With a wealth of expectations and a preseason victory under their belts, the Seattle Seahawks make their local debut tonight.
But if tonight’s game at Qwest Field turns into a blowout, the Seahawks might well be on the wrong end of the final score.
The Denver Broncos have pasted Seattle by an aggregate score of 51-3 over the past two preseasons. Last year, the Broncos knocked off Seattle 20-3 in a preseason finale that saw Denver rest most of its top players.
“It was their third-team offense against our starting defense, and they handed it to us,” cornerback Ken Lucas said this week, still seething nearly a year later. “That was an embarrassment.”
Preseason games don’t carry much weight, but when a team gets pounded like Seattle has the last two times it played Denver, people take notice.
Both games closed out Seattle’s preseason schedule, at a time when the offensive and defensive units were supposed to be hitting their strides. Denver, not Seattle, looked to be ready for the regular season in both contests.
“I think a lot of (Seahawks players) knew that they were not going to play but a couple series,” fullback Mack Strong said. “So it’s been challenging to go out there and really get a rhythm.
“But whenever you step out on the field, you’ve got to be ready to compete. They’ve handed it to us, and we’ve got to be able to come out this year and play really hard.”
Winning today’s game isn’t nearly as imperative as competing. The starters will probably only play a quarter or so, meaning the final score doesn’t necessarily reflect how good the team is.
But fans are eager to see a solid performance. The 2004 Seahawks held their annual intrasquad scrimmage in Portland two weeks ago, opened the preseason with a win at Green Bay last Monday, and have yet to play in front of a home crowd.
Ticket sales have been hotter than they had in years, so the city is excited about this year’s Seahawks.
“Everybody’s looking forward to going home and paying in front of our fans, so they can see what we have this year,” Lucas said.
A number of starters won’t play in the game due to minor injuries, including defensive end Grant Wistrom (heel) and tackle Chris Terry (shoulder). Guard Steve Hutchinson could also be sidelined after missing a week of practice to be with his wife, who delivered a baby daughter on Tuesday.
Backup quarterbacks Trent Dilfer and Brock Huard will also be sidelined due to back injuries, meaning Seneca Wallace should see extended playing time for the second week in a row.
Denver coach Mike Shanahan said earlier this week that his starters are expected to be in the game for “20 to 25” plays tonight, which should come as bad news to the Seahawks. Then again, they might be better off not having to see the third stringers for an extended period of time.
“On any given day, a team might just show up and play better,” cornerback Marcus Trufant said of Seattle’s recent preseason losses to Denver. “That’s what we’ve got to do, to put our best foot forward and make it happen. Anytime you go out on the field, you want to put your best foot forward.”
Now winless in five preseason meetings against the Broncos, the Seahawks rarely seem to put their best foot forward when Denver is on the opposite sideline.
“We were in the AFC West with the Broncos for years, including the two years when they won the Super Bowls. So there’s a lot of history we have with them,” Strong said. “All the rivalries we’ve had over the years, you still feel it.
“We know a lot of the players there, and I’m sure they know us. So it’s a game where we want to go out and perform well.”
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