Monday Night Football Betting Tips: Broncos vs. Seahawks Odds, Picks & Prediction
Broncos vs. Seahawks Odds
| Broncos Odds | -6.5 |
| Seahawks Odds | +6.5 |
| Over/Under | 44.5 |
| Date | Monday, Sept. 12 |
| Time | 8:15 p.m. |
| TV | ESPN |
The first edition of Monday Night Football in 2022 will feature Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos against Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks. Following 10 seasons as the starting signal caller for the Seahawks, Wilson will be on the opposing sidelines in this contest – his first career NFL game not with Seattle. Oddsmakers are expecting Wilson and his new team to roll in this matchup, pricing Denver as 6.5 point road favorites game on the spread.
Let’s take a deeper look at the matchup to see where NFL bettors can find value at sportsbooks in this contest.
Denver Broncos
From Week 1 to Week 5 last season, Russell Wilson graded as Pro Football Focus’ second-best quarterback. However, he struggled mightily upon his return to action, leading Seattle to only a 4-5 record across his final nine contests. Some of the offensive struggles were likely due to Wilson rushing back to the field prior to being fully healthy, and some of the issues were unquestionably a result of a 26th ranked pass-block efficiency from the offensive line. In Denver, Wilson will have one of the better pass-blocking offensive lines in the league, with Garrett Bolles, Dalton Risner, Lloyd Cushenberry III, Quinn Meinerz, and Billy Turner each ranking better than league average in pass protection. The veteran signal caller also has the benefit of throwing to Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy – each of whom has tantalizing upside and a safe floor. Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon III do not have great run-blockers in front of them, but the Broncos’ backfield still averaged 4.5 yards-per-carry as a unit last fall, which helps to create balance for the offense.
Defensively, there are few teams in the league with more talent than Denver. The Broncos finished only 14th in opponent rush yards per play in 2021, but the addition of D.J. Jones should help this group improve tremendously in this area for 2022. Jones was one of the better run defenders in the NFL during his five years in San Francisco, and should have little trouble making a positive impact on Monday against a weak Seattle interior offensive line. Bradley Chubb was voted a team captain for the upcoming season, a move that suggests his teammates anticipate him returning to stardom after a disappointing 2021 campaign. In the secondary, Pat Surtain II is one of the premier cover cornerbacks in the league, having allowed 76 receiving yards or fewer in each game as a rookie last fall. He is likely to be even better as a sophomore, giving the Broncos multiple elite defensive backs, with Justin Simmons being one of the best safeties in football.
Seattle Seahawks
Whereas there is seemingly only upside in Denver heading into the new season, there are far fewer bright spots in Seattle. Geno Smith won the starting quarterback job, but not because he is the next franchise signal caller. Smith performed admirably during Wilson’s brief absence in 2021, but the last time he started the majority of games for a team – he posted a 25-to-34 touchdown-to-interception ratio with the New York Jets across the 2013 and 2014 seasons. A poor pass-blocking offensive line could force Smith to make quick decisions, which could cause his turnover-tendencies from his days in the Big Apple to resurface. At his best, he will be a league average quarterback, but his floor is far lower – and he is not a lock to start all 17 games in 2022.
DK Metcalf exhibited strong rapport in a limited sample size with Smith last year, but Metcalf could have his work cut-out for him against Ronald Darby on Monday evening. Tyler Lockett will struggle to get separation against Surtain II, but could find some room to operate if he rotates into the slot on occasion against K’Waun Williams, who was underwhelming in 700 snaps as a slot cornerback in 2021.
Winning at the line of scrimmage is important in the NFL, which makes it a tremendous concern when a team has little talent on either side of the ball in this area of the game. Uchenna Nwosa joined Seattle’s defensive line during the offseason, but figures to provide little more than league average production at his position. Even Nwosa does not profile as a strong run-defender. The secondary for this group could be one of the worst in the league, with rookie fifth-round pick Tariq Woolen seeing regular playing time alongside Sidney Jones and the rapidly deteriorating Jamal Adams. Quandre Diggs is still one of the better safeties in football, but he is not enough to move the needle in a positive direction for this pass defense.
Broncos vs. Seahawks Pick & Prediction
In 2021, the Broncos and Seahawks ranked 26th and 32nd, respectively, in plays per game. There have been personnel changes for both rosters, but the fact remains that neither team is particularly interested in running much tempo. Russell Wilson will be playing in his first game with his new team, facing the franchise that he has spent the last decade of his life playing for in Seattle. Emotions, unfamiliarity with new teammates, and lack of offensive explosiveness for the Seahawks could all contribute to a low-scoring affair. Even if Denver manages to flourish offensively on Monday, a poor offensive line for Seattle figures to limit their scoring output against one of the better defenses in the league. Take the under in this spot.
- PICK: Under 44.5 (-107, PointsBet)
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