offense into a fourth and manageable.

This led to Hackett burning more than 25 seconds off the game clock and calling a timeout with 20 seconds left. The decision was made to go attempt the 64-yard field goal instead of going for it with your hall-of-fame quarterback and the rest is history.

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A heartbreaking way to start the season but the Denver Broncos have the Houston Texans coming into town for the home opener this Sunday.