The Seattle Seahawks opened their season with a Monday Night Football home game against the Denver Broncos. Making the game even more exciting, this was the first where quarterback Russell Wilson was playing against the Seahawks rather than for them. The Seahawks won in an exciting and closely-contested match that we were expected to lose, and the stands were packed right to the end.

Prior to the game, James got an opportunity to be on the field during warm-ups. Being at field level is a very different experience. The linemen are bigger, the receivers are faster, and even Taimi the auger hawk, the Seahawks live mascot, looked fiercer.

Below are highlights from September 12, 2022. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a map with our most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.

Tunnel Entrance Position: 47°35.65’N, -122°19.93’W Last year’s tunnel entrance on display at the Seahawk’s Touchdown City pre-game party. The players ran through it and onto the field as their names were announced. The entrance was replaced by a more high-tech version this year.

Tunnel Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E Here he is walking through the tunnel onto the field.

On the Field Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E James and Peter DeSantis on the field prior to the Broncos vs Seahawks Monday Night season opener. This will be ex-quarterback Russell Wilson’s first return to Seattle and it should be exciting.

Lens Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E Really big, and expensive, Canon lenses are common at all major sporting events. This one looks like an RF600mm F4 L IS USM that retails for $13,000.

Taima Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E Taimi the auger hawk, the Seahawks live mascot, with handler David Knutson. Taimi flies out of the tunnel before the team at the start of every home game.

Michael Dickson Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E The Seahawks punter Michael Dickson, who grew up playing Australian Rules Football. In 2015, at the age of 19, he was picked by the University of Texas as a punter after training with Prokick Australia, a coaching program designed to help Australian kickers and punters enter American football. Dickson was named MVP of the 2017 Texas Bowl and drafted in 2018 by the Seahawks in the 5th round, 149th overall. In his first season he punted the ball 78 times for 3,759 yards, for an average of 48.2 yards per punt. This was the second-highest in the league and he was the first rookie punter voted into the Pro Bowl since 1984.

Tyler Locket Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E Tyler Locket, one of the Seahawks star wide receivers, catching a practice pass before the game.

Coach Carroll Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E Coach Pete Carroll walking the sidelines as the players practice and warm up.

Geno Smith Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E Geno Smith, the Seahawks starting quarterback. Geno is no lightweight at 6′ 3″ (1.91m) tall and weighing 221 lbs (100 kg).

Austin Blythe Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E Geno Smith practicing a snap with guard Austin Blythe.

DK Metcalf Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E DK Metcalf, another of the Seahawks star wide receivers, in the air to catch a practice pass.

Gabe Jackson Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E Big boy Gabe Jackson stretching before the game. Jackson plays guard and is listed at 6′ 3″ (1.91m) and weighing 350 lbs (158 kg).

Stretching Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E The Seahawks stretching before the game. The coaching staff, with coach Pete Carroll at right, are walking among the players and shaking their hands.

Russell Wilson Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E Seahawks ex-quarterback Russell Wilson finishing up pre-game warm-up and heading to the dressing room in his first game in Seattle since being traded to the Denver. It’s still a half-hour until game time, so the stands are far from full, but the fans still can muster a good-sized ‘Boo’.

In the Stands Position: -122°19.93’S, 47°35.68’E James and Peter up in the stands, with Kimanh Moreau, to watch the game.

17-16 Position: 47°35.71’N, -122°19.90’W With only 15 seconds left in the 4th quarter, the score is 17-16 for the Seahawks. In a closely-contested game, that the Seahawks were expected to lose, we actually beat Denver and ex-Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Hardly anyone left the game at the end and just stayed there cheering. It felt very much like we’d won a playoff game rather than game one of a seventeen-game season.

Blue Thunder Position: 47°35.79’N, -122°19.88’W The Seahawks Blue Thunder drumline entertaining fans as we leave the game. What a great win and start to the season.

Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map. And a map of our most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.