The NFL regular season has arrived and the Denver Broncos are set to enter Lumen Field in Seattle for a tough Week 1 contest.
The Broncos will be starting rookie quarterback Bo Nix, the first rookie the team has opened a season with at quarterback since John Elway in 1983. For the Broncos to get this victory, they are going to have to help their quarterback ease into his first professional start.
Nix looks better than your average rookie quarterback, but he is also going into one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL. The Seahawks are favored to win, so for the Broncos to pull off the upset and start the year 1-0, they will need big contributions from each of these players.
Broncos who must step up in Week 1 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Marvin Mims Jr., WR
Courtland Sutton is the Broncos' No. 1 wide receiver, but Nix needs to have multiple outlets to get the ball to in the passing game. Marvin Mims showed flashes during his rookie season, but he needs to take the next step in year two. The biggest key to making that happen will be to provide him with many more opportunities than he had a year ago.
The Broncos need to get him involved early and often in the offensive attack.
Greg Dulcich, TE
Greg Dulcich has spent a great deal of his career watching from the sidelines due to injuries and now it's time. It's time for him to come out and perform and be a major weapon in this offense.
His skillset makes him the best tight end on the roster by far, he just needs to stay healthy. In Payton's offenses, he has always had a "joker" player, basically given to the guy who has the best athletic advantage on the roster. A healthy Dulcich might just be that guy for the Broncos.
Riley Moss, CB
This is going to be a great test for Riley Moss. Geno Smith and the Seahawks may shy away from Pat Surtain's side of the field, but that means Moss will be challenged.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett is listed as questionable for this game, but even if he didn't play, Moss would be tasked with covering a guy like Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Moss must rise to the occasion in this game.
Wil Lutz, K
It seems simple, but the game could easily come down to a kick. It did the last time these two teams played, which was also a season opener, and the Broncos missed that one.
Wil Lutz needs to continue the momentum of the great season he put together for the Broncos last year and be ready to knock in all of his kicks in this one. If Nix can lead several scoring drives, even if it's only field goals, that will build the confidence of the rookie QB.
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