Broncos - Seahawks Wrap-Up - Kyle Orton, Demaryius Thomas And Five Important Plays

The Denver Broncos have now moved to 1-1 on the 2010 season with a dominant 31-14 win over the Seattle Seahawks. SB Nation Broncos blog Mile High Report has posted its "aftermath" wrap-up of the game and it is a must read for any Broncos or NFL fan. Check out a few of the highlights and then head over and read the whole thing.

Because Broncos first-round draft pick Demaryius Thomas came from Georgia Tech, a school that now runs a primarily option offense, many casual fans were surprised when Denver selected him in the 2010 NFL Draft. I think it's safe to say that surprise has turned to some real excitement after Thomas saw his first real action for the Broncos against the Seahawks:

 What's There To Say About Bay-Bay? The Broncos waited until the 2nd quarter to unleash the New Beast, and Demaryius Thomas answered the bell. Just a few hours after Dez Bryant returned a punt for a touchdown for the Cowboys against the Bears - and I was getting the "Another McDaniels Bust" tweets - Thomas showed why the Broncos had him so high on draft boards. Eight catches, 97 yards and one TD. Thomas ran crisp routes, showed great hands, took contact, and most importantly made it out of the game healthy. His first play - a bubble screen on Third and 14 that gained 17 yards - showed just how fast and explosive he was. The Seahawks had no tape on Thomas and it showed. They were not ready for the speed. Dare I say the Broncos may finally have that true deep threat? Only time will tell, but Thomas looks like the real deal.

Very quietly, Kyle Orton has continued to play very, very well in 2010. From a strong preseason that saw him lead the NFL in third down conversions, to his first two regular season games where he has done everything and more that the team has asked of him, Orton is the leader of an offense that is starting to look like it could be a strength for this team. Eventually the NFL, and Bronco fans, will take notice:

Anyone Else Have Questions About Kyle Orton?? - Really. What else does this guy have to do to get respect? So his beards aren't the best. He doesn't have Tom Brady's good looks, and doesn't give an intriguing interview after the game. He's not going to say something controversial in a press conference, nor will he throw a teammate under the bus. He's the first to shoulder the blame after a loss and the first to spread the praise around after a win. Oh yea, 11-14 passing on third down yesterday, what I call the 'Money Down' for a quarterback, is pretty awesome too. Orton is top seven in virtually every QB category - at least numbers-wise. Give me a top 10 quarterback and I know I have a shot to win. I've said it ALL summer and I will say it again: Kyle Orton has complete control of the playbook and is the unquestioned leader of the Denver Broncos. I don't care who the Broncos traded for, who they drafted, Kyle Orton is the BEST OPTION for the Broncos to handle the football in every situation. He's earned it, he's proven it, and now the Broncos seemed content to let him run with it.

Finally, John Bena of Mile High Report and SB Nation Denver selects his five plays that change the game:

Don't Make Every Play, Just The Big Play! - There are five plays in every game that usually determine the outcome. Yesterday's game saw 128 rushing/passing plays combined by the two teams. Less than 5% of plays in a game usually determine its outcome. Last week, the Broncos didn't make those plays. Yesterday they did. Here are the five I picked - you can choose your own in the comments as well - you only get five. In no particular order:

1. Champ Bailey INT - Many of these plays are obvious, which is the point. Champ's INT, deep in Broncos' territory, was a huge momentum swing. The defense was on its heels, and the Seahawks were gaining confidence with every snap. But turning the Seahawks over, the Broncos regained momentum, and delivered a huge gut-punch to a team that is trying to build an identity of its own, much like the Broncos. At worst, the Seahawks are thinking three points. Instead, they get nothing

Head on over to Mile High Report to see the other four big plays the Broncos made last Sunday.

Champ Bailey's Ankle Not Broken, 'Hopeful' To Play Against Colts

Dove Valley breathed an enormous sigh of relief today, as tests show that All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey’s ankle is not broken. Coach McDaniels even went so far as to claim Bailey may play next Sunday in the showdown against AFC Champion Indianapolis and quarterback Peyton Manning.

A healthy Bailey would do wonders for a Broncos secondary that has been overmatched by the Colts’ passing game in recent years, though played them tough last season in a close loss.

Denver Broncos' Champ Bailey Suffers Right Ankle Injury During Game Against Seattle Seahawks

The injury Champ Bailey sustained in the fourth quarter of the game against the Seahwaks appears to be to his right ankle. Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports:

Bailey left the Broncos’ locker room with his right ankle lightly wrapped, and leaning on two crutches.

"It happens," Bailey said. "I should be all right, though."

More on this as the week goes on, but Bailey could miss next week’s game against the Colts.

Kyle Orton And The Denver Broncos Take Care Of Seattle At Home, 31-14

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Kyle Orton was at the head of an effective Denver offense with 307 yards passing and two touchdowns as the Broncos handled Seattle, 31-14, at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Orton hit on 25-of-35 passes and developed a nice rapport with rookie receiver Demaryius Thomas, who sat out the season opener and all of the preseason with a foot injury. Denver's top draft pick this past April, Thomas debuted with eight catches for 97 yards with a 21-yard touchdown.

A balanced rushing attack saw Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter both find the end zone, while Eddie Royal reeled in a 13-yard touchdown en route to a 65-yard, five-catch day for Denver (1-1), which bounced back from a disappointing loss to Jacksonville in Week 1.

Matt Hasselbeck was picked off three times -- twice inside the Denver 10-yard line -- and was held to 233 yards passing on 20-of-35 attempts.

The veteran signal-caller's 20-yard scoring run and an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ben Obomanu provided the offense for Seattle (1-1), which got off to an impressive start in Week 1 with a sound 31-6 beating of NFC West favorite San Francisco.

The Seahawks turned it over a total of four times, with a muffed punt by rookie Walter Thurmond at his own 13-yard line leading to a quick seven points for Denver in the first quarter.

Hasselbeck's overthrow of Deion Branch just outside the right pylon was picked off by Champ Bailey to ruin a promising opening drive for Seattle, which had marched downfield from its own 20.

Denver was forced to punt, but the Seahawks' second turnover proved costly as Thurmond botched the catch and set Denver up at the 13. Three plays later Orton found Royal in the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

The Broncos set off on their next scoring venture on the final play of the first quarter, and 4 1/2 minutes into the second Buckhalter was polishing off a 10-play, 81-yard drive with a one-yard scoring plunge.

Hasselbeck came back to lead Seattle deep into Denver territory but was again picked off, this time by Brian Dawkins at the nine-yard line on a deep pass up the left side intended for John Carlson.

A lengthy Denver drive on the ensuing possession took all but 11 seconds off the clock in the first half, as Matt Prater made it a 17-0 game at halftime with a 20-yard field goal.

The Seahawks finally broke through for a score to open the second half. The drive started at the Denver 22 after Golden Tate's 63-yard punt return and Hasselbeck hit Obomanu near the goal line for an 11-yard touchdown a short time later.

Denver erased the score with a methodical 10-play, 80-yard trek that shaved over six minutes off the clock and saw Moreno breach the end zone from one yard out.

It remained a three-score game moving to the fourth and Denver essentially put the game away with another near eight-minute, 80-yard drive with Thomas' first career NFL touchdown serving as the finishing touch.

Seattle went into a hurry-up offense and Hasselbeck found the end zone on a 20-yard run to cap the scoring.

The Broncos won their 11th consecutive home opener, the longest such active streak in the league. Denver's all-time record in home openers is also tops in the NFL at 38-12-1...Moreno also caught four passes for 67 yards...Tate returned two punts for 82 yards and caught a 52-yard pass in his first taste of pro action. The rookie out of Notre Dame was inactive for Week 1...Deon Butler was Seattle's top receiving threat with five receptions and 50 yards...Denver hosts the Colts next Sunday, while the Seahawks host San Diego.

Matt Hasselbeck Scrambles Twenty Yards For A Seahawk Touchdown

Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck scrambled twenty yards to the end zone to bring the Seahawks back to within seventeen points of the Denver Broncos.

After a first half defined by some very strong defense on both sides, the second half is featuring Seattle and Denver marching down the field on one another. Six minutes remaining in this game.

Demaryius Thomas Catches His First Touchdown Pass, Broncos Lead The Seahawks 31-7

Broncos first round pick Demaryius Thomas is having a break out day in his first regular season action as a Bronco. Thomas just caught a 21 yard pass from Kyle Orton on third down, making an easy reception with no defenders near the receiver.

Thomas now has eight receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown. All of a sudden, a receiving core that looked to be one of the weak spots on this team is looking like a major threat for the Broncos opposition.

Golden Tate 52 Yard Reception Puts The Seahawks In Scoring Position, Seattle Doesn't Capitalize

Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate made his second long play of the game, catching a 52 yard reception from Matt Hasselbeck. This is the rookie’s first reception as a Seahawk, but he is already showing off some of the skills made him a second round draft pick.

Seattle went for it on 4th down and came up short, giving the ball back over to Denver.

Knowshon Moreno Dives Over The Defense, Broncos Take A 24-7 Lead

Knowshon Moreno took a short Kyle Orton swing pass 45 yards to put the Denver Broncos in scoring position after the Seahawk touchdown. A important third down pass from Orton to tight end Daniel Graham took the Broncos down to the Seattle one yard line and running back Knowshon Moreno punched it by leaping over the pile in three plays later.

Over these first one and half games, Moreno has played very well and has continued to show Broncos fans how important he is to this season's success.

Seahawks Get On The Board With A Hasselbeck Touchdown Pass, Trail The Broncos 17-7

Thanks to a long punt return from Seattle rookie wide receiver Golden Tate, the Seattle Seahawks are on the scoreboard with a touchdown pass early in the third quarter. Matt Hasselback hit Ben Obomanu for a 11 yard touchdown on second down after starting the drive on the Broncos 22 yard line.

Broncos Lead The Seattle Seahawks 17-0 At The Start Of The Third Quarter

The Denver Broncos have throughly dominated the Seattle Seahawks for most of the first half. Kyle Orton threw for 176 yards and a touchdown as the Broncos raced to a 17-0 start. Check out the rest of the first half stats below:

Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks Injury Report: Laurence Maroney Ruled Out

Mile High Report has the latest injury report for the Broncos’ home opener on Sunday. Check out the Broncos’ injury report:

We’ll need to wait a week for Laurence Maroney to make his Broncos debut, but Demaryius Thomas could make his debut for the Broncos this week after being inactive last week against Jacksonville.

SB Nation Previews Broncos-Seahawks Game

Joel Thorman previews the Broncos-Seahawks game and comes down in favor of the Broncos:

Prediction: Take the Broncos here because we’re not quite sold on the Seahawks yet.

I’ll agree with this prediction because the Seahawks may have just been riding the emotions of playing their first game for new head coach, Peter Carroll.

Thorman also asks a question many Broncos fans are wondering: What impact will Laurence Maroney have on Knowshown Moreno’s playing time?

Broncos Look To Rebound In Home Opener Against Seahawks

I don't think there is a 'must-win' game in September, but Sunday's Broncos game against the Seattle Seahawks at Invesco Field @ Mile High might be the closest thing.  At 0-1, with games against the Colts, Raven and Jets looming in the coming weeks, the Broncos need to to start playing at a high level, and the Home Opener is a great place to start.

The Broncos have numbers on their side - the team is 23-3 in home openers since 1984 - and have won 10-straight home openers.  That trend needs to continue.

We'll have all the news and notes as the Broncos and Seahawks prepare for Sunday.  For in-depth thoughts and comment on the Broncos, check out MileHighReport