Russell Wilson Bowl! The Seattle Seahawks close out Week 1 by hosting their greatest quarterback ever, and his new team, the Denver Broncos. Wilson and the Seahawks had a great run, but that run had run its course by the end of last season. Accordingly, the Seahawks sent him to the Rockies for a slew of draft picks and players. Just six months later, they meet in the Pacific Northwest.
Read on for a breakdown of the Broncos vs. Seahawks matchups, the key injuries, and game predictions from our NFL staff.
Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks preview
Wilson in Denver might have the best collection of skill position players of his career. The Broncos are loaded at running back with Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon III. They have gobs of talent at wide receiver in Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, and Courtland Sutton.
And they might have the perfect coach in Nathaniel Hackett, who helped get the best out of Aaron Rodgers. Even with this collection of talent, however, bettors still see them as the third-best team in the loaded AFC West.
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While the Broncos felt compelled to make a change at the top, the Seahawks brought back Pete Carroll for a 13th season. It was a weird decision to have a 70-something oversee a rebuild, and this might be the least talented group he’s had during that time.
The Seahawks picked up a bunch of Broncos discards — including quarterback Drew Lock, who couldn’t even beat out Geno Smith — but the true value of the trade was the draft picks they got in return. The big question? Whether Carroll and GM John Schneider will be around to make those picks.
How to watch
- Date/Time
Monday, Sept. 12, 8:15 p.m. ET - Channel
ESPN
- Live Stream
DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, YouTube TV, Vidgo, Spectrum TV Choice, ESPN app
Matchups
This is the third time these former divisional foes have met since Super Bowl 48 (which was won by Seattle). The Broncos lead the all-time series 35-21, including their previous meeting (27-24), which came nearly four years ago to the day.
Both teams missed the playoffs with 7-10 records in 2021. The Seahawks did close out the season on a high note by beating the Cardinals 38-30 in Week 18, while the Broncos fell 28-24 to the Chiefs.
Denver Broncos 2021 stats/rankings
- Scoring: 19.7 (24th)
- Yards: 330.5 (19th)
- Yards per play: 5.4 (19th)
- Passing: 211.4 (19th)
- Rushing: 119.1 (13th)
- Defensive scoring: 18.9 (third)
- Yards allowed: 326.1 (eighth)
- Yards per play allowed: 5.3 (13th)
- Pass defense: 214.8 (eighth)
- Rush defense: 111.3 (15th)
Seattle Seahawks 2021 stats/rankings
- Scoring: 23.2 (26th)
- Yards: 323.9 (20th)
- Yards per play: 5.8 (ninth)
- Passing: 201.9 (23rd)
- Rushing: 122 (11th)
- Defensive scoring: 21.5 (10th)
- Yards allowed: 379.1 (28th)
- Yards per play allowed: 5.4 (15th)
- Pass defense: 265.5 (31st)
- Rush defense: 113.6 (17th)
Injuries to know
Denver Broncos:
ILB Josey Jewell (calf, out)
OLB Randy Gregory (shoulder/knee, questionable)
WR KJ Hamler (knee/hip, questionable)
OT Billy Turner (knee, questionable)
LB Christopher Allen (injured reserve)
RB Damarea Crockett (injured reserve)
TE Greg Dulcich (injured reserve)
WR Brandon Johnson (injured reserve)
CB Michael Ojemudia (injured reserve)
WR Tim Patrick (injured reserve)
OL Tom Compton (physically unable to perform)
Seattle Seahawks:
LS Tyler Ott (shoulder, out)
LB Alton Robinson (knee, out)
CB Artie Burns (groin, doubtful)
RB Kenneth Walker III (hernia, questionable)
G Damien Lewis (knee/ankle, questionable)
DE L.J. Collier (injured reserve)
CB John Reid (injured reserve)
LB Tyreke Smith (injured reserve)
WR Cody Thompson (injured reserve)
CB Tre Brown (physically unable to perform)
LB Ben Burr-Kirvan (physically unable to perform)
LB Jon Rhattigan (physically unable to perform)
Prediction
Betting line (courtesy of Caesars)
Broncos -7; Broncos -320, Seahawks +250; O/U 44.
Adam Beasley’s Prediction
8.5-6.5 straight-up, 7-8 against the spread in 2022
Broncos 27, Seahawks 6
Dalton Miller’s Prediction
8.5-6.5 straight-up, 7-8 against the spread in 2022
Broncos 21, Seahawks 17
Dallas Robinson’s Prediction
8.5-6.5 straight-up, 6-9 against the spread in 2022
Broncos 24, Seahawks 7