Bo Nix’s debut for the Denver Broncos got off to a rough start and didn't improve as the game progressed. He threw for just 67 yards in the first half and had one interception, with four other passes that could have easily been picked off. Nix didn't impress during training camp and preseason with big plays, but he managed to protect the ball. However, Seattle's defense unsettled him from the beginning. Every time Denver's run game gained momentum, head coach Sean Payton seemed to abandon it. Fumbles by Audric Estime (recovered by Denver) and Jaleel McLaughlin (lost in the third quarter) derailed any attempts to control the game's pace.

Ultimately, the game was a dud from start to finish. The Broncos' defense had a single hiccup in the first half but otherwise played exceptionally. They managed to harass Seattle quarterback Geno Smith, secured an interception by Alex Singleton, and forced two first-half safeties. The revamped defensive line showed immediate impact, and the duo of Jonathon Cooper and Baron Browning looked dominant off the edge. Despite their strong performance, the defense had little room for error against Seattle. When they faltered in the second half—Kenneth Walker ran for 81 yards in the third quarter alone, and there was a coverage bust on the first play of the fourth quarter—the game quickly slipped out of reach.

One bright spot for the Broncos was their special teams. While the new kickoff rule didn't bring much excitement, Denver's punt team made several significant plays. A muffed punt recovered at the 9-yard line set up a first-and-goal situation, and Tremon Smith made an excellent play by downing a Riley Dixon punt at the 1-yard line, leading to a second safety for the Broncos in the first half. Despite these bright spots, the offensive game plan yielded nothing from the start. Even before Denver fell behind by multiple scores late in the game, they had no offensive balance. Nix had 30 drop-backs compared to just 21 runs through the first three quarters. Although Denver started the game with three tight ends, they often played out of empty sets. Payton did successfully challenge a spot early in the game and used his timeouts aggressively late in the first half to create another offensive opportunity, but these moves weren't enough to turn the tide.