Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos Game of the Week Preview, Predictions
Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib (21). Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Kevin Casini
We see now of the Seahawks what we learned a year ago of the Broncos: no one is unbeatable. Many will tell you this week this means more to Denver than Seattle. Nonsense. No one manipulates the story like Carroll & the Seahawks just got beat at their own game, they’ll be out for blood. Denver has something to prove to itself as well. But missing weapons is no way to do it. Gimme Seattle 24-23.
Todd Levinson Frank
I don’t see the Seattle Seahawks losing two games in a row, and I have a hard time picturing them losing at home to anyone. And while winning this game would certainly not be ample redemption for Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos Super Bowl loss at the hands of the ‘Hawks…. It would go a long way toward cementing Peyton’s legend as a Regular Season Champ. I’m sure he knows what Phil Rivers managed to do to the Seattle defense last week, and he probably uses his photographic memory to show himself those awful Super Bowl game tapes in his sleep. So I’m picking the Broncos to prevail, somehow someway, with Manning proving he can solve or at least outlast the vaunted Seattle defense and crowd.
I’m not sure how this game didn’t make it on the NFL prime time schedule (or why the defending champion Seahawks only got ONE night/TV game at home this year), but that’s the least of the league’s worries these days. The way this scandalous season has been going, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Richard Sherman on a corner blitz knocking Peyton Manning into retirement with a concussion (and thus blowing up the internet while the NFL news cycle spins back from domestic violence to on-field injuries). Assuming that doesn’t happen, I’m going with Broncos 28-27 in the classic we didn’t get in February.
Modi Ramos
Manning gets his sweet revenge. Huge upset for the Legion of Boom.
Dan Salem
This Super Bowl rematch comes down to one thing, home field advantage. Denver is playing at Seattle; enough said. The Seahawks dominated at home in week one, then lost to a slightly above average opponent in week two on the road. The Broncos would win on a neutral field, but Seattle takes this week three matchup on their home turf.
The Seahawks defeat the Broncos 28 – 24. I’m also predicting zero turnovers. Both teams look rock solid.
Joe Soriano
I usually throw homefield advantage out the window when breaking down mathchups between elite teams, since the best teams tend to be able to withstand hostile environments. But when the Seattle Seahawks are concerned, I definitely take things into account.
Offensively, the Broncos got more versatile in order to do a better job of countering the tough defensive backfields that they will face deeper in the playoffs, as the New England Patriots and Seahawks have the kind of CB depth and talent that give wide receivers fits. I don’t think for one second that Emmanuel Sanders is a superior player to Eric Decker, but he’s more versatile due to his ability to make things happen after the catch on dump-offs, as well as his ability to line up in the slot. The Broncos rushing attack is better-equipped to win against a hard-nosed front seven like the Seahawks (check out what they did to Eddie Lacy in Week 1) with Montee Ball, but I have a hard time seeing the Broncos putting up many points on the Seahawks.
Like the Super Bowl did, this game will come down to how well the Seahawks offense does against the Broncos defense, which is a much better unit thanks to offseason upgrades and health upgrades. The Seahawks will use Percy Harvin like they did in Week 1 as opposed to like they did in Week 2, but the rest of the wide receivers, most namely Doug Baldwin, need to step up and play to their potential in order to help Russell Wilson out. I think the Seahawks defense and Broncos offense will effectively neutralize eachother, so the big key will be the Seahawks WRs against the Broncos DBs. If the Seahawks can win that battle, then they have a good shot at taking Sunday’s game.
This one could easily go either way, but I’m not going to bet against the ‘Hawks at home, nor am I going to bet against the best and most flexible defense in the NFL. This one could be a surprisingly gritty contest in the 21-20 range.