Week 6 of the NFL season opened with a narrow 17-14 overtime win for the Denver Broncos over the Seattle Seahawks. It was a game in which both defenses controlled significant stretches, while Sam Darnold’s two interceptions proved to be key factors in the final outcome.
Broncos Defense Comes Through
All four of Denver’s wins have come by a single-score margin. In three of those victories, the Broncos’ defense held opponents to fewer than 20 points.
Against the Seahawks, Denver managed to confuse Darnold enough to force two interceptions — one in the fourth quarter and another in overtime that set up the game-winning field goal. The defense also recorded five sacks, with seven different players getting in on the action, including Nik Bonitto, Zach Allen and Ja’Quan McMillan.
Broncos Offense Still Has Work to Do
Denver took an 11-point lead into halftime thanks to two sustained drives that combined to consume more than 13 minutes of game time.
The problems began after the break. The Broncos went six consecutive possessions without scoring, punting on each one and recording four three-and-outs. On their overtime possession, they needed just eight yards to set up Wil Lutz’s decisive 53-yard field goal.
Clearly, the issues go beyond whether Sean Payton is calling the plays himself.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Leads the Seahawks’ Offense
Although he didn’t score, JSN was Seattle’s best offensive player. After catching just two passes in the first half, he came alive in the fourth quarter, becoming the Seahawks’ primary weapon. He made catches of all kinds, including several in tight coverage and through narrow throwing windows.
Smith-Njigba finished with 134 receiving yards on 12 catches on 16 targets. At this point, he is the NFL’s leading wide receiver in receiving production, with 717 yards on 49 receptions and seven touchdowns. However, he is increasingly being left to carry the load almost on his own.
Seahawks Offense Searches for Answers
Seattle used three running backs in its backfield: Emanuel Wilson, George Holani, who scored in the fourth quarter, and Velus Jones. Wilson saw the most work, finishing with 14 carries.
It was also interesting to see Rashid Shaheed, usually a fixture on special teams, line up at wide receiver. He caught five passes, including a spectacular grab near the goal line that set up the two-point conversion that tied the game. Perhaps Seattle is beginning to find another option in its offensive playbook.
What’s Next for the Broncos and Seahawks?
The Broncos improved to 4-2 despite ranking seventh-worst in the NFL in scoring offense, averaging 19.0 points per game. They still have plenty of room to improve. Two of their next three games will be on the road, with a home matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in between.
For the Seahawks, the situation is becoming concerning. After two straight losses, they are now 3-3 and have committed seven turnovers during that stretch.
There is one encouraging factor on Seattle’s schedule: its next three games will all be at home, against the Chiefs, Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals.
You can also read this article in Spanish: Broncos con lo justo, Seahawks preocupan
