Seahawks hold off Broncos as Wilson misses out in return – TSN.ca

SEATTLE (AP) – It was a familiar scene in Seattle: Russell Wilson Late in the fourth quarter, he led his team down for a game-winning result.

This time, his new coach in Denver gave him no chance, stripping the field in exchange for a 64-yard field goal attempt that left much confusion, and the Seattle Seahawks enjoyed an unexpected start to the season with a 17-16 win over the Broncos on Monday night.

With the Broncos sitting fourth and fifth in Seahawks territory with a minute remaining and all their timeouts, Coach Nathaniel Hackett decided to let the clock tick down to 20 seconds before sending Brandon McManus try the low-proof kick.

“I don’t think it was the wrong decision. I think he could do it,” Wilson said upon returning to the city where he played his first 10 seasons. “In retrospect, of course, we didn’t make it, but if we were in this situation again, I wouldn’t doubt his decision.”

Geno Smith threw two touchdown passes in the first half as the Seahawks’ offense got off to a brilliant start in the post-Wilson era. Denver had plenty of chances after halftime but twice fumbled at the 1-yard line.

Then came the last minute, which raised many questions about Hackett’s watch management and decision-making on his debut as head coach. NFL kickers have been 2 for 35 on attempts of 64 yards or more since 1991, according to Sportradar, and McManus’s career spans 61 yards.

The kick missed wide left, and instead of Wilson leading the 36th career comeback in fourth quarter or career overtime, the Seahawks celebrated to chants of “Geno! Geno!”

“I was surprised they took Russ out there,” said Seattle coach Pete Carroll.

Denver scored fourth and fifth at the Seattle 46 after Wilson scored Javonte Williams for a 9-yard gain. McManus said that was exactly the spot on the field the offense needed to reach to give him a shot on kick.

“I wish we were a lot closer, but it put us in this weird spot there because we were within field goal range, but we were in that fourth situation,” Hackett said. “I didn’t think we would put up that many yards. … We just made our decision and we wanted to record there.”

Hackett then used his time-outs while the Seahawks knelt and extended the celebration in Seattle.

Smith and the Seahawks did very little offensively in the second half, but their first half was good enough. Smith threw in a 38-yard touchdown pass Will Dissly on first possession of the season and scored Colby Parkinson for a 25-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Smith finished 23 of 28 for 195 yards but was 17 of 18 for 164 yards in the first half.

“For him to go out there and get a win like that shows the confidence we have in him,” Seattle wide receiver said DK Metcalf said.

Wilson was 29 of 42 for 340 yards and a touchdown. But Denver couldn’t overcome its red zone inefficiency with either Melvin Gordon III and Williams fumbled with plays snapped at the Seattle 1-yard line.

“We can let the ball go. We can pass the ball. We just have to be healthy in the red zone. That was our problem,” Gordon said.

The Seahawks advanced to first place in the NFC West after Arizona, San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams all lost on Sunday.

Wilson went from a controversial third-round pick to a franchise cornerstone that helped propel Seattle to its only Super Bowl title. But his exit last offseason in a trade to Denver was a messy conclusion to a mostly glittering career with the Seahawks.

And Seattle fans were ready to let Wilson find out what it’s like to be an opposing QB in the stadium where he’s triumphed so many times.

“Just going out there and seeing him in a Broncos jersey was shocking to me,” Metcalf said.

Every time Wilson took the field, he was greeted with lusty, guttural boos from a crowd notorious for making noise. They started with pre-game warm-ups and didn’t decrease in volume throughout the win.

Some signs at the stadium compared Wilson to Alex Rodriguez, who went to Texas for a massive contract early in his baseball career. Others exchanged the words of a catchphrase during his time in Seattle, telling the Seahawks, “Let’s cook Russ.”

“Tonight was special, just on the other side of what I’m used to. But it was still a special environment in a place I’ve always loved,” said Wilson.

Wilson and the Broncos had many chances to silence the crowd.

Denver ran eight games within the Seattle 12 in the third quarter and walked away with zero points after the two fumbles.

The Broncos had three more games inside the Seattle 10 midway through the fourth quarter and still couldn’t find the end zone. Denver got to the 3 yard line, but his third false start of the game brought Wilson back to the 8 and he was incomplete on his next two throws. McManus’ 26-yard field goal with a 6:13 left drew the Broncos to 17-16.

INJURIES

Security in Seattle Jamal Adams suffered what Carroll said after the game, a serious injury to his left quadriceps tendon. Adams hobbled off the field after nearly firing Wilson in the first quarter and was eventually wheeled away on a cart.

Denver lost the right guard Quinn Meinerz to a hamstring injury in the first half and cornerback K’Waun Williams to a hand injury in the fourth quarter.

NEXT

Broncos: Host Houston on Sunday.

Seahawks: Sunday in San Francisco.

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