Week 1 is in the books, with the Denver Broncos falling short in a 26-20 loss to the Seattle SeahawksThe Broncos got some great field position, but the offense didn’t take advantage. The defense kept them in the game in the first half, but struggled in the second half.

Many fans undoubtedly hoped that the Broncos would prove the critics wrong from the start, but rookie quarterback Bo Nix showed that he still has a long way to go in terms of his play and building rapport with his receivers. The Broncos may also be without a key offensive player for at least a few games, with left tackle Garett Bolles exiting the game early with a lower leg injury.

The Broncos defense did some good things early on, but couldn’t keep up the pace in the second half. Denver’s special teams did a good job throughout.

But week 1 is not the indicator of how a team will fare throughout the season. That’s why football analyst Aaron Schatz calls Week 1 “National Jump to Conclusions Week.” A single game sample size isn’t enough to reliably judge a team.

We saw this to some extent last season, when the Broncos came out of the blocks in Week 1 with a narrow loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Denver was then humiliated by the Miami Dolphins in a historic loss in Week 3. But fortunes later turned for the Broncos as they finished 8-9 despite many flaws on the team.

There will be growing pains with this team, but that doesn’t mean that everything that happened in Seattle predicts how the season will play out. There may be one or two things that are a concern, but the key is to see how the Broncos improve throughout the season and continue to perform well in the areas where they have.

Here are four things to think about after the Broncos’ Week 1 loss and whether fans should jump to conclusions so quickly.

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There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Nix had a bad regular-season debut. He stared down receivers, his mechanics were a mess, and he tried to force plays.

It’s easy to think after one game that all the pundits who predicted Nix would be a flop are right. It’s easy to believe that a rookie QB has to look like CJ Stroud right away to have a future in this league.

That’s not always the case, though. Nix struggled, but he did throw some good shots. He showed that he can escape the pocket and extend the play or gain yards on the ground.

What Nix needs to learn is how to run through his reads faster. That will only come with time on the job. The question is whether he can figure it out. If he does, he can be a good starting QB, but if he doesn’t, he has no future with the Broncos.

That said, it’s just one game. What matters is how Nix grows and learns from this game.

Pronunciation: Don’t jump to conclusions yet.

The Broncos defense started well, pressuring Geno Smith early and forcing an early interception after DJ Jones hit him while throwing. The Broncos also picked up two safeties, one after pressure led to a holding call in the end zone and another after defensive end Zach Allen tackled Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III in the end zone.

However, the Broncos offense was unable to convert the interception into a touchdown, nor did they score six points on a failed Seahawks punt that the Broncos recovered, making for a more exciting game at halftime.

And in the second half, the Seahawks adjusted their offense and got the ball moving more often. The Seahawks took advantage of the Broncos’ defensive lapses and got two big plays that resulted in touchdowns.

It’s easy to blame the defense here, but while the Broncos have had their issues, we knew going in that it’s not a defense that can carry the team. The Broncos defense has the potential to be good, but it’s not going to be an elite unit.

The Broncos defense will have to deal with better offenses later in the season, but that doesn’t mean all is lost. The talent is there for a defense that can keep the Broncos in the game. It will help if the offense takes advantage of the opportunities the defense creates.

Pronunciation: Don’t jump to conclusions yet.

For years, it seemed like the Broncos couldn’t get their special teams right, but the Week 1 game showed plenty to like about the unit.

The Broncos were able to recover a failed punt, and they knocked down a punt just inches from the goal line. The Seahawks didn’t get much of a return on most plays.

Marvin Mims Jr. didn’t get much done in the return game, but he was good at making decisions about when to return the kickoff under the new rules. Maybe the Pro Bowler can break off a longer return at some point.

While special teams may not be the unit that often decides a game, the battle for field position is important and the third phase plays a big role. I am optimistic that we will continue to have quality special teams games this season, especially based on the vast improvements the Broncos made in this area last year.

Pronunciation: There is reason for optimism.

The Broncos started the first week with no one on the injury reportBut during the match, Bolles injured his ankle.

The Broncos were fortunate last year that they didn’t have too many injuries on the offensive line and that they had continuity all season. Unfortunately, it only took one game for Denver to appear to lose a key player.

Matt Peart came in to replace Bolles and was OK, but he’s not as good as the starter. Losing a key starter up front is definitely a concern, especially if Bolles misses a lot of time.

Let’s hope Bolles’ injury isn’t too serious. He’s played with minor injuries before, but if this one is more serious and costs him many games, he’ll be hard to replace.

Pronunciation: There is cause for concern.

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