The Denver Broncos lost to the Seattle Seahawks 22-14 Thursday night in Seattle on a night where the starters played exactly one series and the second string players played through the second quarter.
The starting offense drove the field, stalled at the seven yard line and settled for a field-goal. The starting defense started strong, gave up one good sized play, then turned it on and forced a punt. Starters looked good, second string looked good, then it starts to fall apart with the third and fourth string units. It felt bad to see Broncos 2017 first round pick, Paxton Lynch, come out and torch the Broncos, but that’s expected when a once first round pick gets to play against the reserves and people not expected to make the team.
Injury Notes:
- FB Andy Janovich left the game after a block on punt coverage left him grabbing at his right shoulder
- TE Austin Fort made a leaping downfield catch and landed awkwardly on his left knee, didn’t look minor
Game Notes:
- Booker fumbles opening kick return but recovers.
- Phillip Lindsay makes a 10 yard gain out of a busted play second play from scrimmage.
- Screen pass to Lindsay third play for 9 yards.
- Royce Freeman gets 50 yards on 3rd and 1, great blocking by Bolles and Risner.
- Flacco completes a screen pass to Tim Patrick for nine yards.
- Brandon McManus kicked the Field Goal true for a 3-0 lead.
- Kick coverage gave up a big return on their first shot, 40 yard return.
- Shelby Harris gets a huge tackle for loss (TFL) on their first play.
- After good defense, they get lazy on a screen and give up a big play to Rashad Penny, 27 yards.
- DK Metcalf gets a completion over Chris Harris Jr for seven yards.
- Pass from Geno Smith batted down by Isaac Yaidom, good reaction time!
- Noah Fant had a seven yard reception over the middle from Hogan.
- Troy Fumagalli dropped a first down reception on 3rd down.
- 4th down they went for it shifting Theo Riddick out wide and Hogan just put the ball too high and too far in front of him, on a great route, incomplete.
- Adam Gotsis almost got an interception sniffing out a screen.
- Devaunte Bausby had a great break on DK Metcalf and batted the ball down!
- DeSean Hamilton ran a good route sitting in the hole of the zone for a first down.
- Noah Fant had his second 7 yard catch of the game.
- Dekoda Watson gets a big 3rd down sack on Geno Smith!
- Drew Lock had a great completion to Troy Fumagalli, ball thrown well before the TE was out of his route!
- Drew Lock runs a zone read for a 10 yard gain on 4th down!
- Lock on a naked boot leg hits Nick Williams for 34 yard catch and run!
- Fred Brown got a good tackle on the second kickoff
- Isaac Yaidom got burned by Metcalf on a deep ball, but Metcalf dropped the would-be touchdown.
- Malik Reed got another sack on Geno Smith Broncos lead 6-3 at halftime
- Dre’mont Jones got crack-back blocked and knocked down pretty hard by a TE.
- Reed had back to back pressures and good plays against Paxton Lynch.
- Paxton Lynch leads a long drive showing some development, then throws a TD to his TE to take a 13-6 lead over the Broncos.
- Drew Lock gets sacked for a safety, Seahawks lead 15-6
- Paxton lynch runs for a diving TD, Seahawks lead 22-6
- RB Devontae Jackson catches a TD from Lock with 3 minutes left in the game. Juwann Winfree has the 2 point conversion catch from lock between 2 defenders on a nice catch! 22-14 Seattle.
- Defense holds and gets the ball back for the offense to drive the field with a chance to tie the game, but Drew lock throws an interception to end the game, the offensive line wasn’t doing him any favors and he just threw up a pass as he was getting crushed and it sailed on him.
Overall Observations:
The Broncos’ kickoff, punt coverage, punt return and kick return units all look poor to say the least—field goals and punts are really the only special teams units that look organized.
The second and third string offensive line isn’t good enough. Depth is going to be a problem for the offensive line.
Linebacker depth is a real problem, after the starters there really isn’t a player that can step in seamlessly. Depth behind Chubb and Miller looks like it is going to be Malik Reed, Justin Hollins and Dekoda Watson. Depth Behind Josey Jewell and Todd Davis looks like its going to be Alexander Johnson and Justin Hollins or Josh Watson
Penalties on the 3rd and 4th stringers is a problem, very undisciplined.
Finally, Tight End injuries are already piling up with Jake Butt and Jeff Heuerman missing practices and preseason games already, then Austin Fort having a severe knee injury last night. The remaining TEs on this roster are Troy Fumagalli, Noah Fant and Bug Howard.
