5 Things we Learned from Denver Broncos 27-24 win over Seahawks
After all the talk, all the hype and all the hand-wringing, the Denver Broncos opened the 2018 season on Sunday with a satisfying win over the Seattle Seahawks.
There was a lot to like from this Denver Broncos game. There were things to dislike but contrary to previous seasons, it feels like the things we disliked are easy fixes.
Justin Simmons‘ athletic interception, Chris Harris Jr.’s game-sealing sack and outstanding cornerback play. Derek Wolfe‘s drive. There was Demaryius Thomas‘ incredible touchdown catch and Emmanuel Sanders‘ 10 catches for 135 including a 42 yard touchdown that was vintage Sanders. There was Marquette King‘s 53-yard punt that dropped out-of-bounds at the Seattle four.
There was the offensive line, playing as a unit for the entire game and showing us that hope is not lost for the group. The McGovern/Veldheer combination on the right side was solid.
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A general confidence that’s been missing from the Broncos team since, well, since before Peyton Manning‘s injury in 2015. Yes, they won the Super Bowl and the defense was incredible but Manning and the offense were in a steep decline leading up to that game. All things we can be excited about.
Foremost is the defense, free from shouldering the entire responsibility for the Broncos fortunes, playing with the speed and ferocity we’ve come to expect.
There were a ton of missed tackles. There were seven penalties, though the call on Darian Stewart and a first-half 15-yard unsportsmanlike call were questionable, even considering new rules. Concerns but also easily corrected (the tackling, for example, improved as the game wore on). What there wasn’t were dumb penalties, questionable decisions or any of the eventualities that prompt locals to question Vance Joseph‘s credibility as the head coach.
Denver is 1-0. Historically, when they open at home, they are always 1-0, so we aren’t going to overreact to Sunday’s game but it was a great win on a beautiful day and it’s okay to embrace that for a week before the Oakland Raiders roll in.