On Thursday, September 5, 2024, the NFL opened its 105th The season ended with a nail-biter as the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead. The Chiefs narrowly pulled ahead when Baltimore tight end Isaiah Likely did a terrible Steve Largent impression and forgot to keep his toe off the baseline.
On Friday night, the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles played an international game in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It remained close until the end, but Jalen Carter thwarted Jordan Love’s attempt at the game-winning Hail Mary with a low tackle that sent him falling over his ankles. Whether or not Jordan Love escaped serious injury was certainly more important to the Cheeseheads in the end than whether or not the Packers won the game, which they did not.
This Sunday, September 8th, the Seattle Seahawks will host the Denver Broncos for the season opener. There are a lot new on both teams, which makes it somewhat reminiscent of the 2022 Week 1 opening game against the Broncos – both at Lumen Field. In 2022, Denver had a new head coach in Nathaniel Hackett. In 2024, the Seahawks have a new head coach in Mike Macdonald. In 2022, the Broncos and Seahawks both had new starting quarterbacks (who happened to be former Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks).
In 2024, Denver has another new quarterback in Bo Nix, a former Oregon Ducks player who looked good in the preseason and comes to Seattle with a thick coat of Denver hype. Not only is he the first rookie named team captain since 1967, but he’s also the first rookie quarterback since John Elway to start a season opener for Denver. Bo Nix would do well to make quick friends with Courtland Sutton and Javonte Williams.
Sean Payton stated that he wanted to improve in the trenches in 2024, and he did that by spending money on the offensive line and also strengthening the defensive line.
As we know, Seattle looks very different this year. New head coach Mike Macdonald was very successful as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator with his unique blend of hidden defensive tricks and brutal smashmouth brutality. Ryan Grubb comes from the University of Washington and brings his fiery offensive power to the team in Geno Smith, DK Metcalf and Kenneth Walker.
How will it all work out under Ryan Grubb? Well, who knows? It’s his first season in the NFL, but I’m excited. Grubb led the Huskies to the national championship game last year, and they had one of the best offenses in all of college football.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook odds, the Seattle Seahawks are currently favorites by 5.5 points over the Denver Broncos, with an over/under of 41.5 and a moneyline of -260.
forecast: I predict the Seahawks will come out full steam ahead with Geno Smith and DK Metcalf having their best season yet, Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams will be too much for Denver’s newly paid offensive line, and Derick Hall will bully Bo Nix in and out of the pocket. I would take the over at 41.5 points and the Seahawks should more than cover the spread.
And in case you’re wondering, the fans at Mile High Report believe their Broncos will beat the Seahawks.
