Broncos beat Seahawks 17-14 in OT behind run game, defense — SkimNews
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- Denver Broncos won 17-14 in overtime over the Seattle Seahawks, improving to 4-2 after surviving the toughest six-game opening stretch of any team in the league, per ESPN Analytics, including wins against both NFC Championship Game teams from last season.
- Sean Payton, in his second game back as the team's playcaller after taking duties from offensive coordinator Davis Webb, oversaw a 16-play touchdown drive and a 9-play, 79-yard touchdown drive, with Denver running 26 times against 27 pass attempts on the night.
- Denver's defense recorded five sacks for a second consecutive game and an overtime interception by Ja'Quan McMillian, doing so without All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga in the secondary.
- The Seahawks' offense managed just 184 yards through the first three quarters, surrendered five sacks of Sam Darnold, and committed three turnovers — including interceptions in the fourth quarter and overtime — as Seattle fell to 3-3.
- Sam Darnold, who entered the game ranked 29th in Total QBR, now has seven interceptions against seven touchdown passes in the four games since returning from a glute injury; he led a fourth-quarter touchdown and field goal drive to force overtime.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year, posted 12 catches for 134 yards — his fourth career game with at least 10 catches and 100 receiving yards, tying Tyler Lockett for the most in franchise history.
- Seattle's defense, ranked eighth in scoring entering Week 6, has watched opponents score touchdowns on all nine of their goal-to-go opportunities this season, including two by Denver on Thursday night.
Why it matters: Denver's defense is masking an offense that has scored in just one quarter (the first) — if Payton's run-heavy commitment holds, the Broncos can stay competitive while Bo Nix develops. For Seattle, Darnold's equal count of interceptions and touchdown passes since his return, combined with the offense's 184-yard first-three-quarters performance and a potential three-game deficit in the NFC West if San Francisco wins Monday, puts the defending champions' season in real jeopardy through six weeks.
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