Sam Darnold threw a costly interception in overtime as the Seattle Seahawks fell 17-14 to the Denver Broncos on Thursday night, October 15, 2026, at Empower Field at Mile High. The defeat dropped Seattle to 3-3 on the season after a late fourth-quarter comeback fell short.
Will Lutz Secures 17-14 Overtime Victory for Denver
The Denver Broncos kept up their knack for tight finishes on Thursday night football, improving to 4-0 in one-score games this season. After squandering an 11-point lead late in regulation, the Broncos snatched victory in the extra period when cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted Sam Darnold. That turnover immediately set up Wil Lutz, who drove a 53-yard field goal through the uprights with 4:53 remaining in overtime to seal the 17-14 win.
Denver built its initial advantage behind two methodical, clock-eating drives in the first half. J.K. Dobbins capped a 16-play, 74-yard march with a 4-yard touchdown run, and R.J. George Holani added a 1-yard score following a 9-play, 79-yard possession. Quarterback Bo Nix struggled to move the offense after intermission, finishing with 107 passing yards on 17-of-27 passing as the Broncos managed just 30 yards of offense in the second half and overtime combined. Yet the defense more than compensated. Nik Bonitto led a ferocious pass rush that racked up five sacks and 17 quarterback hits, suffocating Seattle’s passing attack until the final minutes of regulation.
Sam Darnold and Seattle Offense Stumble Under Heavy Pressure
For the Seahawks, the loss underscored a deeply troubling turnover trend. Darnold attempted a career-high 51 passes, completing 27 for 278 yards, but absorbed five sacks and threw two critical interceptions in the game’s final stages. Over his last four appearances, Darnold has thrown seven interceptions, matching his total from the entire 2025 campaign.
The offensive line struggled to handle Denver’s front throughout the night, leaving Darnold under constant siege. Brian Fleury and the offensive line failed to neutralize Denver’s blitz packages, surrendering five sacks and numerous quarterback hits. Jaxon Smith-Njigba provided a rare bright spot for the visiting offense, hauling in 12 receptions on 16 targets for 134 yards.
Late Game Heroics and Overtime Collapse
Seattle looked dead in the water before launching a furious rally in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Trailing 14-3, the Seahawks engineered an 11-point surge beginning with a 1-yard touchdown run from George Holani with 5:41 left on the clock. Darnold then connected with Rashid Shaheed on a deflected two-point conversion pass that brought Seattle within three points at 14-11.
After the defense forced a quick punt, a 31-yard punt return by Shaheed gave Seattle decent field position near midfield with under a minute to play. A sharp series of completions to Cooper Kupp, Shaheed, and Smith-Njigba set up Jason Myers for a game-tying 34-yard field goal with just three seconds remaining in regulation. But any momentum the Seahawks carried into the extra period evaporated immediately.
We’ve got to take care of the ball.
Mike Macdonald, Seahawks coach
On Seattle’s opening possession of overtime, facing a third-and-seven at the 28-yard line, Darnold forced a pass intended for Shaheed up the left sideline. McMillian undercut the throw for the interception, setting up Lutz’s game-winner moments later. Mike Macdonald addressed the team’s ongoing struggles following the defeat, emphasizing the urgent need to eliminate mistakes.
“We have conflicting emotions,” Macdonald said, saying he was proud of the way the team rallied from its early deficit. “There’s no moral victories in this league; it’s a bottom-line business, a production business. … There’s things we need to get better at quickly. We know those things and they are within our control and that’s what we do.”
Mike Macdonald, Seahawks coach
Upcoming Schedule and Division Standings
The defeat drops Seattle to a 3-3 record, leaving them three games behind the division-leading San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West standings. The Seahawks face little time to recover as Seattle hosts the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs on October 25 in a prime-time matchup on Sunday Night Football.