The Denver Broncos defense and special teams dominated the first half and are responsible for just about all of the teams points as they lead 13-9 at halftime.
The Denver Broncos offense finally got a few first downs at the end of the first quarter and began the second quarter just across midfield. Audric Estime took the first play of the second quarter up the middle for a huge gain leaping over a defender where he fumbled. Fortunately tight end Adam Trautman was right there to recover at the Seattle Seahawks 33-yard line.
Two plays latter, Jaleel McLaughlin gets to the edge and explodes up the sideline and is just barely tripped up. Instead of a touchdown he gets the first down.
Bo Nix tossed outside to Devaughn Vele for three yards on the next first down to the Seahawks 19-yard line. On second down, Nix is hit as he throws outside to McLaughlin who is tackled for a two yard loss. That brought up a third and long where Nix makes a terrible decision with the football.
JULIAN LOVE ❌
pic.twitter.com/55EQNiM97U— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) September 8, 2024
From his back foot into the end zone the double-covered wide receiver is intercepted by Julian Love.
On the very next play, the Seahawks commit an ugly holding penalty in the end zone to give the Broncos defense a safety and the lead.
Broncos 5, Seahawks 3.
The Broncos go three-and-out again after a wide open Courtland Sutton can’t bring in the pass despite it being catchable. However, that ended up not mattering as the Seahawks muffed the punt inside the 10 yard line to set Denver up at the Seahawks nine yard line.
Special teams, special plays.
: CBS pic.twitter.com/DqujZzJUHr
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 8, 2024
Denver’s anemic offense did nothing with that gift and would kick the field goal to increase their lead to five points.
Broncos 8, Seahawks 3.
The Broncos defense couldn’t stop the Seahawks on their next drive as Geno Smith capped things off with a 34-yard scamper to blow the game wide open for Seattle.
Broncos bring the heat, but Geno Smith avoids it and rushes it in for a Seahawks touchdown pic.twitter.com/0boLoI0zZ8
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 8, 2024
The two-point conversion was no good.
Seahawks 9, Broncos 8.
Instead of coming out running the ball, the Broncos throw three straight times and punt to give the Seahawks plenty of time to put some more points up on the board before halftime. An outstanding punt by Riley Dixon was downed at the one yard line by JL Skinner.
The Seahawks tried to run it out of the end zone, but Zach Allen brought through to tackle the runner for yet another safety. You really can’t make this up.
Broncos get their second safety of the game pic.twitter.com/sVI8JcsJ5g
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 8, 2024
Broncos 10, Seahawks 9.
With the Broncos on the cusp of yet another three-and-out, Bo Nix finally finds an open receiver down the field hitting Courtland Sutton for a 17-yard gain into Seahawks territory. The two-minute warning hits with the Broncos facing a second and seven outside of field goal range at the Seattle 41.
A near interception on the next play puts Denver in a third and long. Bo Nix is immediately pressured up the middle and is unable to scramble to throw the ball away and takes a huge loss to force the punt with just under two minutes to go.
The punt pinned the Seahawks at their own 10 yard line. Jonathon Cooper got to Geno Smith for a six yard sack. From their own four yard line, the Seahawks went empty set and threw it quickly outside where the Broncos stopped him for a two yard gain. On third and forever from their own two, the Seahawks do the smart thing and run the ball up the middle.
The Broncos defense — outside of that one touchdown drive — has dominated this game on the road through the first half.
Bo Nix made his biggest play of the game on third down with under 30 seconds left hitting Josh Reynolds for a 25-yard gain to get the team into field goal range. Wil Lutz nails the 45-yard field goal attempt to end the half.
Broncos 13, Seahawks 9.