Five weeks into the 2026 season, Seattle and Denver are in familiar-looking spots, even if the paths to get there have been anything but identical. Both the Seahawks and Broncos sit at 3-2, and both teams are still searching for a clean read on who they really are.
Seattle’s latest result was a 32-29 loss to the 49ers at Lumen Field, a setback that leaves Mike Macdonald’s team two games behind first-place San Francisco. Denver, meanwhile, is coming off a 23-17 win over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium, but Sean Payton’s club still trails the unbeaten Chiefs in the AFC West.
Thursday night’s meeting will carry some history with it, too. The Seahawks and Broncos were AFC West rivals from 1977-2001, and they also met in Super Bowl XLVIII, when Seattle beat Peyton Manning and company 43-8 at MetLife Stadium.
This will be the third time in five seasons the teams have played each other, with Seattle winning in both 2022 at home, 17-16, and again in ’24, 26-20. The Broncos’ most recent home win in the series came in 2018, when they edged Seattle 27-24.
The turnover battle has been a major dividing line for the Seahawks. In their three wins, Macdonald’s team has committed only two turnovers.
In their two losses, they’ve given the ball away seven times, including two miscues that were returned or recovered for scores. Sam Darnold has been right in the middle of that stretch, throwing seven touchdown passes and five interceptions over the last three weeks.
Denver has found a different kind of problem despite the winning record. The Broncos have been outscored 111-97 on the season, and all three of their victories have come by seven points or fewer.
Both losses have been by double digits. The first half has been especially rough, with Denver being outscored 46-23 before halftime.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba kept producing even in defeat, making it four games this season with 100 or more receiving yards and at least one touchdown. Against San Francisco, he was targeted eight times, caught five passes for 102 yards and a score, and still ended up as a major talking point after a fourth-quarter catch he couldn’t haul in.
Up front, Denver still brings the pass-rush reputation that has defined the past two seasons. The Broncos led the NFL in sacks in each of the last two years, piling up 63 in 2024 and 68 a year ago. Through five games this season, they’ve recorded 13 sacks, with defensive end Zach Allen leading the way at 4.0 and two-time Pro Bowler Nik Bonitto next at 3.0.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have Two Roster Battles Fans Can't Ignore
A sloppy loss to the 49ers put two parts of the roster back under the microscope for Seattle, and not just because of the final score. Five turnovers made the night ugly, but the bigger takeaway for the Seahawks may be how clearly some fringe battles are starting to take shape as the team evaluates who can help once the games start counting for real.
Nehemiah Pritchett and Byron Murphy II were among the players who stood out in a positive way, while the running back group did not make the same case for itself. George Holani and Emanuel Wilson had tougher outings, which only sharpens the focus on a position where Seattle may be looking for more reliability, along with added depth at cornerback. [Read more 🡒]
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Took The Seahawks Loss Hard For One Reason
Jaxon Smith-Njigba had the kind of fourth-quarter moment that lingers, the sort a young receiver remembers long after the game ends. Late against the 49ers, he dropped a crucial third-down pass, and Seattles chance to extend the drive slipped away in a loss that became the Seahawks second of the season while San Francisco stayed undefeated.
Smith-Njigba did not hide from it afterward, acknowledging the drop and taking responsibility for how the game ended. For a Seahawks team that has been building through the early part of the schedule, the next challenge comes quickly with Denver on deck for Thursday Night Football, which leaves little time to dwell and even less time to let one play carry over. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Just Made A Special Teams Move That Could Matter Fast
The Seahawks made a quick special teams adjustment this week by activating wide receiver Irv Charles off injured reserve, putting him in line to be available for the upcoming game against the Broncos. Charles arrived in Seattle from the Jets in a trade and is expected to help mostly in the third phase, giving the team another option on a unit that often turns on depth and reliability.
To make room, Seattle released running back and kick returner Velus Jones Jr., a move that underscores how tightly the roster is being managed heading into the next matchup. Charles now gets a chance to factor in right away, and the timing suggests the Seahawks want a fresh look on special teams as soon as possible. [Read more 🡒]