SEATTLE — There will be many games still to come in Russell Wilson's Denver Broncos career. But in his first start with his new team as well as his first return engagement to the city where he played his first 10 NFL seasons, the quarterback the Broncos traded five draft picks and three players for — the one they signed to a $245 million extension earlier this month — was the second choice with season opener on the line.
Wilson's stat line certainly looked the part in Monday night's 17-16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. He finished the emotional evening 29-of-42 passing for 340 yards and a touchdown.
But with 20 seconds to play and trailing by one, Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett chose to have Brandon McManus attempt a 64-yard field goal for the win instead of letting Wilson try to lead a play on fourth-and-5 at the Seahawks' 46-yard line. «We were right on the line [of McManus' range],'' Hackett said. »… Brandon gave it his best shot… obviously I wish we would have gotten a lot closer, it put us in that weird spot because we were in that field goal range… we just made that decision and take our shot there.'' Wilson offered his take. «We got the best field goal kicker maybe in the game,'' Wilson said. »… We got there and unfortunately it didn't go in… I believe in coach Hackett, I believe in what we're doing, I believe in everything.'' As Wilson added, «I don't think it was the wrong decision.'' McManus' first attempt sailed wide left, but Seahawks coach Pete Carroll had called a timeout just before the snap.
Hackett said he didn't consider sending the offense back on the field after the negated miss because „I was happy he got that one out of the way.