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Even a championship-caliber defense cannot overcome an offense determined to sabotage itself. The Seattle Seahawks learned that the hard way on Thursday night. Against the Denver Broncos, Seattle dominated the yardage battle. They held the opposition to just 168 total yards. Yet still somehow, Seattle walked away with a crushing 17-14 overtime defeat. Sam Darnold’s late interceptions, an overwhelmed offensive line, and another devastating fumble turned a winnable contest into a nightmare. The performance was particularly troubling because the same mistakes that plagued Seattle against San Francisco resurfaced just days later. Mike Macdonald’s defense gave the Seahawks every opportunity to win. Unfortunately, the offense repeatedly refused to take advantage.
QB Sam Darnold
The biggest share of responsibility belongs to Darnold. His fourth-quarter and overtime interceptions turned Seattle’s comeback into another bitter disappointment. The veteran quarterback demonstrated resilience throughout the contest. However, his decision-making deteriorated when the Seahawks needed him most.
With Seattle threatening late in regulation, Darnold threw an interception to Kris Abrams-Draine. He wasted an opportunity to put the Broncos away. The mistake was particularly damaging because the Seahawks had already battled through an afternoon of offensive frustration to reach scoring position. Instead of protecting the football and giving Jason Myers a chance to deliver the winning points, Darnold handed Denver another opportunity.
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The second interception was even more costly. On third-and-7 during Seattle’s opening overtime possession, Darnold targeted Rashid Shaheed. However, Ja’Quan McMillian undercut the throw and secured the takeaway. Denver capitalized on the advantageous field position. Wil Lutz drilled a 53-yard field goal to end the game.
Those mistakes cannot be dismissed as isolated misfortune. Darnold had already thrown two interceptions against San Francisco in Week 5. His decision-making has become a recurring concern. Of course, Darnold deserves credit for helping Seattle recover from its halftime deficit. Still, his late mistakes ultimately overshadowed that effort.
Offensive line
Seattle’s offensive line also deserves considerable criticism for making his Darnold’s unnecessarily difficult. Denver recorded five sacks and 17 quarterback hits. The Broncos repeatedly disrupted the passing game’s timing. They forced Darnold to operate under pressure. Even with the Broncos missing key defensive starters, Vance Joseph’s unit dictated the terms of engagement.
The interior protection was particularly concerning. With Anthony Bradford unavailable, Seattle continued rotating Christian Haynes and Beau Stephens at right guard. The offensive front, though, struggled to establish consistency against Denver’s pressure packages. Too often, Darnold had defenders closing in before his receivers could complete their routes.
The running game offered little relief. Seattle managed just 74 rushing yards on 25 attempts. This allowed Denver to focus increasingly on disrupting the passing attack. Emanuel Wilson led the Seahawks with 52 rushing yards. However, there was little evidence of a sustained ground-game identity. That imbalance helped explain why Seattle managed only three points through its first eight possessions.
WR Rashid Shaheed
The remaining blame belongs to Shaheed and offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. Their respective mistakes compounded Seattle’s offensive frustrations.
Shaheed’s second-quarter fumble was particularly damaging. Nik Bonitto stripped the receiver near Denver’s 34-yard line. This allowed Justin Strnad to recover the football. The Broncos capitalized on the possession with an RJ Harvey touchdown. That extended their halftime advantage to 14-3.
It was another costly turnover for a Seattle offense already struggling with ball security. Against San Francisco, running-back fumbles contributed to a devastating defeat. Five days later, the same fundamental weakness resurfaced in Denver.
Fleury must also answer for the offense’s prolonged stagnation. Seattle repeatedly relied on passing concepts that struggled to develop behind an overwhelmed offensive line. Their running game failed to provide balance. The Seahawks eventually found success with shorter throws and a methodical fourth-quarter touchdown drive. However, those adjustments arrived far too late.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba still produced 12 receptions for 134 yards. He demonstrated that Seattle had enough receiving talent to move the football. The challenge was creating a sustainable offensive structure around those individual contributions.
Defense deserves better
The Seahawks now sit at 3-3 after consecutive defeats. They have already matched their loss total from their championship-winning 2025 season. Their defense held Denver to 168 total yards and shut out the Broncos throughout the second half. Yet, that outstanding effort went unrewarded.
Seattle’s upcoming matchup against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs provides both a challenge and an opportunity. The extended break must be used to improve protection and simplify the offense where necessary.
Darnold must make better decisions. The offensive line must become more dependable. Fleury must develop a game plan that does not expose his quarterback to relentless punishment. Right now, the Seahawks’ offense is playing like a liability rather than a complementary strength. Unless that changes quickly, Seattle’s title defense could unravel long before January.
Related: Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s production reaches historic levels in Seahawks-Broncos battle