Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season concludes in Seattle, where the desk is set for a juicy plotline that for plenty will take priority over the actual matchup among the Broncos and Seahawks.
Russell Wilson’s go back to Seattle must make for a high-quality Monday night opener, and the 33-year-antique has a hazard to enter rare territory with a victory.
With a win over the Seahawks on MNF, Wilson will be one step closer to turning into just the fifth quarterback in NFL history to notch a win over all 32 groups within the NFL. The Broncos QB will have two possibilities to beat the l. A. Chargers (Week 6, 18) so as to formally be part of Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Brett Favre, but that won’t appear until he beats his former team in Week 1.
Wilson joins Brady, Manning, Favre and Joe Montana as the simplest QBs to win one hundred-plus video games with a group and later face that group, and simplest Manning lost his homecoming (2013 at Indianapolis). Wilson also joins Brady and Favre as the only QBs to win 50-plus video games in a stadium and then return to stand their antique team in that stadium.
Right here are four matters to watch when the Seahawks play host to the Broncos:
Russell Wilson’s homecoming. The agenda-makers definitely did themselves in with Wilson’s first sport as a Bronco taking location in Seattle on Monday night football, and it’s a worth putting for the occasion. Following a blockbuster alternate this offseason, Wilson, the Seahawks’ all-time leading quarterback in pretty much each passing stat imaginable (shop for interceptions), returns to stand the franchise he helped result in its first notable Bowl. With constant fulfillment over the course of Wilson’s 10-season run with the Seahawks came a yearly national spotlight on Seattle for the duration of the 2010s. Wilson rarely allow the Hawks down by way of producing a 29-eleven-1 record and six fourth-quarter comebacks in high-time video games, which both rank first the various 18 QBs with 20-plus top-time begins on the grounds that 2012, per NFL research. Seahawks fanatics loved a 19-five domestic document in such games, and the 12s often did their element by way of disorienting opposing QBs and outright beginning the decibel-measuring craze at NFL stadiums. Wilson will now be situation to that adversity in his first avenue tilt in Seattle, and although what led to the mutual breakup remains ambiguous, his reception at Lumen Stadium is certain to reach both aspects of the fanatical spectrum over the direction of an emotional night.
What will Nathaniel Hackett have Russ cooking? Mystery surrounds the rookie head educate’s offense with Wilson on the helm as it has yet to be discovered. Hackett decided to sit Wilson along side most of the starters at some point of the preseason despite the Broncos offense mastering a new system with a brand new quarterback over the summer season. The Hackett-Wilson connection is an important one for the Broncos, a team that’s seemingly been one best QB faraway from achievement ever considering Peyton Manning retired (ultimate playoff recreation changed into top notch Bowl 50). Hackett has had some stellar running relationships along with his QBs as an offensive coordinator, from Aaron Rodgers’ latest back-to-lower back MVP-winning campaigns to assisting get Blake Bortles one win faraway from a first-rate Bowl. Wilson takes over a well-rounded Broncos offense that includes a stout rushing duo (Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon) and a skilled receiving corps (Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler) that has in reality long past untapped thinking about the recent QBs in Denver. Hackett, who will be calling the offensive plays, is anticipated to maintain his balanced philosophy in Denver, but Wilson’s skills for throwing the deep ball need to be an attractive choice, particularly considering it is been a missing element in Denver for years.
Geno Smith’s 2d danger. Following a preseason QB warfare with Drew Lock, Smith finds himself as a full-fledged starter in the course of Kickoff Weekend for the first time due to the fact 2014, and the 31-year-old will appearance to trade the installed practices Wilson left behind. In line with NFL studies, Smith can be the first Seahawks QB no longer named Wilson to start a season opener for the reason that late Tarvaris Jackson in 2011, and aims to become the first to get Seattle to at least one-zero considering the fact that Matt Hasselback the yr previous. Smith, who’s never misplaced a season opener in his profession (2-0), takes over a exceptionally unchanged Seahawks offense that he’s digested over the last two years and were given a few massive enjoy in it remaining season, compiling 702 yards and five touchdowns to 1 interception in four video games (three starts offevolved). Despite the fact that he received’t be asked of a whole lot in Seattle’s run-heavy offense, Smith developed a pretty properly rapport with DK Metcalf remaining season, finishing 17 of 21 bypass tries to the superstar wideout for 251 yards, four TDs and 0 INTs (156.1 passer score). New tight stop Noah Fant (acquired from Denver in Wilson trade) need to additionally play a first-rate role for Smith, who can speedy become a Seattle darling with a win on establishing night.
Where does the Seahawks defense stand? First-year shielding coordinator Clint Hurtt takes over a unit that needed a new voice after four years beneath Ken Norton Jr. Seattle performed to its strengths in promoting their protecting line coach. Led by way of Al Woods, Poona Ford and Darrell Taylor, Hurtt’s institution changed into the intense spot of a defense that completed 28th in the league in yards allowed remaining season. Obtaining defensive lineman Shelby Harris (through the Wilson exchange) and skip rusher Uchenna Nwosu (unfastened agency) have to simplest enhance the Seahawks’ deep set of disruptors that provide a stout run protection and strong pass rush. Jordyn Brooks, who takes over at center linebacker following the go out of Bobby Wagner, has been ready inside the wings the beyond seasons, and star protection Jamal Adams is itching to return to form assuming he’s been studying the middling critiques on account that his arrival. The Seahawks aren’t short of shielding expertise getting into 2022, and need to there be any achievement in Seattle this upcoming season, it will likely be spurred on by means of Hurtt’s squad. We are able to see how it all comes collectively on Monday night time.
