Hackett on how Broncos can use lessons from Seattle road game in Vegas
Sep 30, 2022, 1:52 PM
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
It’s been awhile since the Broncos had to play on the road.
Their Monday night opener in Seattle feels like forever ago. In reality, it was 18 days. But with home games against Houston and San Francisco under their belt, Denver must once again venture away from the friendly confines of Mile High.
Okay, maybe they weren’t always friendly against the Texans and 49ers, but you get the point. The Broncos’ first road game wasn’t pretty for a variety of reasons, and the crowd noise certainly played a factor.
Denver had multiple delay of game penalties and was generally slow getting from the huddle to the line and snapping the ball. In all, the Broncos were flagged for 12 penalties for 106 yards against the Seahawks. It needs to be cleaner this time around on the road.
In his final press conference before the Broncos travel to Las Vegas play the Raiders on Sunday, head coach Nathaniel Hackett was asked about the lessons from Seattle the team can use. He knows they’re in for another hostile environment.
“It’s going to be really loud. I think everywhere we go it’s going to be extremely loud. We started off at Seattle, where they’re known for how extremely loud it is. Now, we’re going to go play the Raiders. The Raiders is a West opponent and there’s a lot of tension between the two teams, which is great. And the fans are going to be excited,” Hackett said.
The good news, is a lot of those fans will be pulling for the Broncos. Vegas is known for having supporters of the opposing team in the house. And with the flight only about 90 minutes, you can bet a lot of folks are making the journey from Denver to the desert.
Still, Hackett will rely on what the group learned in Seattle and making sure it’s smoother against the Raiders.
“I think just understanding how loud it is, and the communication has to be so clear. I think the guys got a great start in one of the loudest stadiums the first game. Now we have the ability to go and test it again,” Hackett said.
By great start, let’s hope Hackett means great experience. It wasn’t a great start, but that means there’s room to improve. The tens of thousands of Broncos fans in Vegas should also help.
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