The Seattle Seahawks left Thursday night with an overtime loss to the Denver Broncos, but the game had a little bit of everything: throwback uniforms, a defensive grind, a late rally, and just enough missed chances to leave Seattle kicking itself.
Both teams leaned into the retro feel. Seattle wore its royal blue look from the AFC West days, while Denver showed up in its orange crush throwbacks.
The matchup fit the uniforms, too. For long stretches, this was a physical, low-scoring fight, with the Broncos holding a 14-3 lead at halftime before the Seahawks punched back in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
The comeback had real life in it, and Rashid Shaheed was a big part of that. He gave Seattle trouble early with a first-half fumble that cost the offense points, but he bounced back with a 42-yard catch that helped kick-start the second-half push. Later, he made a tough two-point conversion grab to trim the margin to 14-11, then flashed again with a 31-yard punt return in the final minute and a 10-yard catch on third-and-six during the last regulation drive.
Seattle also got a jolt from George Holani, who finally got the Seahawks into the end zone more than halfway through the fourth quarter. His touchdown came after back-to-back strong runs, including a 13-yard burst where the offensive line helped drive him closer to the goal line. Holani then avoided a tackle in the backfield on the next snap and finished the job, cutting the Denver lead to 14-11 and giving Seattle a real shot at stealing it late.
But the offense never fully shook off the pressure. Sam Darnold was under siege all night, and the Broncos made life miserable for him from the jump.
He struggled to escape the rush, and Seattle had trouble finding any one lineman to point to because the pressure kept coming from all over. It was the second straight week Darnold was sacked at least five times, and that has quickly become a major problem.
Darnold did make a few plays when the game tightened up in the fourth quarter, but the turnovers told the story. He threw an interception late that could have buried Seattle in regulation, then added another in overtime that put Denver in position to win with a field goal. Those mistakes stood out even more because ball security was already a concern coming into the game.
On the other side of the ball, Nick Emmanwori looked like the versatile defender Seattle remembered. The second-year safety, who had ankle surgery in July and missed Week 1 against the Patriots, has been working his way back since returning in Week 2.
On Thursday, he was deployed all over the field at safety, in the slot, and even at linebacker. He also got chances as a pass rusher, including a huge fourth-quarter third-down play when he sacked Bo Nix and helped force a Broncos three-and-out right after Seattle cut the lead to three.
Even with the loss, Jaxon Smith-Njigba kept doing what he’s been doing all season: carrying the passing game. Seattle’s offense spent much of the night searching for rhythm, but JSN was the one reliable piece, finishing with 134 yards on 12 catches. It wasn’t enough to change the outcome, but it reinforced just how dangerous he’s become for this offense.
In the end, Seattle had enough moments to make this one interesting - Shaheed’s spark, Holani’s finish, Emmanwori’s versatility, Smith-Njigba’s steady production - but the Broncos’ pressure and Darnold’s late interceptions decided it.
In Other News...
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Just Became Seattle's Biggest Thursday Night X-Factor
Jaxon Smith-Njigba popped up on the Seahawks injury report this week with an ankle issue, but the important part for Seattle is that he is not carrying an injury designation into the matchup with the Broncos. For a passing game that has leaned on him heavily this season, that is a welcome development heading into a short-week stage that often turns on who can simply be available and effective.
The timing only sharpens his importance. Denver will be missing key defensive players Pat Surtain II and Talanoa Hufanga, which gives Seattle a chance to press an advantage through the air if Smith-Njigba looks like his usual self. He has been one of the offenses most reliable producers through five games, and on Thursday night his role could be even bigger if the Seahawks decide to attack early and often. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Head To Denver With A Few Trusted Answers And New Doubts
The Seahawks head to Denver with a clearer sense of who they can lean on and a few more questions than they probably wanted at this stage of the season. Byron Murphy II has been one of the steadier young pieces up front, Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to look like a reliable target in the passing game, and Jason Myers has given Seattle confidence in the kicking game. Those are the kinds of trusted answers that help keep a team afloat when the rest of the picture is still shifting.
What the Broncos matchup will really test is whether Seattle can turn those individual bright spots into something more stable on a week-to-week basis. The offense and defense both have areas that still need sorting out, and the margin for error gets smaller on the road, especially against a Denver team that will make the Seahawks prove those strengths are more than isolated flashes. [Read more 🡒]
Overlooked Seahawks Could Decide More Than Fans Expect In Denver
The Seahawks head to Denver on Thursday night with a 3-2 record and the usual attention on the bigger names, but this matchup may hinge on a few players who are easy to overlook. Robert Henry Jr. is the newest wrinkle, a recent roster addition who gives Seattle another layer of depth as it sorts out the back end of the lineup, while AJ Barner enters a game that could put more pressure on the middle of the Broncos defense than usual.
Julian Love also looms as the kind of defensive back who can change the feel of a game quickly, especially against a Denver offense that has not looked steady. Seattle does not need every contribution to come from the stars to get through a short week on the road, and this is exactly the kind of spot where role players can end up deciding far more than fans expect. [Read more 🡒]