losing out week one with the most anticipated return since Tom Brady’s emotional trip to New England last season, the Denver Broncos will face the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football with Russell Wilson making his return to face the franchise and a fanbase that has supported for the last ten years. Additionally, with the night breeze and on-field emotions at an all-time high, we are left to question if the mounting pressure and magnitude of this week one matchup will get the best of Russell Wilson or Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks. Here is your preview of the Denver Broncos versus the Seattle Seahawks.

 Denver Broncos

Entering the 2022-2023 NFL season under a new coaching staff, owners, and personnel, the Denver Broncos this season are marching into week one with a fresh and focused mentality. However with this mentality comes the question if this team can truly contend not only in the stacked AFC West but the AFC conference overall considering the obstacles ahead (I.E., the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, etc.). However, to focus back to week one for the Denver Broncos it all starts with the tone of the team to not just leave Seattle with a victory but rather a win that you could call a statement to only the NFL but the 12s, Lumen Field, and AFC West. Because Denver realistically can be a team in the playoffs this season if certain cards and games fall in their favor. 

Ultimately beginning with Russell Wilson’s first play on the field setting not only the narrative of the offense but the trajectory at which we can expect this unit to perform throughout the game. Like a row of dominos trickling down the line from Javonte Willaim’s and Melvin Gordon’s split carries to the receiving of Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy then of course the offensive line who at this moment is mostly unproven even though they ranked 19th last season according to Pro Football Focus. As offensively, you can expect Nathaniel Hackett and Justin Outten to be experimental in their play calling and heavily rely on the zone run that is commonly run by the likes of Kyle Shannan. Matt Lafleur, and others around the league. Defensively you may see shades of the Rams defense with four defensive linemen, two linebackers, and five in the secondary looking to be explosive and make the necessary plays to create turnovers under Ejiro Evero.

Overall the Denver Broncos can blow out the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football but in order to secure a victory Nathaniel Hackett, the coaching staff, players, and more have to make the right calls in this projected playoff atmosphere. 

Seattle Seahawks

For the Seattle Seahawks, this week one matchup is much different considering their current phase as a franchise which some would call rebuilding however to move away from the notion. The Seahawks this season can still make noise in NFC West with players such as Geno Smith, Tyler Lockett, Rashaad Penny, Jamal Adams. Quandre Diggs, and DK Metcalf who the Seahawks signed to a contract extension this off-season. So to count them out of this game versus the Denver Broncos would be ridiculous considering the coaching anyone can win on a given night and most notably the coaching staff’s knowledge of Wilson’s tendencies and weaknesses. That can possibly result in this game being closer than the 6.5 spread Las Vegas suggests it to be. 

Overall, when looking at this team we are left questioning how will Geno Smith perform, whether the offensive line can stand their ground, does one of Metcalf or Lockett step up, and lastly does the defense create turnovers and dominate their former teammate now opponent Russell Wilson.

Top 5 Matchups to Watch

• Randy Gregory and Bradley Chubb versus rookies Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas

• DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett versus Patrick Surtain II and Ronald Darby

• Denver receivers versus the Seattle secondary

  • Much has been made of Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, etc. to excel under Wilson however without a preseason snap together it is still relatively unknown how this offense will look heading into the game.

• Rashaad Penny versus Denver rush defense

  • Penny last season averaged 6.3 yards per carry. Denver in the preseason gave up 5.7 yards per carry.

• Denver offensive line versus Seattle pass rush

  • For the Broncos offensive line, a majority of the starters did not play in the preseason, and continuous questions around Billy Turner's health, and near the league average in both false start and offensive holding penalties. The Broncos offensive line as well allowed seven sacks similar to the Seahawks pass rush which secured seven sacks in the preseason.

In the end, can Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos step up under the bright lights or will Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks upset their former franchise QB? 

PSF Score Predictions

Allan: Denver Broncos 31 - Seattle Seahawks 13

Noah: Denver Broncos 31 - Seattle Seahawks 20

Robert: Denver Broncos 42 - Seattle Seahawks 14