The Seahawks defense couldn't have started the 2024 season in much worse of a spot.

Two plays into the game, Geno Smith was intercepted, and with the return, Denver took over Seattle's 20-yard line.

The defense stepped up, however, not allowing a first down and holding the Broncos to a field goal, thanks in no small part to a potentially touchdown-saving tackle in space by safety Rayshawn Jenkins on a first-down run.

That series, as well as Jenkins' play, a good tackle in space to prevent a play from gaining extra yards, both helped define what was an outstanding day for the Seahawks defense playing its first game under new head coach and defensive play-caller Mike Macdonald.

The result of the defense's big day, which included three takeaways, was a 26-20 win at Lumen Field to give the Seahawks a 1-0 record.

With the offense struggling in the first half, Seattle's defense kept getting called upon to make stops, and it kept coming through, with Denver only building a 13-9 halftime lead thanks to two field goals off turnovers despite not gaining a first down on either possession, and two safeties after the offense was called for holding in the end zone on one drive, and after Zach Charbonnet was stopped for a loss in the end zone on another.

To understand how well the defense was playing and how poorly things were going for the Seahawks in other phases of the game, consider that at one point in the second quarter, the Broncos had 10 points and only four first downs.

"Even with us starting off slow, the defense held it together," receiver Tyler Lockett said. "They really helped us out a lot. They were able to really put us in a position, to where even though we made all those mistakes, we were able to come back and correct them in the second half, which allowed us to be able to win this game."

In the second half, Seattle's offense got going, producing 17 points to build a two-score lead, and the defense just kept getting stops, finishing the game with seven three-and-outs, as well as three takeaways—interceptions from Julian Love and Riq Woolen, and a forced fumble by K'Von Wallace that was recovered by linebacker Jerome Baker.

The Seahawks held the Broncos to just 231 yards, 13 first downs, 3.3 yards per play, and nearly pitched a second-half shutout, with Denver scoring its first touchdown late in the fourth quarter to end a run of 17 unanswered points for Seattle in the second half.

"We just swarmed to the ball," said cornerback Devon Witherspoon. "We stayed collected as a defense. We faced some challenges early, we had to go back out there, quick turnarounds. We stayed poised, we stayed communicating out there, and we just played football. Defense, shout out to my dogs. It took all 11, and we're all collective with it."

While the three turnovers were the biggest highlights for the defense, what might have stood out the most was just how consistently the Seahawks made quick open-field tackles to limit Denver's short passing game.

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix completed 26 passes, yet Denver gained only 138 yards through the air, the result of defensive players swarming to the ball and making sure tackles.

"We had a good plan," said safety Julian Love. "AD (Aden Durde), our DB coaches obviously, and Mike (Macdonald) had a good plan, and we executed it. Play top-down and tackle when they check it down. He's a good quarterback, he's very talented, obviously, Bo is, but it's Lumen (Field), a first game, first start, he's a rookie quarterback, he's going to get the ball out quick. That's why you see a lot of checkdowns today, and a lot of great tackling, I felt like, by us. Then, they tried to test the waters a few times, deep, and I think we defended well. That was kind of the makeup of how we wanted to play this game."

Macdonald will always see areas where his team can improve, especially when it comes to his defense, but he liked the overall effort from that group for its first time out, especially considering some of the difficult situations the defense faced early on.

"Their spirit, we were really poised," he said. "That's what we asked for in Game 1. You know, any time anything happens it's like, 'Hey, let's go, we're in the dark place. We're right where we're meant to be.' AD (defensive coordinator Aden Durde) had a great message to the guys and I though he hit it spot on. That's what he talked about. Whatever the circumstance is, that's perfect for the Seahawks and the guys. They're bought in. They did a great job."