Seattle’s start was as bad as it could get. After receiving the ball to start the game, quarterback Geno Smith was sacked for a loss of seven on the first play of the game. Then, Smith was hit low as he rolled out of the pocket on second down — and threw a dart right at Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton.

Denver took over at the Seahawks’ 20-yard line, but the defense held the Broncos to just three points.

“That’s what we asked for in the first game,” Macdonald said. “You know, every time something happens, it’s like, ‘Hey, let’s go. We’re in the dark. We’re right where we need to be.’ (Aden Durde) had a great message for the guys and I thought he was spot on. That’s what he was talking about. Whatever the circumstances, that’s perfect for the Seahawks and the guys. They’re confident. They’ve done a great job.”

That was the theme of the first half: the offense makes mistakes or is placed close to the goal line; the defense limits the damage.

Seattle allowed just 15 yards on 10 plays in Denver’s first three possessions, as defenders flew and made tough hits — particularly safeties Julian Love and Rayshawn Jenkins (and K’Von Wallace later on a forced fumble).

Meanwhile, Seattle’s offensive line continued its best impression of a revolving door, starting the game with three and-outs for the third straight time.

On Seattle’s most successful drive of the game late in the first quarter, it couldn’t avoid further trouble. Right tackle George Fant went down and was helped off the field. He was ruled out shortly thereafter with a knee injury.

After the game, Macdonald said he’s “not sure what’s going on,” but Fant’s injury was definitely a knee problem and they’ll “figure that out.”

With the score tied at 3-3, Love made a great play early in the second quarter, intercepting Broncos quarterback Bo Nix on a pass intended for Courtland Sutton in the end zone. However, he caught the pass at the half-yard line, putting Seattle’s offense in a tough spot.

On the first play of that offensive drive, right guard Anthony Bradford was penalized for holding in the end zone, resulting in a safety. The Broncos took a 5-3 lead and got the ball back.

Seattle’s defense got another stop — continuing its statement as the only phase of the game that went well for the Seahawks. But cornerback Dee Williams fumbled the ensuing punt return, putting the Broncos inside the Seattle 20-yard line for just the second time in the first half.

Seattle again held Denver to just three points.

“You’ve got to have a certain mentality in the red zone,” Macdonald said. “Execution, things happen quicker. Like I said, our whole football team, including the defense, nobody batted an eyelid and just stayed calm and did our thing down there. We’ve got to keep the red zone defense going.”

Smith capped a five-play, 70-yard drive with a 34-yard sprint to give his team its first lead of the game, 9-8, after a failed two-point attempt with just under six minutes left in the first half.

The Broncos needed another punt on their next drive, but they threw the ball inside Seattle’s 1-yard line. Smith handed the ball to running back Zach Charbonnet on first down, and the Seahawks’ offensive line immediately collapsed. It was another safety in Denver’s favor, giving them back the lead, 10-9.

Denver scored one more time before halftime and went into the locker room with a 13-9 lead.

Grubb made the necessary adjustments in the second half to correct the offensive woes. After allowing just 102 yards of offense and nine points in the first half, Seattle put the ball in the hands of Kenneth Walker III and quickly piled up 179 yards and 17 points in the third quarter and the first drive of the fourth period.

Walker, who was limited to 19 rushing yards in the first half, had 81 rushing yards over the first three drives of the second half. He hit a 23-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give Seattle a 16-13 lead and had another scoring rush that was neutralized by a hold on the next drive.

“Give it to K9 and let him do his thing,” Macdonald said of the second-half adjustments. “That’s how we have to operate. If we’re going to be successful, teams are going to take things away and you’ve got to be able to move and shake in the game to move the ball on the ground.”

After a 30-yard scoring connection from Smith to Charbonnet, Seattle took a commanding 26-13 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Cornerback Riq Woolen made his first interception of the season — Nix’s second of the game — midway through the fourth quarter, but Denver had its best drive toward the end. Nix and the Broncos offense put together a 7-play, 54-yard drive that was completed on a 4-yard scramble to the right by the freshman quarterback.

Seattle needed one more first down to close out the game. On a 3rd-and-6 from the Seahawks’ 34-yard line, wide receiver Tyler Lockett hauled in a one-handed catch from Smith in the tightest of windows — completing a six-catch, 77-yard outing for the 10-year veteran.

Smith, who had about as bad a start as he could have hoped for, finished 18 of 25 passes for 171 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Walker led Seattle’s rushers with 103 yards and a score on 20 carries.

“(Smith) embodies the whole team. We’re going to keep going like Geno is going,” Macdonald added. “Keep telling him to keep going. I didn’t have to tell him anything. He was all in, he stayed positive. And we kept going. He’s leading the charge.”

Love stood out defensively with 10 solo tackles (12 total), one tackle for loss, a pass deflection and an interception. He was signed to a new three-year, $33 million extension earlier this offseason.

After ranking as the second-worst defense in the league last season, Seattle gave up four yards per attempt (99 yards).

The Seahawks’ next game is an away game at 10 a.m. against the New England Patriots (1-0) on Sunday, September 15.