4 issues to observe for in Broncos-Seahawks prime-time sport

September 11, 2022

Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season concludes in Seattle, the place the desk is about for a juicy plotline that for a lot of will take priority over the precise matchup between the Broncos and Seahawks. 

Russell Wilson’s return to Seattle ought to make for an incredible Monday night time opener, and the 33-year-old has an opportunity to enter uncommon territory with a victory.

With a win over the Seahawks on MNF, Wilson can be one step nearer to changing into simply the fifth quarterback in NFL historical past to notch a win over all 32 groups within the NFL. The Broncos QB could have two probabilities to beat the Los Angeles Chargers (Week 6, 18) with a view to formally be part of Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Brett Favre, however that received’t occur except he beats his former group in Week 1. 

Wilson joins Brady, Manning, Favre and Joe Montana as the one QBs to win 100-plus video games with a group and later face that group, and solely Manning misplaced his homecoming (2013 at Indianapolis). Wilson additionally joins Brady and Favre as the one QBs to win 50-plus video games in a stadium after which return to face their outdated group in that stadium.

Listed here are 4 issues to observe when the Seahawks play host to the Broncos:

  1. Russell Wilson’s homecoming. The schedule-makers actually did themselves in with Wilson’s first sport as a Bronco happening in Seattle on Monday Evening Soccer, and it is a worthy setting for the event. Following a blockbuster commerce this offseason, Wilson, the Seahawks’ all-time main quarterback in nearly each passing stat possible (save for interceptions), returns to face the franchise he helped result in its first Tremendous Bowl. With constant success over the course of Wilson’s 10-season run with the Seahawks got here a yearly nationwide highlight on Seattle all through the 2010s. Wilson not often let the Hawks down by producing a 29-11-1 file and 6 fourth-quarter comebacks in prime-time video games, which each rank first among the many 18 QBs with 20-plus prime-time begins since 2012, per NFL Analysis. Seahawks followers loved a 19-5 house file in such video games, and the 12s typically did their half by disorienting opposing QBs and outright beginning the decibel-measuring craze at NFL stadiums. Wilson will now be topic to that adversity in his first street tilt in Seattle, and though what led to the mutual breakup stays ambiguous, his reception at Lumen Stadium is certain to achieve either side of the fanatical spectrum over the course of an emotional night time. 
  2. What is going to Nathaniel Hackett have Russ cooking? Thriller surrounds the rookie head coach’s offense with Wilson on the helm as a result of it has but to be revealed. Hackett determined to sit down Wilson together with many of the starters all through the preseason regardless of the Broncos offense studying a brand new system with a brand new quarterback over the summer season. The Hackett-Wilson connection is a crucial one for the Broncos, a group that’s seemingly been one high quality QB away from success ever since Peyton Manning retired (final playoff sport was Tremendous Bowl 50). Hackett has had some stellar working relationships along with his QBs as an offensive coordinator, from Aaron Rodgers’ latest back-to-back MVP-winning campaigns to serving to get Blake Bortles one win away from a Tremendous Bowl. Wilson takes over a well-rounded Broncos offense that consists of a stout speeding duo (Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon) and a proficient receiving corps (Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler) that has actually gone untapped contemplating the latest QBs in Denver. Hackett, who can be calling the offensive performs, is anticipated to take care of his balanced philosophy in Denver, however Wilson’s expertise for throwing the deep ball should be an attractive choice, particularly contemplating it has been a lacking component in Denver for years.
  3. Geno Smith’s second likelihood. Following a preseason QB battle with Drew Lock, Smith finds himself as a full-fledged starter throughout Kickoff Weekend for the primary time since 2014, and the 31-year-old will look to alter the established practices Wilson left behind. In keeping with NFL Analysis, Smith would be the first Seahawks QB not named Wilson to start out a season opener because the late Tarvaris Jackson in 2011, and goals to grow to be the primary to get Seattle to 1-0 since Matt Hasselback the 12 months prior. Smith, who’s by no means misplaced a season opener in his profession (2-0), takes over a comparatively unchanged Seahawks offense that he’s digested over the previous two years and received some appreciable expertise in it final season, compiling 702 yards and 5 touchdowns to 1 interception in 4 video games (three begins). Though he received’t be requested of a lot in Seattle’s run-heavy offense, Smith developed a fairly good rapport with DK Metcalf final season, finishing 17 of 21 cross makes an attempt to the star wideout for 251 yards, 4 TDs and 0 INTs (156.1 passer ranking). New tight finish Noah Fant (acquired from Denver in Wilson commerce) must also play a serious position for Smith, who can rapidly flip right into a Seattle darling with a win on opening night time.  
  4. The place does the Seahawks protection stand? First-year defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt takes over a unit that wanted a brand new voice after 4 years below Ken Norton Jr. Seattle performed to its strengths in selling their defensive position coach. Led by Al Woods, Poona Ford and Darrell Taylor, Hurtt’s group was the intense spot of a protection that completed twenty eighth within the league in yards allowed final season. Buying defensive lineman Shelby Harris (by way of the Wilson commerce) and cross rusher Uchenna Nwosu (free company) ought to solely enhance the Seahawks’ deep set of disruptors that provide a stout run protection and stable cross rush. Jordyn Brooks, who takes over at center linebacker following the exit of Bobby Wagner, has been ready within the wings the previous two seasons, and star security Jamal Adams is itching to return to type assuming he’s been studying the middling evaluations since his arrival. The Seahawks aren’t in need of defensive expertise getting into 2022, and may there be any success in Seattle this upcoming season, will probably be spurred on by Hurtt’s squad. We’ll see the way it all comes collectively on Monday night time. 
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