Broncos 27, Seahawks 24: why it happened

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DENVER – So many times last year, one mistake became three, three became six, and then the Broncos had an avalanche that they could not stop until they were desperately late.

The mistakes in NFL games are like forest fires. If you hold them, you can minimize the damage. Do not do it, and they extended to everything in sight.

That's why possession of the Broncos after an interception of Case Keenum led to a 15-yard Russell-to-Will Dissly touchdown.

Less than six minutes passed in the game when the Seahawks took the lead. In 2017, such sequences sent the Broncos to defeat. In the first game of the 2018 season, Keenum completed five of six passes for 72 yards, including the last 29 while Phillip Lindsay took a pass, skipped the field of DaeSean Hamilton on Tedric Thompson for a touchdown.

"We talked about it last night and we talked about [how] when adversity shows up, we are just playing, "said head coach Joseph Vance.

Part of this comes from the players and team units that can build a reservoir of trust during their off-season work.

"In the end, trust has" us "in. You remove the" t ", you remove the" r "and you remove the other" t ", and that is" we ", the Will Parks safety said.

"We have to trust each other, we have to believe in each other, then all the rest will be played out, and that's the basis." Throughout the pre-season and OTAs, Coach gave us an unbreakable connection If a guy makes mistakes, on the field or elsewhere, pick them up. "

It was one of the main reasons why the Broncos had won Sunday … and this could be the most important reason. Many players from last year are the same, but the attitude is different, starting with the quarterback.

"I think that mental makeup [of the team] is much better, "said Justin Simmons.

Here are some other reasons why the Broncos defeated the Seahawks:

Because Case Keenum shook his mistakes

The Broncos did not worry after the three interceptions, as Keenum himself was unfazed.

"Even when he got the turnovers, he came back smiling, saying," We're good, D, we're good "and I sat there," Oh, yes, we're good, "Parks said. "It's the kind of guy you want – the kind of guy who's not going to get fucked because he's done something.

"In the end, Case is a leader … and he believes, and he trusts us, I'm pretty sure he probably did not think about it because he defended us."

Obviously, Keenum will want to cut the interceptions after shooting six in his last three games, including the playoffs with the Vikings last January. But he did not lose confidence in himself and his teammates maintained his confidence, which prevented the mistakes from spreading in a conflagration that would have ravaged the hopes of the Broncos.

"He, in this leading role, did not lie," said running back Royce Freeman. "So, we went there and we performed as it should."

Because the Broncos were aggressive when the moment required

Perhaps no game nicely sums up Joe Woods' decision to send cornerback Chris Harris Jr. at a corner blitz to third and fifth place with 4:17 to play in the match . The daring call worked, as Harris knocked out Russell Wilson for a 9-yard loss, forcing a kick that allowed the Broncos to run for two minutes and 27 seconds of the clock in the declines of the match.

It was Harris's first bag since the 2014 season. He had 3.5 sacks in his first four campaigns, including 2.5 sacks in the 2012 season alone, while the corner blitz was a tactic. most common defense of Denver.

"[Defensive Coordinator Joe Woods] "I've been a lot more bags this year," Harris said. "They usually block me, so it was the first time they were not blocking me."

By the time the Seahawks saw football, there were only 61 seconds left, with no dead time and football at their own 12-meter line, limiting their options.

Because the Broncos continued their efforts and allowed the defense to rest

Last year, 35.3% of the Broncos ended without a first setback, with the offense often blocked before he had the slightest chance of generating momentum.

On Sunday afternoon, the Broncos moved the chains at least once on 85.7% of their 14 possessions. Meanwhile, the defense held Seattle without a first out of seven of the 15 possessions, including three out of four to start the second half.

Phillip Lindsay, Royce Freeman and Devontae Booker played 146 yards and averaged 4.6 yards per run. The Broncos played 17 more games than the Seahawks and had a 10-minute record, a 16-second possession time advantage.

Because Von Miller was another world

Passage coverage is not the primary responsibility of the outside linebacker, so it is understandable that the only missing element of his big book Sunday is an interception.

But he did everything that a field runner could do: a fumbling recovery, two forced fumbles and a hat trick. The recovery came on a breakaway that he forced when he simply ripped the ball to attack Seattle running back Chris Carson.

Miller had half of the Broncos' six sacks, which was their highest total since November 27, 2016 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos' total sacks were their highest in a regular season opener since they beat Neil O Donnell and Frank Reich nine times overall in a 31-6 win over the New York Jets to open the 1996 season.

Because Keenum's connection to Sanders flourished

It was clear throughout the training camp and the pre-season that Keenum and Emmanuel Sanders had the synergy. Doubts as to whether this would translate into the regular season evaporated in the first series, when Keenum hit Sanders for a 14-yard gain to the right touchline in the third and fourteenth, which marked the beginning court performance, a touchdown.

The 10 receptions tied Shannon Sharpe's total in 1995 as the highest for a Bronco in a regular season opener.

"There are not many people who can stay with Emmanuel," Parks said. "In fact, this week, I kept it like the nickel[back] for the scouting team, and all I did was prepare myself for the match, and in my head I thought, "How are these guys even trying to stay with him on the ground?

Seattle's backs could not and paid a heavy price.

"I do not think anyone can keep these boys," Harris said of the number of smugglers caught by the Broncos. "After working against them during the off-season and at the training camp, I think they're ready."

Action photos of photographers of the Broncos team in the first game of the Denver season against the Seahawks.