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Broncos’ players talked about it so often during the offseason, training camp and preseason, it was like they were trying to convince themselves of their ability to handle adversity.

After taking a punch like a long touchdown, freaky injury or missed call, they guaranteed a fight-back, not turn-their-back approach.

And after unforced errors in missed tackles, penalties and turnovers, they promised a bounce-back attitude.

The proof matched their words in Sunday鈥檚 27-24 season opening home win over Seattle.

Quarterback Case Keenum threw three interceptions, but responded with three touchdowns.

Receiver Demaryius Thomas overcame a shaky beginning (a drop and a penalty) to catch the go-ahead touchdown pass with 11:11 remaining.

Rookie running back gained only 34 yards on his first 11 attempts, but gained 37 yards on four rushes to help bleed down the clock in the late going.

And the defense gave up a 66-yard completion and a 51-yard touchdown, but closed the door over the final three possessions (punt, punt, interception), allowed only 64 yards rushing and had six sacks.

Maybe this Broncos team is different from the one that went 5-11 last year, like they have been saying since the first offseason practice May 21. Flawed? Absolutely, but every team is. And for one game, it appeared the Broncos can beat anybody so long as they smooth out their game.

鈥淲e definitely overcame (adversity),鈥� inside linebacker said. 鈥淣obody got down. We just kept working and playing regardless of the score. The fact we kept playing and came out with the win is a testament to our grit and never-say-die attitude.鈥�

Coach Vance Joseph led off training camp in late July talking about fighting through adversity. It was also a theme of his speech to the team on Saturday night. The first game is like a rollercoaster. The starters are rusty because they haven鈥檛 played in two weeks. Nobody on either roster has played a full game so the conditioning is a factor. And the element of surprise always causes angst.

鈥淲e talked about it (Saturday), when adversity shows its head, just play right through it,鈥� Joseph said. 鈥淟ast year, we had some chances where adversity showed and we didn鈥檛 play through it.鈥�

Last year became a more distant memory because the Broncos were able to win their seventh consecutive season opener.聽Lose at home to a Seattle team in transition and there would have a here-they-go-again storyline surrounding the Broncos. It would not have erased the foundation Joseph spent the previous nine months building — new coaches, new players and new culture — but it would have been a blow.

Instead, the Broncos could leave the field confident Week 1 was the beginning of something much different, something more successful and something definitely more interesting. This was a team that stressed Seattle鈥檚 defense (470 yards) and decimated the Seahawks鈥� offensive line, led by 鈥檚 three sacks.

The game featured two ties (7-7 and 17-17) and three lead changes (14-10 Broncos, 24-20 Seattle and the final score). Keenum鈥檚 first interception set up 鈥檚 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Will Dissly to start the scoring, his second interception erased a field goal chance before halftime and his third set up former Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall鈥檚 20-yard touchdown catch.

Seattle took a 24-20 lead with 14:46 left on 鈥檚 51-yard touchdown.

The game was set to go two ways: The Broncos would fold or flourish.

They flourished.

On the ensuing possession, rookies (14-yard run) and (25-yard catch) moved the Broncos into Seahawks territory. They overcame a holding penalty on left guard to convert a third-and-10 on tight end 鈥檚 22-yard catch. One play later, Thomas completed his in-game turnaround when he tip-toed after catching Keenum鈥檚 fastball for a four-yard score.

鈥淚t was a play designed for Demaryius to sell the fade and come back (toward the ball),鈥� Keenum said. 鈥淚 just threw it was hard as I could.鈥�

Keenum (25 of 39 for 329 yards), Thomas (six catches-63 yards) and receiver (43-yard touchdown as a part of a 10-catch, 135-yard game) represented the offensive veterans. The rookies were impressive, too. Lindsay and Freeman each rushed for 71 yards and Sutton had two catches.

The lead in their hands, the Broncos鈥� defense didn鈥檛 let it go, which qualifies as big-time encouraging and creates a thought that they can return to elite status. Seattle鈥檚 final three possessions ended punt, punt and interception-as-time-expired. Included were sacks by Miller and cornerback and a tackle for loss by defensive end . Wilson finished 19-of-33 passing for 298 yards, but was often under siege.

鈥淚t shows what type of defense and what type of team we have,鈥� nose tackle said. 鈥淲e had a great chip on our shoulder trying to start out fast.鈥�

Starting out fast was exciting 鈥� and a relief. But now the Broncos can settle into their season with momentum and confident about their play-makers.

鈥淚t抖阴ap definitely exciting to get this out of the way,鈥� safety said. 鈥淣ow we鈥檙e ready to roll.鈥�