While the Denver Broncos have settled on a starting quarterback for the 2011 season, the Seattle Seahawks come into Saturday's matchup between the teams with a greater measure of uncertainty at the game's most important position.
The Seahawks didn't seem to have a potential quarterback controversy on their hands when head coach Pete Carroll anointed offseason addition Tarvaris Jackson as the unquestioned No. 1 on the onset of camp. The choice doesn't appear so clear-cut anymore, however, after the ex-Minnesota Viking struggled for a second straight week in last Saturday's preseason encounter with his former team.
Jackson threw an early interception that was returned 64 yards for a touchdown by Marcus Sherels and had trouble consistently moving the offense during the first half of Seattle's 20-7 home loss to the Vikings. The sixth-year pro managed just 75 yards in completing 11-of-21 attempts while failing to produce any points.
The 28-year-old also didn't impress in limited duty in the Seahawks' 24-17 win at San Diego to begin the preseason, amassing a mere 13 yards on 3-of-5 passing while taking a pair of sacks.
Charlie Whitehurst, who started twice for Seattle in its 2010 NFC West championship season, has performed better over the first two games, having made good on nearly 72 percent (28-of-39) of his throws for 212 yards and a touchdown and no interceptions. That's led to speculation that the competition for the starting job remains open heading into the Seahawks' Sept. 11 opener at San Francisco.
Denver's offseason dilemma at the position has been quickly resolved following the team's decision not to trade incumbent Kyle Orton, though a battle now currently exists between fan favorite Tim Tebow and former Browns first-round pick Brady Quinn for the second spot on the depth chart.
Quinn was the first quarterback in after Orton in last week's game against Buffalo and made his case to be the primary backup by throwing for 130 yards and a touchdown with one interception in Denver's 24-10 win over the Bills. He hit on 10-of-16 passes on the night.
Tebow, the Broncos' first-round selection in last year's draft, played only the final two series and attempted only two throws, and seems to have fallen out of favor with new head coach John Fox and his regime. The ex-University of Florida star should get more of an opportunity to prove himself in Saturday's tilt, however, as he's expected to follow Orton once the first-team offense exits after presumably the third quarter.
While Denver enters the game relatively healthy, the Seahawks are likely to be without starting running back Marshawn Lynch (sore ankle) and left offensive tackle Russell Okung (ankle) for this week's clash. Two defensive starters, middle linebacker David Hawthorne (sore knee) and strong safety Kam Chancellor (foot), will also sit out, with rookie K.J. Wright slotting into Hawthorne's spot.
Seattle does plan to have top pass rusher Chris Clemons, who led the club with 11 sacks in 2010, ready to go after he missed the first two weeks recovering from offseason ankle surgery.
The Broncos have prevailed in seven of their eight all-time preseason meetings with the Seahawks, though Seattle came through with a 27-13 home win in the most recent bout, which took place in 2009. The teams also squared off in Denver during Week 2 of the 2010 regular season, a 31-14 triumph for the Broncos.
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