NFL Week 1 Game Recap: Seattle Seahawks 28, Indianapolis Colts 16

The Seattle Seahawks rolled through the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, embarrassing what was thought to be one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson carved up the Colts defense like a hot knife en route to a 28-16 Week 1 victory. The game wasn’t as close as the final score suggests, either, as a late score for the Colts came in garbage time.

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Seattle Seahawks

Quarterback

Wilson had the game on easy mode against a very talented Colts defense. He finished 18-of-23 for 254 yards with four scores, three big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays.

For a Colts defense known for putting caps on the opposing team's passing attack, Wilson was anything but hindered. He threw 11.0 yards downfield on average, completing five of his seven 10-plus-yard throws for 159 yards and three scores.

Russell Wilson: Passing by depth

Running Backs

It’s a shame that a fumble is going to stand as a stain on an otherwise terrific performance for Chris Carson. He finished with 91 yards on 16 carries, with 71 of those yards coming after contact. He also added four broken tackles on the day.

Receivers

The Tyler Lockett–Russell Wilson connection was back in full effect. After disappearing at times in 2020, Lockett looked back to his 2019 form when he generated a perfect passer rating from his quarterback.

That was the case again in this one, with his five targets, four catches, 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns, resulting in a 158.3 passer rating when targeted.

Colts receivers: PFF receiving stats

Offensive Line

So far, new guard Gabe Jackson hasn’t quite been the upgrade Wilson opined for this offseason. Jackson allowed four pressures on 29 pass-blocking snaps for the lowest pass-blocking grade of any player in the game.

Defensive Line

It was a career day for defensive tackle Bryan Mone. The former UDFA — and part-time player in 2020 — broke out with the highest-graded game of his career. He registered three pressures on 14 pass-rushing snaps and notched a ridiculous five run stops.

Linebackers

Jordyn Brooks‘ tackling was uncharacteristically poor. After missing only 8.7% of his tackle attempts in his career at Texas Tech, the second-year linebacker missed three on 10 attempts this afternoon.

Secondary

For a unit that looked like it could be an issue heading into the 2021 season, it was a job well done in Week 1 for the Seahawks secondary. No single player in the unit gave up more than 50 yards, as they basically shut down the Colts' downfield passing attack.

Indianapolis Colts

Quarterbacks

Carson Wentz just couldn’t find anything down the field, as it was seemingly checkdown after checkdown for the new Colts quarterback.

Wentz's average depth of target was a measly 5.6 yards downfield, while his two most targeted players were running backs. The crucial play for Wentz on the day wasn’t a pass, though. His fumbled snap on a failed fourth-and-1 was the death knell in the Colts' comeback hopes.

*PFF passing grade is pending review

Running Backs

The Colts' running game was a complete non-factor. Not only was there no room for Jonathan Taylor to work with, but the running back didn’t go above and beyond it, either. The Colts' offensive line provided only 9.0 total yards before contact on 17 carries, while Taylor averaged 2.8 yards after contact per attempt.

Nyheim Hines provided a little spark with four broken tackles on nine carries, but he was similarly ineffective and produced only 34 yards on those carries.

Receivers

Colts fans likely were hoping for someone to emerge in T.Y. Hilton’s stead, but it didn’t happen today.

No receiver saw more than three targets in the game, as Michael Pittman Jr. led the receivers with three catches for 29 yards on three targets. Considering this is one of the worst corner groups Indianapolis will face all season, it's especially concerning.

Offensive Line

Julie’n Davenport was a mess on the left side of the Colts' line today, even against the Seahawks' mediocre pass rush. Pending review, the veteran tackle gave up two sacks, two hits and four hurries en route to a 36.9 pass-blocking grade.

Colts offensive line: Total pressures allowed (pending review)

Defensive Line

Kwity Paye looks like a stud, and it's only Week 1. The rookie edge defender finished as the second-highest-graded Colts defender on the day, pending review. He was a handful in the run game and recorded two pressures on 20 pass-rushing snaps.

Linebackers

Darius Leonard did all he could for the Colts' defense. His peanut-punch forced fumble on Chris Carson in the third quarter was the 11th of his career. He finished with three stops on the day to lead the Colts' linebacking corps.

Secondary

The Indianapolis safeties were under siege against the speed from the Seahawks receivers. Khari Willis, in particular, got the brunt end of Tyler Lockett’s speed. He allowed three catches from three targets for 95 yards and two scores.