Denver, CO
Enemy Reaction 2024: Denver Broncos edition!
The Seattle Seahawks took care of business against the Denver Broncos yet again. This was far from a clean game, but the Seahawks overcame their mistakes and prevailed 26-20 win Mike Macdonald’s NFL regular season head coaching debut.
And you know what that means…
It’s Enemy Reaction time! If you’re new to this series, after every Seahawks win (with few exceptions) we revisit the key moments of the game through the lenses of our respective game threads. I must admit that with more people watching on streaming services, the lag between streamed broadcasts and regular TV broadcasts (which is still on a slight delay in itself, mind you!) have made game threads a little bit more difficult to follow. That won’t deter me in the slightest, but if you see some unconnected things to specific plays, you have a valid explanation.
As usual, the Broncos comments are courtesy of Mile High Report.
Geno Smith intercepted by Alex Singleton on second play, leading to field goal (3-0 DEN)
Julian Love picks off Bo Nix at the 1-yard line (3-3)
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Anthony Bradford commits hold in the end zone, Broncos regain lead (5-3 DEN)
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Dee Williams muffs punt, Broncos recover and kick another field goal (8-3 DEN)
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Geno Smith with the wheels, and the Seahawks’ first touchdown! (9-8 SEA)
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Not another safety! (10-9 DEN)
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Kenneth Walker zips down the sideline, dives for the go-ahead score (16-13 SEA)
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K’Von Wallace forces Jaleel McLaughlin fumble, Jerome Baker recovers, Seahawks kick a FG (19-13 SEA)
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Geno Smith finds wide open Zach Charbonnet for a touchdown (26-13 SEA)
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Bo Nix throws into triple coverage, Riq Woolen comes away with the pick (26-13 SEA)
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Bo Nix scrambles for his first NFL touchdown (26-20 SEA)
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Geno Smith and Tyler Lockett call game (26-20 SEA FINAL)
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Bonus Twitter content!
Imagine the feeling if Bo Nix dominates Seattle in week 1, instantly proving he’s the franchise QB we’ve craved since Manning.
Imagine. That. Feeling.
— Denver Broncos 365 (@DailyBroncos) August 14, 2024
He’s a rookie, don’t overreact. We’ll be okay
— Denver Broncos 365 (@DailyBroncos) September 8, 2024
This is the Seahawks Super Bowl lol, beating a rebuilding team, can’t wait for the 49ers to whoop their ass like always
— Michael (@RespectMyCos) September 8, 2024
Post-Game: Sean Payton failed Bo Nix (Troy Renck, Denver Post)
Sunday represented Payton’s 276th game as a head coach. It was the first for Seattle’s Mike Macdonald.
So why were the Seahawks more efficient, more opportunistic and more disciplined? Why were they able to make halftime adjustments, something Payton explained as overrated last season? How did Seattle offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb figure out between bites of fruit and sips of Gatorade to feed the ball to running back Kenneth Walker III?
This is the clarity the Broncos require from Payton. He needed to win the chessboard. He has to be held to a higher standard. On a team speckled with young players and one superstar (cornerback Pat Surtain II), the boss is the most accomplished and highest-paid employee. He cannot have a bad day.
There were plenty of fingerprints on this loss, but Payton deserves the most blame.
Post-Game: Bo Nix’s growing pains on full display (Jon Heath, Broncos Wire)
Bo Nix struggled: Bottom line, Sunday’s poor performance was on Nix. Teammates could have helped him out overall, but the QB only had himself to blame for poor footwork, staring down receivers, throwing passes behind his targets and throwing into triple coverage. Nix’s decision-making has to improve and his passes need to be more accurate. The good news is that the rookie never quit and the scored late (on the ground) to help the Broncos get back in the game. Nix’s rookie growing pains were on full display on Sunday, but fans in Denver will hope for better days ahead.
Post-Game Video: Rookie struggles for Bo Nix (MileHighSports)
Enemy Preaction: New England Patriots
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Broncos fans should be thankful that Ian Rapoport is indicating Russell Wilson might miss Week 2, or else I had the funniest Enemy Reaction idea ever for this weekend.
I said several weeks back that I thought the New England Patriots game would be tougher than it looked on paper because of their defense, and even though Christian Barmore is out and Matt Judon has been traded that still figures to be the case. While the Patriots offense has a better quarterback than Bo Nix, as well as a rushing attack that lit up the Cincinnati Bengals, I think this game will be decided by how much the Seahawks offense can improve upon last week’s performance. Considering the brutal stretch of the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers to come very soon, this feels like a sneaky important game to bank.
Thanks for reading and go ‘Hawks!
Denver, CO
Where do Packers stand in NFC playoff picture after loss in Denver?
The Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) dropped from first to second in the NFC North and from the second seed to the seventh seed in the NFC after losing to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Significant injuries suffered against the Broncos will mean lasting implications are felt past Sunday. The Packers are also now a long shot to catch the Los Angeles Rams for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and it’ll take a win next Saturday night in Chicago to retake control in the NFC North.
But the Packers are still in a good spot in terms of making the postseason field, especially after the Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys all lost on Sunday.
NFC playoff picture after Week 15
- Los Angeles Rams (11-3, 6-3 vs. NFC)
- Chicago Bears (10-4, 6-3 vs. NFC)
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-5, 7-3 vs. NFC)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, 5-5 vs. NFC)
- Seattle Seahawks (11-3, 6-3 vs. NFC)
- San Francisco 49ers (10-4, 8-2 vs. NFC)
- Green Bay Packers (9-4-1, 7-2-1 vs. NFC)
Others: Lions (8-6), Panthers (7-7), Cowboys (6-7-1)
According to The Athletic’s NFL playoff simulator, the Packers have a 92 percent chance of making the postseason with three weeks to go. They become all but guaranteed of a playoff spot if they can beat the Bears in Chicago in Week 16. In fact, just one win over the final three weeks could be enough for the Packers to get in.
The NFC North winner looks like a coinflip. The Athletic’s model gives the Packers a 48 percent chance of winning the division right now, and it would go up to 82 percent with a win over the Bears on Saturday. Chicago took down the Cleveland Browns with ease in bitter cold temps at Soldier Field on Sunday.
The Athletic’s model also gives the Packers a 98 percent chance of being the No. 2 seed if Matt LaFleur’s team can win out. That will be much easier said than done without Micah Parsons (and potentially Christian Watson) down the stretch.
Two very possibilities for the Packers: Win the NFC North and host the Bears in the NFC Wild Card Round, or get in as the No. 7 seed and go to Chicago to play the Bears in the NFC Wild Card Round. A third round of the rivalry is increasingly possible in January.
Packers remaining games
Nothing easy here. The Bears, Ravens and Vikings all won Sunday. The Bears and Ravens won comfortably; the Vikings upset the Cowboys — who desperately needed to win — in Dallas. The Bears and Ravens are both playing to win division titles. The Vikings are a dangerously talented spoiler team, and winning at U.S. Bank Stadium is never easy. The Athletic’s model gives the Packers roughly a 40 percent chance of making the postseason even with an 0-3 finish. The Lions are the biggest threat to pass the Packers in the event they finish 0-3.
It appears the Packers can clinch a playoff spot next week with a win over the Bears and a Steelers win over the Lions.
Denver, CO
Packers vs. Broncos Week 15 Game Discussion Thread
It’s time for the AFC’s #1 team to meet the NFC’s #2. Today the Denver Broncos host the Green Bay Packers in a key late-season inter-conference matchup that could have playoff seeding implications for both teams.
In Denver, the Broncos will be trying to hold on to the top spot in the AFC and keep their impressive win streak rolling. Denver has won ten straight games, some of them in fairly ridiculous fashion, but they sit at 11-2, sharing the top record in the NFL with the New England Patriots, who are just behind them in the playoff picture based on conference record.
The Packers, meanwhile, want to hold on to the lead in the NFC North before they have their rematch with the Chicago Bears next Saturday night. Green Bay sits behind only the Los Angeles Rams in the playoff race in the NFC, and they want to return to the Central time zone with that lead intact.
Join us here at Acme Packing Company to discuss today’s game, and Go Pack Go!
Denver, CO
Denver hosts Houston on 4-game home skid
Houston Rockets (16-6, third in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (18-6, second in the Western Conference)
Denver; Monday, 9:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Denver hosts Houston looking to end its four-game home slide.
The Nuggets are 13-5 in conference games. Denver averages 125.5 points while outscoring opponents by 9.6 points per game.
The Rockets are 9-5 in Western Conference play. Houston is fifth in the NBA scoring 120.6 points per game while shooting 48.6%.
The Nuggets’ 13.5 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.8 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Rockets give up. The Rockets average 120.6 points per game, 4.7 more than the 115.9 the Nuggets give up.
The teams meet for the second time this season. In the last meeting on Nov. 22 the Nuggets won 112-109 led by 34 points from Nikola Jokic, while Reed Sheppard scored 27 points for the Rockets.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jokic is averaging 29.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 10.9 assists for the Nuggets. Hunter Tyson is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Alperen Sengun is averaging 23 points, 9.4 rebounds, seven assists and 1.5 steals for the Rockets. Amen Thompson is averaging 20.0 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 126.7 points, 41.4 rebounds, 30.3 assists, 5.8 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 53.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.8 points per game.
Rockets: 7-3, averaging 115.7 points, 47.2 rebounds, 24.8 assists, 9.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.0 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Christian Braun: out (ankle), Aaron Gordon: out (hamstring), Julian Strawther: day to day (back).
Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Dorian Finney-Smith: out (ankle), Tari Eason: out (oblique).
——
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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