The best offense, historically, in NFL history managed a single touchdown in an anemic output — stunning production in the biggest game of the year. But perhaps that’s because the Broncos were playing one of the better defenses the league has seen in quite some time.
Broncos wide receivers Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas said the Seahawks defense, ranked first in the NFL during the regular season, was the best either had seen in his career, each four years long, and their speed, cohesion and hard-hitting was unlike any other unit they had gone against since breaking into the league in 2010.
“I would say that is the best defense I’ve faced,” Decker said. “They play great defense and they showcased that. Offensively, we didn’t do anything to challenge them. We had too many three-and-outs. We had four turnovers.”
There weren’t any tricks the Seahawks employed, no complicated schemes they cooked up, but the Broncos still didn’t have an answer. Not even close, failing to register a first down until early in the second quarter.
“Nothing really surprised me,” Thomas said. “We knew as a team they were going to come here and play fast and play physical. We just weren’t capable of going out and making plays.”
It was a far cry from the Broncos’ record-breaking regular season, when they scored an NFL-high 606 points and Peyton Manning threw for a league-record 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns.
Seattle held Denver to a season-low 306 yards of total offense, only 27 rushing yards and forced four turnovers.
The Broncos struggled to move the ball when the game was close, and when they did work their way downfield, there were costly turnovers, a Manning pick-six and Thomas fumble. Manning wasn’t sacked, but he was under pressure throughout, forced to get rid of the ball early by the Seahawks’ active front seven.
“We all struggled, the whole team struggled,” Decker said. “I’m not going to point any individuals out. Nobody played his best game.”
Receiver Wes Welker focused more on what Denver failed to do — its surprising inability to execute as it had all season, rather than Seattle looking like the 1985 Bears.
“They did a great job, but I just feel like there were so many opportunities we just missed out on,” Welker said. “We just didn’t play well. It’s frustrating. … We didn’t execute the way we can execute. … I can’t put my finger on any one thing. It’s a tough game and it’s never easy.
“To get this far and lose like this, it’s embarrassing.”
Veteran Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, who has played on some elite defenses , was impressed not only by Seattle’s quickness but also its steely focus.
“They get all 11 hats on the ball, they’re relentless, a lot of speed and they understand what they’re doing,” he said. “They’re really disciplined.”