If not for an unfortunate injury, this likely would have been the Super Bowl matchup last February.
Alas, it’s what we have for Thursday Night Football to start Week 6. For Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos (3-2), they’re coming off a win over the Los Angeles Chargers. For Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks (3-2), they’re coming off a tough home loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
It’s a clash of old AFC West divisional rivals who will also be rocking their throwbacks. For what it’s worth, the Broncos are
unbeaten in their snot rocket-fueled sky blue and orange D beauties.
Denver is a +2.5-point home underdog at FanDuel Sportsbook to the Seahawks. The total sits at over/under 40.5 points, with a lean toward the over at -115.
Offensive Rankings
Seattle: Seventeenth in total offense (328.0 yards per game), 17th in rushing offense (106.0 YPG), 16th in passing offense (222.0 YPG), eighth in scoring offense (26.8 points per game).
Denver: Thirtieth in total offense (269.0 yards per game), 25th in rushing offense (86.2 YPG), 25th in passing offense (182.8 YPG), 26th in scoring offense (19.4 points per game).
Defensive Rankings
Seattle: First in total defense (251.2 yards per game), 11 in rushing defense (100.4 YPG), first in passing defense (150.8 YPG), eighth in scoring defense (21.0 points per game).
Denver: Twenty-second in total defense (347.4 yards per game), 29th in rushing defense (145.2 YPG), ninth in passing defense (202.2 YPG), 13th in scoring defense (22.2 points per game).
Here are the MHR staff’s keys to Thursday night’s game.
Win the line of scrimmage on defense
For a defense that is likely to be down the best cornerback in the NFL against arguably the best receiver in the NFL, the Broncos pass rush has to consistently harass, hit, and pressure Darnold. To be effective on Thursday night, the Broncos front is going to have to get home and do the job. If you want to take the big-play ability from Seattle, don’t give Darnold time and make him see ghosts. “Get home” also means Denver stopping the run. This is one helluva challenge for the Broncos, but winning the line of scrimmage on defense sets them up for victory. — Ian St. Clair
Win the TOP battle
The Broncos offense hasn’t done a great job controlling the clock. Against a team like Seattle, this will be a major key to the game. Keep the Seahawks defense on the field and limit the opportunities they will have on offense to generate a big play. — Tim Lynch
Create turnovers
For the Broncos to win this week, the defense will need to continue creating turnovers. The Seahawks, with JSN against a very banged-up secondary, are likely to generate a lot of offense. If the Broncos can take it away, they have a great shot at beating the champs. — Sadaraine
Block
For the love of all that is holy, be better on the offensive line. Watching the Chargers just get in the backfield for almost an entire game was really disheartening. The blame for all the offensive woes can be placed on Sean Payton, or Bo Nix, or a disappearing Courtland Sutton, or a juiceless J.K. Dobbins, but who is going to perform behind an o-line that has so much in common with a spaghetti strainer? It’s been bad. It could be disastrous against the defending Super Bowl champs. — Adam Malnati
Score more points than Seattle
Using deep analytics, I have come up with the foolproof way for the Broncos to improve to 4-2. They have a 3-0 record when outscoring their opponents and a 0-2 record when they do not. They are also undefeated when wearing their throwbacks. So, score more points than the Seahawks while wearing the throwbacks, and the Broncos will come away with the victory. — Scotty Payne
Broncos have to be better on third down
If teams can’t convert on third down, they usually lose the game. Last week was an exception for the Broncos, whose flurry of turnovers made up for their disastrous 1-of-12 performance on third down. The Seahawks boast the third-best defense in the NFL on third down, allowing just a 29-percent conversion rate on the season. Bo Nix and the entire offense must do significantly better in these situations to have a shot at winning in primetime. — Christopher Hart
