Broncos break Seahawks early in 31-14 win

Published on September 19, 2010 by Seahawks.Com News (Feed)     

The Seahawks turned the ball over three times in the first half – including two Matt Hasselbeck interceptions – in spotting Denver a 17-0 halftime lead, a margin the Broncos maintained in putting away Seattle, 31-14, today at Invesco Field.

The Seahawks finally got on the board on their first possession of the second half, following a 63-yard Golden Tate punt return. Hasselback passed 11 yards to Ben Obamanu to cut the margin to 17-7.

But Denver came right back with a 10-play, 80-yard drive. Knowshon Moreno scored from the 1 to lift the Broncos lead back to 17 points.

The Seahawks got into position to score again when Hasselbeck and Tate hooked up on a 52-yard pass-and-run that took the ball to the Denver 28. But Seattle turned the ball over on downs.

The Broncos then put together another 80-yard scoring march, this one in 14 plays, capped by Orton’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas. That made it 31-7 with about 10 minutes to play.

Seattle’s second score came on Hasselbeck’s 20-yard scramble, completing an 80-yard, eight-play Seahawks drive that reduced the margin to 31-14 with about six minutes left.

The Seahawks offense sputtered with three first-half turnovers, including the two Hasselbeck interceptions, and the Broncos took advantage to take a 17-0 lead into halftime.

The Seahawks took the opening kickoff and drove to first-and-goal at the Denver 6. But on the second play after a holding penalty on Seattle nullified a touchdown run by Justin Forsett, Denver’s Champ Bailey intercepted a Hasselbeck pass at the Denver 4, ending the threat.

Seattle’s second first-quarter turnover came on a a muffed punt by Walter Thurmond. The Broncos drove 48 yards in 11 plays after that, scoring on Kyle Orton’s 13-yard pass to Eddie Royal for a 7-0 Denver lead.

After a Seahawks punt, the Broncos put together a 10-play, 81-yard scoring drive. Correll Buckhalter covered the final yard for the touchdown that put Denver up 14-0 with 10:30 left in the half.

Hasselbeck was picked off again after the Seahawks drove from their own 20 in eight plays to a first down at the Denver 28. Hasselbeck’s pass intended for tight end John Carlson was intercepted by Brian Dawkins at the Denver 9.

The Broncos had a chance to go up three touchdowns when they moved 94 yards in 16 plays to inside the Seahawks 10. But the Seattle defense held and Denver settled for a 20-yard Matt Prater field goal in the closing seconds of the half to hike its lead to 17-0.

Tags: Ben Obamanu, Broncos, Champ Bailey, Correll Buckhalter, Demaryius Thomas, Hasselback, Invesco, Invesco Field, Justin Forsett, Knowshon Moreno, kyle orton, Matt Hasselbeck, Opening Kickoff, Punt Return, seahawks offense, Six Minutes, Thurmond, Touchdown Pass, Yard Scramble, Yard Touchdown