What We Saw: Broncos at Seahawks

Matthew Theodosopoulos recaps a crazy game in Seattle

Ben Brown
What We Saw 2 Years Ago

Broncos @ Seahawks

Final Score: Seahawks 17, Broncos 16

Writer: Matthew Theodosopoulos (@FreeMattyTee on Twitter)

 

Russell Wilson returns to Seattle! Grab the popcorn, ladies and gentleman. This one was a doozy! Both Geno Smith and Russell Wilson showed out and performed well, while both defenses looked less than promising. The Broncos backfield was a mixed bag, with Javonte Williams seeing plenty of opportunities but also with a bad fumble on the one yard line. In the end, Pete Carroll would get the last laugh as the Seahawks stunned the Russell Wilson-led Denver Broncos in Seattle for an incredible crescendo to Week 1.

 

 

https://twitter.com/PodSideKick/status/1569470743297105923?s=20&t=y1X9m6Y1InMYgvG53qZW3g

 

 

Denver Broncos

 

Quarterback

 

Russell Wilson: 29/42, 340 Yards, TD | 1 Carry, 2 Yards

 

In his return to Seattle, it was a bit of a tale of two halves for Russell Wilson. While he did complete a 65-yard touchdown to Jerry Jeudy in the second quarter, it was really his only great play of the half and was even underthrown itself. Wilson had over 200 yards and a touchdown at half, but he had some poorly placed deep balls along with some underthrows. He looked a lot better in the second half, moving the ball at will and missing rarely. Nathaniel Hackett made a bit of a head-scratching decision to kick a 64-yard field goal rather than let WIlson try and get the Broncos closer, and they paid the price for it falling to the Seahawks.

 

Running Back

 

Melvin Gordon III: 12 Carries, 58 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 14 Yards | Fumble (Lost)

Javonte Williams: 7 Carries, 43 Yards | 12 Targets, 11 Receptions, 65 Yards | Fumble (Lost)

 

Despite seeing less carries than running mate Melvin Gordon, second-year running back Javonte Williams saw a ton of work both running the ball as well as being Russell Wilson’s favorite safety valve. Williams was targeted a team-high 12(!!!) times, catching 11 of them for 65 yards. Melvin Gordon still managed to see 12 carries, turning those into 58 yards. This backfield still appears to be somewhat split. Javonte looked really good with a lot of burst, busting out 10-yard runs on first downs early on. But Denver still managed to mix in Gordon, even giving him more carries to end the game. Both backs looked good, but Javonte certainly looks like a workhorse. It just might not be this season with Gordon on a 1-year contract.

 

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Jerry Jeudy: 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 102 Yards, TD

Courtland Sutton: 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 72 Yards

Andrew Beck: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 52 Yards

Albert Okwuegbunam: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 33 Yards

Mike Boone: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 2 Yards

Eric Tomlinson: 1 Target, 0 Receptions, 0 Yards

Eric Saubert: 1 Target, 0 Receptions, 0 Yards

KJ Hamler: 1 Target, 0 Receptions, 0 Yards

 

A bit of a humorous conclusion to week 1, as the intense debate of Jerry Jeudy vs. Courtland Sutton goes essentially unanswered. Both wide receivers saw seven targets and caught four of them. The big difference being that one of Jeudy’s targets in the second quarter was a 65-yard catch-and-run bomb touchdown against Seahawks rookie corner Coby Bryant.

 

 

Jeudy had a drop in the third quarter but looked good otherwise. His long touchdown was a bit underthrown from Russell Wilson, but Jeudy adjusted and still took it to the endzone. Sutton looked good as well, catching some decently deep passes for himself and putting up a respectable 72 yards himself. His routes looked clean and he is a big dude. He did not get into the endzone this week, but that will change off and on every week. With two stud receivers, there are only so many passing touchdowns to go around. Andrew Beck was the surprise star of the first quarter, with both his catches coming on the same drive (and one of those catches was an awesome fully-extended one-handed grab). A promising game for Albert O, as well, seeing six targets and five catches, mostly on short and intermediate routes ending with 33 yards.

 

Seattle Seahawks

 

Quarterback

 

Geno Smith: 23/28, 195 Yards, 2 TD | 6 Carries, 14 Yards

 

Geno Smith went out and surprised people on Monday night. At halftime, Geno Smith had thrown one incompletion on 17 throws. He was going toe-to-toe with Seattle legend Russell Wilson and kept Seattle in the driver’s seat for most of the game. He did not make mistakes and bailed on the collapsing pocket to pick up yards when it made sense to do so. He made some daring and challenging throws across his body, and did not look much like the Geno Smith of the past. He looked… solid! In a game where nobody really gave the home team a chance, Geno Smith went out and led the Seahawks to a huge week 1 victory.

 

Running Back

 

Rashaad Penny: 12 Carries, 60 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 7 Yards

Travis Homer: 1 Carry, 2 Yards

 

The good news for Rashaad Penny? He was the undisputed workhorse for the Seahawks, with Travis Homer carrying the ball only a single time. Penny ran solidly but did not see any of the breakaway runs he busted so often towards the end of last season. He still shook loose for some 10+ yard carries a couple of times, but didn’t have any home run hits. Additionally, he was kept out of the endzone all game. But all-in-all, a promising game from Rashaad Penny. He was the clear bell cow, and although that should change when rookie Ken Walker eventually becomes healthy, you have to have liked what you saw from Penny in this backfield on an offense that was supposed to be putrid.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

DK Metcalf: 7 Targets, 7 Receptions, 36 Yards, Fumble (Lost)

Tyler Lockett: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 28 Yards

Will Dissly: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 43 Yards, TD

Colby Parkinson: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 43 Yards, TD

Marquise Goodwin: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 22 Yards

Noah Fant: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 16 Yards

Dee Eskridge: 2 Targets, 1 Reception

 

Geno Smith spread the ball around decently, so we didn’t see any one receiver put up monster stats. On the Seahawks’ first drive, Will Dissly shook loose and caught a wide-open 38-yard touchdown.

 

 

He would add two more catches on the night, but stayed quiet outside of the touchdown.

Similarly, Geno Smith found a wide-open Colby Parkinson for a 25 yard touchdown.

 

 

Starting receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett booth saw a handful of targets, but mostly on short and intermediate routes with little chance for explosions. The Seahawks led all game and were able to play slightly more conservatively with short and intermediate passes and a run game. One thing that stood out was Seattle’s commitment to the tight end. Both of their touchdowns were caught by tight ends, and newly acquired Noah Fant saw four targets himself. This looks like a Pete Carroll offense, with a healthy run game supported by a safe passing game. So far so good for these Seahawks!

 

Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)

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