The Denver Broncos secured a hard-fought 17-14 overtime victory against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, a game that saw both teams grappling with offensive inconsistencies. The win moves Denver to 4-2 on the season, extending their home record to 17-3 since the start of the 2024 season, while Seattle falls to .500 at 3-3.
For the Seahawks, quarterback Sam Darnold's struggles persisted following a return from injury. He completed 27 of 51 passes for 278 yards, throwing two critical interceptions without any touchdown passes. Both picks came at pivotal moments, including one in overtime that effectively sealed Seattle's defeat. Under pressure from the Broncos' defense, Darnold was sacked five times and completed only 6 of 19 passes for 47 yards when facing pressure, according to Next Gen Stats. The team's top receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who entered the game leading the NFL with 583 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, recorded 12 receptions for 134 yards despite early defensive attention from Denver.
The Broncos, under offensive playcaller Sean Payton, showed flashes of confidence in the first half with quarterback Bo Nix. Denver's offense leaned on the run game, which facilitated easier completions for Nix, who finished 17-of-27 for 107 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He was sacked twice and rarely faced significant pressure. However, this early momentum waned in the second half, with the Broncos managing only 30 yards and six punts, allowing the Seahawks to mount a comeback.
Seattle's defense, which had allowed 30 or more points in two of its last three games, initially struggled against the Broncos' run game, conceding two touchdown drives in the first half. The Broncos established a 14-3 lead by halftime, with their offensive line providing Nix ample time in the pocket. However, the Seahawks' defense tightened in the second half, limiting the Broncos to just 30 yards in the final 30 minutes and giving their offense a chance to tie the game.