Emerald City Sports Spotlight ~ with Peter D Peter D: Seattle Secures Season Opener with Defense and Veteran Leadership

Written By: Peter Duncan, Sports Writer for The Seattle Facts

The Seattle Seahawks kicked o their season with a gritty 26-20 win over the Denver Broncos,

showcasing resilience in the face of adversity. It wasn't a picture-perfect start, but Seattle's defense

and reliable veteran play paved the way for victory.

Denver won the coin toss and deferred, and Seattle’s rst drive quickly went downhill when Geno

Smith was sacked, followed by an interception on the next play. Denver capitalized with a eld

goal, but the Seahawks’ defense stepped up, holding them to just three points despite a deep red-

zone drive.

Seattle's oense struggled early, plagued by penalties and a lack of rhythm. Yet, the defense kept the

game within reach, forcing key stops and limiting Denver to just another eld goal after a mued

punt gave them  prime eld position. The rst  quarter ended with  the  score looking more  like a

baseball game at 8-3 in Denver’s favor.

The Seahawks 

found their footing late in the second quarter. Smith led a drive highlighted by

a 19-yard pass to Tyler Lockett and capped it with a career-long 34-yard scramble for a touchdown,

cutting Denver's lead. But Seattle's oensive inconsistency showed again when they conceded an-

other safety, ending the half down 13-9.

Despite the early miscues, Seattle’s defense held rm. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix struggled under

pressure, and Seattle’s run defense clamped down, allowing just 67 passing yards and 60 rushing

yards by halftime. The second half was all Seattle, with the defense completely stiing Denver’s

oense and the Seahawks taking control.

Kenneth Walker’s 23-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter put Seattle ahead. The

defense continued to shine, forcing a turnover and holding Denver scoreless in the third quarter.

Seattle’s oense stretched its lead to 26-13 early in the fourth quarter with a Geno Smith touchdown

pass to Zack Charbonnet.

Though Denver managed one more touchdown, Seattle’s defense held strong in the closing minutes. The win was sealed with a critical one-handed catch by veteran receiver Tyler Lockett, who

picked up a key rst down to allow Seattle to run out the clock.

Seattle’s  season opener  was a masterclass  in poise,  patience, and  defensive dominance. Despite

oensive struggles,  the Seahawks  leaned on their  veteran playmakers  and rock-solid  defense to

secure a well-earned victory over the Broncos.