The Seahawks enter Thursday night needing a reset, and they’re walking into a tough one in Denver.
Seattle was knocked flat by the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on Sunday, and now has to answer against a Broncos team that brings a strong home-field edge and a defensive front capable of making life miserable for an offensive line that’s already been struggling. The matchup gets even more interesting because Denver is dealing with key injuries in the secondary: Patrick Surtain II and Talanoa Hufanga are both out. That gives Sam Darnold a path, at least on paper, to shake off his funk against a banged-up back end and linebackers who have been questionable in coverage.
The Seahawks’ defense has still been good, even if it hasn’t quite reached the level it set last season when it ranked as the best unit in the NFL. One issue stands out: Seattle has done a strong job keeping teams out of the red zone, aside from turnovers that handed opponents immediate short-field chances, but once drives get there, they’re still ending in touchdowns. That’s a problem against any opponent, and it puts extra pressure on a defense that will be tested again by Bo Nix and a Broncos rushing attack that hasn’t exactly been humming.
There’s urgency on both sidelines here. Each team is 3-2, and the way this game is framed, it feels like a must-win for both.
The question for Seattle is simple: can its defense rattle Bo Nix the way it did in his first meeting, and can the run defense clamp down on a shaky ground game? The answers come with a little extra noise around the game chat, too, after the wild response to the 49ers matchup, which drew more than 7,500 comments and showed just how active this fan community has become.
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 🡒]