The Denver Broncos secured a 17-14 overtime victory over the Seattle Seahawks on October 15, 2026, at Empower Field at Mile High, capitalized by a 53-yard game-winning field goal from Wil Lutz after Sam Darnold threw two costly interceptions.
Denver climbed to 4-2 on the season, leaning heavily on a dominant defensive effort despite an offense that stalled out entirely after halftime.
Defensive Clamping and Overtime Drama in Denver
The Broncos built a 14-3 lead in the first half behind methodical scoring drives. First came a 16-play, 74-yard march capped by a 4-yard score from J.K. Dobbins, followed by a nine-play, 79-yard drive ending in a 1-yard touchdown run by George Holani. After intermission, however, the Denver offense ground to a halt, managing just 36 yards across eight second-half drives.
Final in overtime. Broncos 17, Seahawks 14.Seattle scored 11 in the fourth and tied it with a 34-yard field goal at 0:03. Wil Lutz ended it from 53 in OT.https://t.co/WxWXkwo1AB
That offensive collapse forced Vance Joseph’s defense to carry the load. Nik Bonitto generated seven quarterback pressures on 31 pass rushes, matching his season-high pressure total from Week 3 against the Rams, with four of those pressures coming in under 2.5 seconds alongside a 0.68-second pass rush get-off time. Overall, the unit racked up five sacks of Darnold.
It’s definitely like crunchtime right now.
Leonard Williams, Seahawks defensive lineman, via The Seattle Times
The victory ended the Seahawks’ seven-game winning streak in prime-time contests, which had stood as the longest in the NFL.
Mounting Criticism Over Sam Darnold’s Turnovers
Darnold finished the night completing 27 of 51 passes for 278 yards with a 52.6 rating and a PFN QB Impact Grade of 68.9, but his career-high pass attempts were undermined by two crucial interceptions in the game’s final stages.
Sam Darnold’s recklessness with the football is killing the Seahawks’ chances of repeating as Super Bowl champions.
Jacob Infante, PFN analyst, via Pro Football Network
It’s time to hit the panic button in Seattle. Sam Darnold is struggling mightily, and if he can’t turn it around, it may be time to have a conversation about benching him for Drew Lock, who played really well in Darnold’s absence.
Alex Kennedy, PFN Deputy Editor, via Pro Football Network
Other analysts pointed bluntly to the offensive regression. Kyle Soppe noted that if a game-manager quarterback struggles to manage the game late, the ceiling for the team remains limited, while Brandon Astreicher expressed that Seattle has cause to start worrying about several elements of their play.
Offensive Struggles and Bright Spots on Both Sides
While the passing game sputtered under pressure, Seattle’s ground game saw George Holani bull in for a 1-yard score with 5:41 to play in regulation. Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp each secured five receptions—Shaheed totaling 66 yards and Kupp 50—though Shaheed also lost a fumble late in the first half on a running play. For Denver, quarterback Bo Nix struggled all night, leading an offense that managed just 168 total yards and went scoreless in the second half.
| Team | Record | Key Offensive Stat | Defensive Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 4-2 | 168 total yards; Bo Nix struggles | 5 sacks |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3-3 | 278 passing yards; Sam Darnold 51 attempts | Held Denver to zero second-half points |
As reported in The Seattle Times, Darnold called his performance “B.S.” after the game and stated that he told the team he knows he has to clean up things.
Unresolved Questions for Seattle’s Title Defense
The loss leaves the Seahawks sitting at a 3-3 record through six games, looking up in the standings at NFC West rival San Francisco, which leads the division at 5-0. With the offensive line allowing Darnold to be sacked five times during the contest—bringing his season total to 14 sacks following 27 sacks last year and 48 sacks during his 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings—questions persist about how the team will navigate high-leverage games moving forward.