SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 08: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos warms-up prior to a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on September 08, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)Photo: Rio Giancarlo / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Broncos fell to the Seahawks 26-20. Below is the recap and postgame interviews:
On the first play of the game, Baron Browning sacked Geno Smith and things got worse on the very next play as Alex Singleton intercepted his pass and returned it to the Seattle 20 yard line.
The Broncos offense, lead by Bo Nix in his debut, went to the ground game in the Red Zone with Javonte Williams but, after a nice gain on 1st down, he slipped on his second carry and Nix's 3rd down was incomplete on a throw away. Wil Lutz converted a 35 yard field goal and Denver took an early 3-0 lead with 12:36 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Seahawks went back to work on offense and immediately had a false start by former CU Buff Laviska Shenault. Seattle's offense off to a shaky start and they couldn't manage a 1st down as Geno Smith tried to challenge Pat Surtain in a matchup against DK Metcalf and the pass fell incomplete.
The Broncos offense took over at their own 35 yard line but had difficulty moving the ball after a couple of short completions, went 3-and-out, punting the ball back to Seattle who went back out on offense at their own 21 yard line.
Seattle's early struggles continued as they were called for holding on their first play of the drive. They couldn't survive the early mistake and also went 3-and-out, sending the ball back to Denver who would start their 3rd drive at their own 33 yard line with 7:02 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Bo Nix and the Broncos offense were hoping to recapture some momentum with the defense forcing another 3 and out but couldn't muster much after a drop by Lil'Jordan Humphrey on 3rd down, punting the ball right back to Seattle with 5:38 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Starting from their own 22 yard line, the game finally saw a first down as Geno Smith connected with Jaxson Smith-Njigba for 9 yards after a short gain from Zach Charbonnett. Smith-Njigba caught another 10 yard pass and the Seahawks were quickly a midfield. Nik Bonitto was assessed a roughing the passer penalty and now the Seahawks were in Broncos territory at the 35. On 3rd down and 7, Vance Joseph sent the blitz and the pass fell incomplete. Jason Myers converted a 50 yard field goal to tie the game at 3 with 2:41 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Bo Nix hit Courtland Sutton and Josh Reynolds on a couple of quick passes and, on 3rd and 3, finally got a first down after a Bo Nix scramble. The Broncos moved into Seahawks territory after a 9 yard completion to Devaughn Vele and a run by Javonte Williams as the 1st quarter ended. Audric Estime burst through the middle for a 14 yard gain but fumbled the ball. Fortunately, Adam Trautman came up with it to keep the drive moving. The run game was working as the Broncos got all the way down to the Seattle 21 yard line but Nix made an ill-advised throw to the goal line and was intercepted for the first time in his career.
The good news was that the interception was at the 1 yard line and on the next play, a holding call in the end zone lead to a Safety and the Broncos go back in front 5-3.
Broncos start their next drive at their 32 and quickly go 3 and out again but the punt was muffed Dee Williams and JL Skinner recovered it at the Seattle 9 yard line. Mike McGlinchey had a false start and the Broncos were immediately behind the chains. Unable to punch it in with the terrific field position, Wil Lutz chips in a 30 yard field goal to extend the lead 8-3 with 8:45 remaining in the 1st half.
The Seahawks put together their best drive of the game on the next possession after a 19 yard hookup to Tyler Lockett. A couple plays later, Geno Smith juked PJ Locke in the open field on his way to a 34 yard touchdown run. The 2-point conversion failed but the Seahawks took a 9-8 lead with 5:55 remaining in the first half.
The Broncos offense still couldn't get anything going offensively and quickly punted the ball back to Seattle. Tremon Smith and JL Skinner combined for an incredible special teams play, downing the ball at the 1 yard line and on the next play Zach Allen tackled Zach Charbonnett in the end zone for the second Safety of the game, giving the Broncos a 10-9 lead.
Bo Nix converted a 3rd and 8 to Courtland Sutton for 17 yards but that was the best play of the drive and Bo Nix almost threw another interception two plays later. Riley Dixon punted it back to the Seahawks with 1:41 remaining in the 1st half.
Jonathan Cooper sacked Geno Smith on the first play, effectively sinking their drive and after a couple of plays, Seattle punted it back to Denver who would start from their own 47 with 31 seconds remaining. Bo Nix hooked up with Josh Reynolds for 25 yards giving the Broncos an opportunity for a 45 yard field goal before half. Broncos extend the lead 13-9.
Broncos offense got the ball to start the 2nd half and only went backwards on a 3-and-out, punting it back to Seattle after only taking a minute off the clock.
Seattle went to the ground game with Kenneth Walker and quickly moved into Denver territory. Walker broke multiple tackles on a run from 23 yards out to put Seattle back in front 16-13 with 10:44 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Broncos offense needed to find some rhythm and went back to the ground game with Jaleel McLaughlin who got a nice 15 yard gain but then fumbled the ball on the next play when Nix hit him on a screen pass. Seahawks get the ball back in Denver territory.
It seemed like the Seahawks got their 2nd Kenneth Walker rushing touchdown but a DK Metcalf hold wiped it out and Seattle was unable to punch it in from the 14 yard line, eventually settling for a 28 yard chip shot field goal, extending the lead 19-13 with 4:09 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The Broncos offense, once again, went 3 and out after a bad missed no-call hold on Courtland Sutton on 3rd down. Punting again.
Seattle got the no-huddle passing game going with completions to Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf as they quickly moved into Denver territory looking to add to their lead. As the 4th quarter opened, Geno Smith found a wide open Zach Charbonnet for a 30 yard touchdown, extending the lead 26-13.
Broncos now in a 2 score hole needed to do better than a 3 and out but couldn't as Nix's pass to Dulcich was short of the sticks and they, once again, punted it back to Seattle with 12:59 remaining in the 4th quarter.
After a first down, the Broncos defense was finally able to get their first stop of the 2nd half, getting the ball back at their own 23 yard line with 8:37 remaining in the game.
Bo Nix hit Devaughn Vele on a couple of quick passes to get a first down, only their 8th of the game. Bo Nix able to convert a 4th and 2 to Josh Reynolds but then a couple plays later threw into triple coverage for his 2nd interception of the game with 5:37 remaining in the game.
Broncos defense forces a Seahawks punt with 4:37 remaining in the game and the Broncos FINALLY were able to put together a substantive drive, with completions to Sutton, Reynolds and Dulcich and finally capped it off with a Bo Nix 4-yard rushing touchdown. Seahawks lead cut to 26-20 with 2:09 remaining in the game.
On 3rd and 6, Geno Smith converted a 9 yard pass to Tyler Lockett to ice the game and the Seahawks beat the Broncos 26-20.
Our next broadcast will be on Sunday, September 15 as the Broncos host the Steelers. Coverage starts at 8am.
Below is our postgame interviews with Sean Payton and Bo Nix with Voice of the Broncos Dave Logan