Tomasson's scouting report: Broncos at Seahawks

The Denver Gazette's Chris Tomasson gives his scouting report for Sunday’s game between the Broncos and Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle.

Offense

Bo Nix will become the first Broncos rookie to start at quarterback in a season opener since John Elway in 1983. Despite Nix having had an impressive preseason, he is still a rookie and will have to contend with a raucous road crowd. Denver is hoping to mount a solid running attack with Javonte Williams and others to take some pressure off Nix. Geno Smith is entering his third season as Seattle’s starting quarterback and has plenty of weapons. They include receivers D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, who combined last season for 2,008 yards receiving. But they have a new offensive coordinator in Ryan Grubb, who will call plays in the NFL for the first time.

Advantage: Seahawks

Defense

The Broncos hope their defense is a lot better in 2024 than it was in 2023, when they were No. 27 in the NFL in points allowed and No. 29 in total defense, their worst rankings in each category in 13 years. Denver beefed up its line with the free-agent signings of John Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach but there remain concerns in the secondary. Second-year man Riley Moss makes his first career start at cornerback. Seattle first-year head coach Mike Macdonald is a defensive specialist, having the previous two years been Baltimore’s defensive coordinator. The Seahawks are strong in the secondary with Pro Bowl selections Julian Love at safety and Devon Witherspoon at cornerback.

Advantage: Seahawks

Coaching

Broncos coach Sean Payton has 160 NFL coaching wins to none for Macdonald. Payton is in his 17th NFL season and has talked about being reinvigorated while being in his second season with a young Denver team. With the Broncos having been given by oddsmakers an over-under of 5 ½ games won, Payton relishes the role of being an underdog. In 15 seasons with the Saints before coming to Denver, he won a Super Bowl and never had a worse than a 7-9 record. Macdonald is the youngest coach in the NFL, and his hiring was a bit of a surprise. But he spent all eight of his seasons as an NFL assistant learning under the highly respected John Harbaugh.

Advantage: Broncos

Intangibles

The Seahawks are tough at home, where they have fans known as the “12s” rooting them on. With Macdonald being a defensive specialist and having had plenty of time to prepare for his debut, he will have come up with something he hopes will rattle Nix in his debut. Broncos players and coaches have talked since the start of training camp about how the team being “young and hungry.” Denver could offer a surprise element since many don’t know what a key that made some notable changes. And the Broncos are determined this season to get off to a fast start after they opened 1-5 in 2023.

Advantage: Seahawks