But in his first start with his new team as well as his first commitment back to the city where he played his first 10 NFL seasons, the Broncos quarterback traded five draft picks and three players — the one they signed to a $245 million extension earlier this month — was the second pick with the start of the season on the line. Wilson’s stat line certainly played a role in Monday night’s 17-16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. He finished the emotional night 29-of-42 passing for 340 yards and a touchdown. But with 20 seconds to play and trailing by one, Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett opted to have Brandon McManus attempt a 64-yard field goal instead of letting Wilson try to drive a fourth-and- 5 to the Seahawks’ 46. – yard line. 2 Related “We were right on the line [of McManus’ range]Hackett said. “… Brandon played his best … obviously I wish we would have been a lot closer, it put us in that weird spot because we were in that field goal range … once we made that decision and got shot there.” Wilson offered his opinion. “We got the best goal 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 went wide left, but Seahawks coach Pete Carroll had called a timeout just before the snap. Hackett said he didn’t think about sending the offense back down the field after the fumble because “I was happy he got it out of the way. We had enough distance and we thought we were going to make it.” Carroll said he was “surprised” the Broncos chose to kick. “We weren’t thinking about the field goal there,” he said. “We thought it was fourth down and they were still going. So it gave us a chance to win the game on that play. It was fortunate there. Luckily they didn’t make the punt. He kicked the hell out of the ball.” McManus’ second attempt also went wide left, and Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, who won a training camp battle over Drew Lock to win the job as Wilson’s successor, took a knee on three snaps to close out a emotional night all around. Locke was one of three players the Broncos sent to the Seahawks in March’s blockbuster. “That was a special game, just because I got to see and play against some of my closest friends,” Wilson said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without this place … but I didn’t play [tonight] just for this game. I have a greater mission.” Almost as soon as the full NFL schedule was released, the Wilson-Seahawks reunion has been on multiple calendars. Wilson, his new teammates with the Broncos and Seahawks had publicly played the other game card. But the question of whether Wilson would be booed after 10 seasons in Seattle that included nine Pro Bowl selections, two trips to the Super Bowl and one Super Bowl victory was answered the moment Wilson took the field for pregame activities. The Seahawks faithful booed with longing. The crowd, as if to show that many in attendance had moved on, even chanted “Ge-no, Ge-no, Ge-no” whenever Smith made some notable plays, and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was He often gestured to the crowd to get louder whenever the Broncos had the ball. The crowd chanted Smith’s name as the quarterback took a knee to seal the victory. “It didn’t bother me,” Wilson said. “It was a hostile environment. always was. I didn’t expect to get a round of applause every now and then. I gave everything I had here every day, every day, and anyone who says anything else is completely wrong.” Wilson and the Broncos’ offense got off to a soft start, as Wilson didn’t target a wide receiver on a pass attempt until he connected with Jerry Judy on a 67-yard catch-and-run touchdown with 5 minutes, 34 seconds left. left in the first half. But overall, even when things went wrong, the Broncos couldn’t turn 433 yards of offense into enough points. Denver punters Melvin Gordon III and Javonte Williams each missed kickoffs at the Seahawks’ 1-yard line to negate two potential scoring drives, and the Broncos failed to score touchdowns on their other two trips down the line of Seattle’s 20 yards. . Throw in the Broncos’ 12 penalties (for 106 yards) and the Seahawks won despite just 253 total yards and no points in the second half on offense. “I thought he played really well, took care of the football, made really good decisions, had some explosive plays, was able to spread the ball all over the field,” Hackett said of Wilson. “That’s what he does. I’m really disappointed for him.” On the other hand, Smith was almost perfect in the first half. Smith completed the first 13 passes of the game and was 17-of-18 with two touchdowns to lead the Seahawks to a 17-13 halftime advantage. The Broncos defense threw a shutout in the second half. “We’ve kind of gotten away with it [in the first half]Broncos linebacker Bradley Chubb said. “When we got it tuned up … we got back on track.” As Wilson explained, “We had a lot of great plays, we threw the ball around the field … we had a lot of great things. The reality is we didn’t get the ball in the end zone on those red zone plays.” Wilson had arrived at the stadium in a fashion week-worthy ensemble several hours before kick-off, and almost every moment was a reunion as he made his way through the stadium and his warm-ups. A handshake here, a wave there, Wilson made it a point to at least try to continue to stick to the script he and the rest of the Broncos tried to keep throughout the days and weeks leading up to Monday’s game. For the Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman appeared on the stadium video boards 30 minutes before kickoff to a standing ovation. And former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was another of several former Seattle players roaming the sidelines during warmups. It all ended with McManus’ miss and a celebration from the ’12’ which Wilson hoped would welcome him back. Tonight was special,” Wilson said. “… It was still a special environment in a place I love.”
