Seahawks 22, Broncos 14: Paxton Lynch exacts revenge in meaningless preseason game

The Denver Broncos first and second strong offenses and defense played well early in the game, but Paxton Lynch and the Seattle Seahawks reserves came on strong in the second half to secure victory in a 22-14 win over Denver.

The big news out of this game, however, came from the injury side of things. Rookie tight end Austin Fort landed awkwardly and injured his knee on a deep reception in the fourth quarter. It looked bad and he left the field on the cart. This is something we’ll want to keep an eye out for this week as his status gets updated.

First Quarter

The Denver Broncos lost the opening coin toss to the Seattle Seahawks who deferred, which means Broncos Country would get their first look at Joe Flacco right out of the gates.

Devontae Booker found himself on kickoff return duty as he looks to compete for a roster spot after the team signed Theo Riddick, but he was stripped at the 15-yard line. Fortunately, a teammate recovered.

The Broncos opened up with a few runs to start the game and Phillip Lindsay wasted no time in showing that a ruined play doesn’t mean he won’t still make a big first down gain. He did so on the second play from scrimmage with a 10-yard run that should have been a 2-yard loss.

A play-action pass on the next play to Lindsay gained another 9-yards, two plays later, Royce Freeman burst through the middle of the line on third and one for a 50-yard gain. Rookie Dalton Risner obliterated his man to open up a semi-truck sized hole for Freeman on the play.

From the Seahawks 10-yard line, Flacco had a quick pass to Tim Patrick gained 8-yards to set the Broncos up inside the Seahawks 10-yard line. Two plays later, from the Seahawks 5-yard line, the Broncos opening drive stalled out. On third and goal from the 7-yard line, Flacco overthrew an open Courtland Sutton on a fade into the end zone.

Brandon McManus would put the Broncos up early with a short 25-yard field goal.

Broncos 3, Seahawks 0.

A big return set the Seahawks up with great field position at their own 35-yard line on their first possession. The Broncos first-team defense gobbled up the running lanes on the first two plays to force a third and 11 for Geno Smith and the Seahawks. Smith could find no one open and was flushed out for a throwaway.

Offsetting penalties forced a replay of that third down. A screen pass to Rashad Penny blew things away for a 26-yard gain and a first down.

A quick out to DK Metcalf with Chris Harris Jr. in coverage was complete, but a quick tackle kept the pass from gaining more than the eight yards it was.

A holding on the Seahawks pushed them back and two plays later on third and nine, Smith went to his wide receiver with Isaac Yiadom in coverage who was able to get his hands in for a pass breakup.

The Seahawks went for a 56-yard field goal, but Jason Myers was wide right and short to set the Broncos up with excellent field position.

The offensive starters were done for the Broncos at that point and in came Kevin Hogan and most of the second-team offense with four minutes to go in the first quarter.

That drive stalled out after one first down. When the Broncos defense took the field, the starters were still in there - including Von Miller. Adam Gotsis blew up one screen pass and almost had himself an interception and on the very next play De’Vante Bausby was there to break up the third down throw to force another punt.

Hogan and the Broncos offense got things going to close out the first quarter with back-to-back completions to DaeSean Hamilton and rookie tight end Noah Fant.

Second Quarter

The Broncos second-team defense hounded Geno Smith and the Seahawks second-team offense in the second quarter.

Drew Lock came in early in the second quarter giving Broncos fans a good long look of the second-round pick out of Missouri. On his first series, Lock made a perfect throw on third and long to tight end Troy Fumagali to convert.

Three plays later on a fourth and one, Lock kept the ball himself. Out of the shotgun, he faked a handoff inside and ran for a 8-yard gain for the first down.

A 24-yard catch and throw to Nick Williams on the next play set the Broncos up in scoring position at the Seahawks 14-yard line.

Two plays later on third and four, Lock fired a pass into the end zone to Kelvin McKnight that was broken up bringing McManus out for another field goal to extend Denver’s lead.

Broncos 6, Seahawks 0.

An error-filled series by the Seahawks on their next possession took forever to come to a conclusion, but mercifully they punted it away after about 50 plays that netted about negative 12 yards.

However, they would get 22-yards on a few plays and convert to keep their drive going with under three minutes to go in the half.

That would spark the Seahawks offense to a scoring drive to end the half. The drive was stuffed while they were in field goal range as rookie edge rusher Malik Reed brought Smith down for another sack to setup a 55-yard field goal attempt.

Myers was good on that one to cut the Broncos lead heading into halftime.

Broncos 6, Seahawks 3.

Third Quarter

Paxton Lynch took the field to start the second half for the Seahawks and the hopes of a sack-strip or pick six rose in Denver. They had to a wait for a bit as Seattle ran three straight times to open the half. Lynch’s first throw was in the flat and in the dirt.

On his next throw, Lynch jump throws one deep for a 25-yard reception that shouldn’t have been completed. It was a great play by the Seahawks wide receiver. Su’a Cravens added an unsportsmanlike penalty to set Lynch and the Seahawks up in scoring position.

Lynch continued to light up the Broncos defense that ultimately led to the Seahawks taking the lead on a Paxton Lynch touchdown pass.

Seahawks 13, Broncos 6.

Drew Lock looked to answer the call, but on third down deep in his own territory he was sacked in the end zone for a safety to blow the game wide open for Seattle.

Seahawks 15, Broncos 6.

The Seahawks continued lighting up the Broncos third-string defense throughout the third quarter. Paxton Lynch had them back into field goal range by the end of the quarter and were threatening again.

Fourth Quarter

A few minutes into the quarter, Lynch broke free of the pass rush to a diving touchdown run to extend the Seahawks lead even more. After doing a little dance in the end zone, it sure felt like he could have dabbed over to the Broncos sideline and that would have been okay too.

Seahawks 22, Broncos 6.

The Broncos offense finally woke up midway through the fourth quarter, but had that momentum snatched away by a bad injury to rookie tight end Austin Fort. Lock found him wide open down the middle of the field for a huge gain, but as Fort landed on his knee you could see it give way. He collapsed, but held onto the ball.

His night and maybe year over with that reception. Tough break as he legitimately looked like a possible surprise camp star and 53-man roster lock heading into this game.

The drive stalled from there, but on fourth down the Broncos opted to go for it instead of kicking the field goal down 22-6. They couldn’t convert and the Seahawks got the ball back with less than six minutes in the game.

It was the first good drive Lock had in the second half. There seemed to be some rhythm and accuracy there too.

After another million penalties, the Broncos offense got going again under Lock. The Broncos drove methodically down the field and aided heavily by some questionable officiating. Lock hit Devontae Jackson in the flat for the touchdown pass to close the lead down. Lock then threw into triple coverage to Juwann Winfree who caught the ball while being hit hard.

Seahawks 22, Broncos 14.

With just three minutes to go in the game, Lynch and the Seahawks focused on running the clock out. On third down and 15, they ran the ball again to eat up the Broncos final timeout. With 2:49 left in the game, Lock and the Broncos would have one more chance to tie the game up.

From their own 24-yard line, the Broncos began to move the ball but Lock threw an interception that sealed the game for the Seahawks.