Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks
· National Football LeagueKenneth Walker III sparks Seahawks rally as Seattle tops Denver 26-20 in Mike Macdonald's debut
“Started just like we wanted to start. Drew it up that way. Just wanted some adversity there,” the new Seattle Seahawks coach wryly said.
Fortunately for Macdonald and the Seahawks, that ugly start and an unsightly first half set the stage for a big second half and a 26-20 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, giving the youngest head coach in the league his first victory.
Kenneth Walker III rushed for 84 of his 103 yards and a touchdown in the second half and sparked a rally following a mistake-filled first half littered with sloppy mistakes.
The Broncos led 13-9 at the half thanks in part to two safeties, but Walker changed the momentum in the third quarter as Seattle recommitted to the ground game. He gained 53 yards on five carries on Seattle’s first drive of the second half, capped by a 23-yard touchdown run. Walker had another TD called back on a penalty, but he still produced the seventh 100-yard rushing game of his career.
Walker appeared to injure himself on a 7-yard run early in the fourth quarter and didn't play the rest of the game because of a muscle issue in his abdomen. Walker said he would be OK.
“When we went in and made adjustments everybody was locked in. We were poised. Everything (didn't) go as planned as you saw in the first half, but after those adjustments just felt we played as a team better,” Walker said.
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith was part of the early struggles for the Seahawks offense but found a rhythm in the second half. Smith ran for a 34-yard touchdown in the second quarter — the longest run of his career — and hit Zach Charbonnet on a 30-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter that gave Seattle a 26-13 lead.
Smith finished 18 of 25 for 171 yards.
“Once the run game opened up it allowed us to then get into some of our tempo stuff and then start to pass the ball, and then you started to see our offense really come alive,” Smith said.
Macdonald won his debut after being hired as the youngest head coach in the NFL tasked with moving Seattle forward following Pete Carroll's 14 seasons in charge of the franchise. And he'll be thrilled with the defensive performance for 3 1/2 quarters.
Denver rookie QB Bo Nix was 26 of 42 for 138 yards and was twice intercepted on careless throws — once by Julian Love at the Seattle 1 and the other time Riq Woolen in the fourth quarter. The Broncos finished with 231 total yards and committed three turnovers.
“I thought he seemed calm, poised,” Denver coach Sean Payton said of his rookie QB. “I felt like he was very comfortable and ready.”
Nix did put together a late drive and pulled the Broncos within 26-20 with 2:09 left after scoring on a 4-yard run. But Seattle was able to run out the clock after Tyler Lockett's one-handed catch to convert a third down, the last of his six receptions.
“Overall, I think as poorly as we did, we gave ourselves a chance to win there at the end,” Nix said.
Denver left tackle Garrett Boles suffered an ankle injury in the second half and didn’t return, but Payton said he thinks Boles will be fine.
Seahawks: at New England next Sunday.
How can I watch Broncos vs. Seahawks?
- TV Channel: Broncos at Seahawks 2021-22 NFL, week 1 is broadcasted nationally on CBS and NFL Sunday Ticket - Paramount+ NFL on CBS 2021 - Try it FREE!.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
In Canada, viewers can watch Broncos vs. Seahawks on DAZN.
Scoring Summary
FG | 1st Period 12:36 | Wil Lutz 35 Yd Field Goal | |
FG | 1st Period 2:41 | Jason Myers 50 Yd Field Goal | |
SF | 2nd Period 11:22 | Team Safety | |
FG | 2nd Period 8:45 | Wil Lutz 30 Yd Field Goal | |
TD | 2nd Period 5:55 | Geno Smith 34 Yd Run (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed) | |
SF | 2nd Period 4:24 | Zach Allen Safety | |
FG | 2nd Period 0:02 | Wil Lutz 45 Yd Field Goal | |
TD | 3rd Period 10:44 | Kenneth Walker III 23 Yd Run (Jason Myers Kick) | |
FG | 3rd Period 4:09 | Jason Myers 28 Yd Field Goal | |
TD | 4th Period 14:54 | Zach Charbonnet 30 Yd pass from Geno Smith (Jason Myers Kick) | |
TD | 4th Period 2:09 | Bo Nix 4 Yd Run (Wil Lutz Kick) |
Statistics
DEN | SEA | |
---|---|---|
13 | 1st Downs | 19 |
6 | Passing 1st downs | 11 |
7 | Rushing 1st downs | 5 |
0 | 1st downs from penalties | 3 |
5-18 | 3rd down efficiency | 4-12 |
1-1 | 4th down efficiency | 0-0 |
69 | Total Plays | 60 |
231 | Total Yards | 304 |
3.3 | Yards per Play | 5.1 |
15 | Total Drives | 15 |
132 | Passing | 158 |
26/42 | Comp/Att | 18/25 |
3.0 | Yards per pass | 5.9 |
2 | Interceptions thrown | 1 |
2-6 | Sacks-Yards Lost | 2-13 |
99 | Rushing | 146 |
25 | Rushing Attempts | 33 |
4.0 | Yards per rush | 4.4 |
1-4 | Red Zone (Made-Att) | 0-1 |
8-60 | Penalties | 6-41 |
3 | Turnovers | 2 |
1 | Fumbles lost | 1 |
2 | Interceptions thrown | 1 |
0 | Defensive / Special Teams TDs | 0 |
31:14 | Possession | 28:46 |
Game Information
Location: Seattle, WA
Attendance: 68,714 · Capacity:
2024 AFC West Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | T | PF | PA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kansas City | 7 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 | 173 | 123 |
Denver | 5 | 3 | .625 | 0 | 173 | 120 |
Los Angeles | 4 | 3 | .571 | 0 | 132 | 91 |
Las Vegas | 2 | 6 | .250 | 0 | 144 | 210 |
2024 NFC West Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | T | PF | PA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona | 4 | 4 | .500 | 0 | 178 | 205 |
San Francisco | 4 | 4 | .500 | 0 | 210 | 182 |
Seattle | 4 | 4 | .500 | 0 | 190 | 195 |
Los Angeles | 3 | 4 | .429 | 0 | 144 | 174 |
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