Broncos @ Seahawks
Final Score: Broncos 30, Seahawks 3
Writer: Corey Saucier (@Deputy_Commish on Twitter)
As the final score suggests, this was not a very close contest between Denver and Seattle on Saturday night. The Seahawks elected to rest all of their notable starters, including QB Russell Wilson, WRs DK Metcalf, and Tyler Lockett, and RB Chris Carson. Meanwhile, the Broncos opted to play their first-string offense for nearly the entire first half. Denver QBs Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater had strong showings as they continue to make their cases to be named the starter for Week 1. Seattle struggled with turnovers – all three at the hands of QB Alex McGough. Unfortunately for Seattle’s offense, McGough looked more like Mr. Magoo than an NFL quarterback. Okay, okay, I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist. As we must all continue to wait to see the Seahawks’ starting offense take flight, we will also need more preseason action to determine who will get the start in Week 1 for Denver. Who stood out for all the right reasons, and who stood out for the wrong ones? Let’s dive into what we saw.
Denver Broncos
Quarterbacks
Teddy Bridgewater: 9/11, 105 yards, TD
Drew Lock: 9/14, 80 yards
Brett Rypien: 3/3, 31 yards, TD
Things didn’t quite work out in Carolina for QB Teddy Bridgewater during his one-year experiment there. He had to learn a new system, new coaching staff, had to play without superstar RB Christian McCaffrey for most of the Covid-marred campaign, and so his 5-11 record was enough to give the Panthers’ front office enough conviction to move on and trade for Jets’ QB Sam Darnold. Bridgewater was only able to fetch a 6th-round draft pick in return, and so he enters yet another NFL season with that same chip on his shoulder. After relieving fellow Broncos’ QB Drew Lock in the preseason’s first week, Bridgewater got the start against Seattle and showed full command of the Broncos’ offense right away – scurrying around in the pocket before connecting with WR Jerry Jeudy on a 4th down, 35-yard strike to set up a 2-yard score to WR K.J. Hamler.
On fourth down…
🐴 TEDDY TO @jerryjeudy 🐴@Broncos | #DENvsSEA | @teddyb_h2o pic.twitter.com/JOGX8OmSB6
— NFL (@NFL) August 22, 2021
All day. 🙌@teddyb_h2o finds @Kj_hamler for SIX!
📺: #DENvsSEA on My20 pic.twitter.com/V3R4MGaqF6
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 22, 2021
After two offensive series and two TD drives, Bridgewater’s night was done and Lock took over the offense. Lock took advantage of good fortune after a Seattle INT gave Denver the ball with around a minute left before halftime. Lock calmly moved the Broncos’ offense into FG range and added three points to Denver’s lead before the break. Lock’s most exciting play of the night came on this back-handed shovel pass to rookie WR Seth Williams that was almost Mahomes-like:
Seth Williams, the rookie receiver out of Auburn, showing off his physicality and athleticism with this pitch from Drew Lock 👀 pic.twitter.com/uBZBl0v5Q8
— JDV Experience (@JDVexperience) August 22, 2021
QB Brett Rypien came in for mop-up duty in the 4th quarter and was able to string together a short TD drive of his own – taking advantage of a Seattle turnover-on-downs and eventually connecting with TE Shaun Beyer for an 11-yard TD strike.
Brett Rypien finds Shaun Beyer for a touchdown! pic.twitter.com/8uSXpXuHCD
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) August 22, 2021
Running Backs
Royce Freeman: 9 carries, 27 yards | 6 targets, 5 receptions, 44 yards
Javonte Williams: 7 carries, 20 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 5 yards
Damarea Crockett: 7 carries, 16 yards | 3 targets, 3 receptions, 16 yards
I have to admit, I was excited to get my first look at rookie RB Javonte Williams in action. Denver trading up to select Williams with the 35th overall pick in the NFL draft leads me to believe that they plan to mix him into a crowded backfield right away – with RBs Melvin Gordon and Royce Freeman still around to demand touches. The departure of RB Phillip Lindsay to Houston does vacate plenty of RB opportunities in Denver, and most of us believe that Williams is the favorite to lay claim to those touches.
That being said, on Saturday night, it was the Royce Freeman show (for the most part). Freeman led the Broncos in rushing and receiving against the Seahawks. Williams was less than impressive outside of two back-to-back runs on Denver’s second possession – one going for 8 yards and the other going for 6. Williams nearly scored a TD on a strange play where the ultimate ruling was that he fumbled at the goal line and one of his offensive linemen recovered in the end-zone for a score. I apologize that I cannot source a video of this play, but trust me, it is strange. It didn’t look like a TD in real-time, but then somehow the ruling on the field was upheld and Williams was not credited with the TD. Even with a suspension unlikely but possibly looming for Melvin Gordon, I didn’t quite see enough to sell me on Javonte Williams at his current ADP of #65 in PPR.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Jerry Jeudy: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 40 yards
Seth Williams: 1 target, 1 reception, 33 yards
K.J. Hamler: 1 target, 1 reception, 2 yards, TD
Eric Saubert: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 26 yards
While Broncos’ WR Courtland Sutton continues to rehab from a torn ACL suffered last season, WR Jerry Jeudy continues to look like a bonafide stud WR1 in Sutton’s absence. Jeudy only saw two targets on the night but made the most of them, as seen above. WR K.J. Hamler also made his presence felt, finding the end-zone for a second consecutive week on his lone target of the night. TE Eric Saubert‘s longest catch of the night went for 21 yards to Seattle’s 1-yard line and set up the strange fumble TD, though it looked as though Saubert could have possibly reached the ball across the goal line himself had he been more aware of where he was:
Teddy Bridgewater with a really nice pass to Eric Saubert to get to the 1 pic.twitter.com/nf8ZOYQxJx
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) August 22, 2021
Since Sutton was unable to make his debut against Seattle on Saturday, it’s anticipated that he will get some work in next week in the final preseason slate at home against the Rams. With the QB situation yet to be decided, it’s safe to say that Jeudy and Sutton could be one of the best 1-2 punches at WR in the NFL this season – regardless of who’s throwing them the ball.
Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback
Sean Mannion: 13/23, 118 yards
Alex McGough: 9/13, 91 yards, 2 INT, fumble (lost) | 2 carries, 17 yards
Without surprising anyone too much, we didn’t see Seahawks starting QB Russell Wilson take the field against the Broncos on Saturday night. Backup QB Geno Smith‘s absence was also not surprising considering he suffered a concussion last week against the Raiders.
Without many of Seattle’s starters playing, their offense struggled all night – but none more than reserve QB Alex McGough. McGough was responsible for three turnovers in the first half. He threw an INT on a 3rd-down play Seattle’s first possession. After going 3-and-out on Seattle’s next possession, he lost a fumble on the series after that. In his final act, he threw his final INT to a defensive lineman which led to a Broncos’ FG just before halftime.
It was certainly an evening to forget for McGough, and while QB Sean Mannion fared better in the turnover department, he was only able to lead one scoring drive of his own. Mannion took over in the 3rd quarter and drove the Seahawks straight downfield for their first points on the board – by way of a 40-yard FG by K Jason Myers. While we ultimately saw a battle for 3rd string QB honors (and possibly a roster spot), clearly Mannion was the better option of the two.
Running Backs
Josh Johnson: 9 carries, 30 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 17 yards
DeeJay Dallas: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 27 yards
Alex Collins: 7 carries, 20 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 17 yards
Rashaad Penny: 5 carries, 8 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 6 yards
Similar to RB Javonte Williams for Denver, I was also excited to see some action out of Seahawks’ RB Rashaad Penny. After missing basically all of last year with a torn ACL at the end of the 2019 season, Penny’s former first-round draft pedigree should at least have him in the discussion to take RB2 duties behind presumed Seahawks’ starter RB Chris Carson. However, there are some other young backs in Seattle’s system that might have a thing or two to say about that.
I am referring, of course, to RB DeeJay Dallas who has certainly secured a roster spot at this point, but who is also a threat to take touches away as the receiving back/former C.J. Prosise role in this Seattle offense. Dallas also dazzled on special teams – taking his first two kickoff returns for 45 yards and 28 yards, respectively. RB Alex Collins showed his ability to pick up some tough yards for first downs, and we also got a good look at undrafted rookie RB Josh Johnson from UL-Monroe. Johnson went on to lead Seattle’s backfield in rushing attempts and yardage even though we didn’t see him mixed into the backfield rotation until the late 3rd quarter. Johnson impressed me, making plays right away – including a 9-yard scamper up the middle for a first down on his second touch. Johnson showed the ability to make people miss in open space and took his only target for a nice 17-yard gain. It will be interesting to keep an eye on which of these RBs end up making Seattle’s 53-man roster.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
John Ursua: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 34 yards
Cade Johnson: 7 targets, 3 receptions, 34 yards
Travis Toivonen: 5 targets, 1 reception, 22 yards
Aaron Fuller: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 25 yards
With such poor quarterback play from Seattle on Saturday night, their pass-catching group suffered tremendously as a result. WR John Ursua tied for the lead in receiving yards for the Seahawks with 34 but was carted off late in the 2nd quarter with a knee injury. We are expecting that we will see Seattle’s starting offense at some point next week in their final preseason matchup against the Chargers, but with the new 3-week preseason in effect, it’s difficult to tell. We fully expect to see D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett lead the way for Seattle’s receiving corps, but it will be interesting to see which of these second-stringers (and beyond) will fill in the WR3 spot. Second-year WR Freddie Swain remains on Seattle’s roster from last year, where he failed to make much of an impact as a rookie. It will also be interesting to keep an eye on the TE room in Seattle – Will Dissly and newcomer to Seattle Gerald Everett will both be in the mix for targets and both have proven they can produce at the NFL level.
Writer: Corey Saucier (@Deputy_Commish on Twitter), /u/Lights_Kamara_Action on Reddit
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Great read thank you!