On Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks will play in their first meaningful game of the 2024 NFL season. They will host the Denver Broncos at Lumen Field. It will be Denver's first game back in the Emerald City since the disastrous 17-16 loss to start the 2022 season with Russell Wilson at the helm. Now, it is an entirely different era for the Broncos, who will now have a different head coach and quarterback to start.

Before this showdown, we asked Jon Heath of Broncos Wire a few questions about how they see the impending showdown. I gave answers to Broncos Wire earlier this week, and you can see them here.

As for the questions we asked Heath, you can see them - as well as his responses - below.

1) A lot has changed in the two years since Denver last came to Seattle. How confident are you in the Broncos' chances back at Lumen Field, and for the first season in the post-Wilson era?

A lot has changed, indeed! Denver's defensive line has seen big upgrades since then and even after the departure of Justin Simmons this spring, the secondary is arguably better than it was in 2022 as well. On offense, the Broncos have a new right tackle, a new left guard, a new center, a new WR2 and, of course, a new rookie quarterback (more on him shortly). The Broncos are listed as 5.5-point underdogs and I definitely think they can cover that. Denver and Seattle were only separated by one win last season and the Broncos are now going into their second season with Sean Payton in charge. Denver will be glad to start a new era post-Russell Wilson after the veteran struggled with the Broncos. It's always tough to play at Lumen Field, but I'm confident Denver will keep it close.

2) How do you think rookie QB Bo Nix will fare in his debut and return to the Emerald City?

Nix will undoubtedly have some growing pains as all rookies do, but teammates and coaches have praised Nix this season and described him as a player who doesn't feel like a rookie. After spending five years in college and starting a record 61 games, Nix seems to have carried a calm, composed persona into the pros. That doesn't mean Nix's performance will be perfect, but the moment shouldn't be too big for him. The rookie quarterback did a job job protecting the ball and not taking sacks in preseason. We'll see if that continues in Week 1.

3) Is there a Broncos position group you think has a distinct edge over their Seahawks counterparts?

Fair or not, Pro Football Focus has Seattle's offensive line ranked as the fourth-worst unit in the NFL this year. Denver, meanwhile, added John Franklin-Myers via trade and Malcolm Roach via free agency this spring, adding them to a defensive line that already featured Zach Allen and D.J. Jones. That's a very talented top four, and the Broncos are also excited about youngsters Jordan Jackson and Eyioma Uwazurike (who has returned following last season's gambling suspension). The Broncos' defensive line could cause problems for the Seahawks' offense.

4) Which position group gives you the most concern against Seattle?

The Seahawks have a talented secondary featuring Devon Witherspoon, Julian Love and Riq Woolen. Across the field, the Broncos have one proven veteran wide receiver in Courtland Sutton and mostly unknowns beyond him. Josh Reynolds posted pretty decent numbers in Detroit, but is he a capable WR2? Marvin Mims was a Pro Bowl returner last year but barely made an impact on offense. Devaughn Vele impressed this summer, but there's a reason he fell to the seventh round of the draft in April. Denver will need to establish a ground game on Sunday because the Broncos' receivers might struggle against Seattle's secondary.

5) Who do you think wins and why?

I have the Broncos going on the road and winning a close game, perhaps by a late field goal, righting the wrongs of 2022. Denver's defense struggled early last season but really turned it on down the stretch. On offense, running back Javonte Williams is now finally recovered from his 2022 knee injury, and speedy tight end Greg Dulcich is healthy as well. Sean Payton and Nix are a good match in an offense that will likely feature a heavy dose of runs mixed in with quick, short completions that steadily move the ball down the field. Give me the Broncos, 25-22.

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This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks vs. Broncos: 5 things to know before Week 1