By TIM BOOTH | Related Press
SEATTLE (AP) — It was a well-known scene in Seattle: Russell Wilson main his workforce downfield for a game-winning rating late within the fourth quarter.
This time, he wasn’t given an opportunity by his new coach in Denver, pulled off the sector in alternate for a 64-yard area aim try that left loads of confusion and the Seattle Seahawks celebrating an surprising season-opening, 17-16 victory over the Broncos on Monday evening.
With the Broncos dealing with fourth-and-5 in Seahawks territory with a minute remaining and all their timeouts, coach Nathaniel Hackett opted to let the clock run down to twenty seconds earlier than sending out Brandon McManus to strive the low-percentage kick.
“I don’t assume it was the fallacious choice. I believe he may make it,” Wilson mentioned after his return to the town the place he performed his first 10 seasons. “Clearly in hindsight, we didn’t make it, but when we had been in that scenario once more, I wouldn’t doubt no matter he determined.”
Geno Smith threw two first-half landing passes because the Seahawks’ offense began brilliantly within the post-Wilson period. Denver had loads of probabilities after halftime however fumbled twice on the 1-yard line.
Then got here the ultimate minute, which raised loads of questions on Hackett’s clock administration and decision-making in his debut as a head coach. NFL kickers are 2 for 35 on makes an attempt of 64 yards or extra since 1991, in line with Sportradar, and McManus’ profession lengthy is 61 yards.
The kick missed vast left, and as a substitute of Wilson main the thirty sixth profession fourth-quarter or time beyond regulation comeback of his profession, the Seahawks celebrated to chants of “Geno! Geno!”
“I used to be stunned that they took Russ on the market,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll mentioned.
Denver confronted fourth-and-5 on the Seattle 46 after Wilson hit Javonte Williams for a 9-yard acquire. McManus mentioned that was the precise spot on the sector the offense wanted to achieve to provide him a shot on the kick.
“I want we'd have gotten lots nearer, however it put us in that bizarre spot there as a result of we had been in field-goal vary, however we had been on that fourth-down scenario,” Hackett mentioned. “I didn’t assume we had been gonna get that many yards. … We simply made our choice and wished to take our shot there.”
Hackett then used his timeouts whereas the Seahawks kneeled down, elongating the Seattle celebration.
Smith and the Seahawks did little or no offensively within the second half however their first half was adequate. Smith threw a landing go of 38 yards to Will Dissly on the primary possession of the season and hit Colby Parkinson for a 25-yard landing within the second quarter.
Smith completed 23 of 28 for 195 yards, however was 17 of 18 for 164 yards within the first half.
“For him to go on the market and get a win like that exhibits the arrogance now we have in him,” Seattle vast receiver DK Metcalf mentioned.
Wilson was 29 of 42 for 340 yards and a landing. However Denver couldn’t overcome its red-zone inefficiency with each Melvin Gordon III and Williams fumbling on performs snapped at Seattle 1-yard line.
“We are able to run the ball. We are able to go the ball. We simply should be sound within the purple zone. That’s been our challenge,” Gordon mentioned.
The Seahawks moved into first place within the NFC West after the 49ers, Arizona, and the Los Angeles Rams all misplaced their openers.
Wilson went from being a disputed third-round choose to a franchise cornerstone that helped Seattle to its solely Tremendous Bowl title. However his departure this previous offseason in a commerce to Denver was a messy conclusion to a largely glowing profession with the Seahawks.
And Seattle followers had been able to let Wilson discover out simply what it was prefer to be an opposing QB on the stadium the place he loved so many triumphs.
“Simply going on the market and seeing him in a Broncos jersey was stunning to me,” Metcalf mentioned.
Wilson was greeted with lustful, guttural boos each time he stepped on the sector from a crowd infamous for making noise. They began in pregame warmups and didn’t lower in quantity all through the victory.
Some indicators within the stadium in contrast Wilson to Alex Rodriguez, who infamously left for a large contract in Texas early in his baseball profession. Others switched across the phrases from a catchphrase throughout his time in Seattle, urging the Seahawks, “Let’s Prepare dinner Russ.”
“Tonight was particular, simply on the opposite aspect than I’m used to. Nevertheless it was nonetheless a particular setting in a spot that I’ve at all times liked,” Wilson mentioned.
Wilson and the Broncos had loads of probabilities to silence the group.
Denver ran eight performs contained in the Seattle 12 within the third quarter and got here away with zero factors after the 2 fumbles.
The Broncos had three extra performs contained in the Seattle 10 halfway by the fourth quarter and nonetheless couldn’t discover the top zone. Denver reached the 3-yard-line however its third false begin of the sport moved Wilson again to the 8 and he was incomplete on his subsequent two throws. McManus’ 26-yard area aim with 6:13 left pulled the Broncos inside 17-16.
INJURIES
Seattle security Jamal Adams suffered what Carroll mentioned after the sport was a critical damage to his left quadriceps tendon. Adams limped off the sector after practically sacking Wilson within the first quarter and finally was pushed away on a cart.
Denver misplaced proper guard Quinn Meinerz to a hamstring damage within the first half and cornerback Okay’Waun Williams to a hand damage within the fourth quarter.