Mike Macdonald told his team after Thursday night’s 17-14 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos that it should feel two things at once.
“I told the team, we have conflicting emotions,” Macdonald said. “There’s no moral victories in the league. It’s a bottom-line business, production business. But I am proud of our effort. I am proud of the resolve of the team.”
After Denver scored touchdowns on two of its first-half drives, Seattle’s defense held the Broncos to 30 net yards and two first downs after halftime and forced a punt on every possession.
“They played together, and our coaches did a great job of finding some solutions there after those two drives,” Macdonald said. “So, it was great second half by those guys.”
Seattle outgained Denver 353 to 168 and still lost the turnover battle 3-0. Rashid Shaheed fumbled in Denver territory, and Sam Darnold threw two interceptions late. Kris Abrams-Draine picked him off at the Denver 31 with 1:25 left in regulation, while Seattle held all three timeouts, and Ja’Quan McMillian’s overtime interception set up Wil Lutz’s 53-yard game-winner.
Mike Macdonald speaks on his team’s tough loss to the Broncos on TNF https://t.co/10pTZbdgUI
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 16, 2026
What Macdonald wants fixed on offense
The coach was asked what concerned him most, and he went straight to ball security.
“Why the ball is in jeopardy so much on offense. When you talk about complimentary football, all three phases, picking each other up, that’s who we are. When you talk about 12 as one, people together, the synergy of the team, right now, we’re not creating that. Run game, quarterback’s getting hit too much. We’ll look at it hard, find solutions and go from there.” Macdonald said.
Darnold threw 51 passes, completing 27 for 278 yards, and Denver pressured him on 24 dropbacks and sacked him five times. Macdonald explained the overtime interception as a throw into a specific coverage window, then put the standard back on his quarterback.
“I think he’s trying to throw a hole shot in Cover 2,” Macdonald said. “We’ll look at what they were playing and how they made the play. But we have to take care of the ball. Sam knows that. He told the team that. You know, gotta take care of the ball.”
The extra days off give the staff time to work on what Macdonald named. Seattle hosts the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football on Oct. 25.
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