Broncos to host defending champion Seahawks on Thursday night
DENVER — By Aric DiLalla | Oct. 14, 2026, 11:34 p.m. The Denver Broncos will host the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night as Denver seeks to build on three wins in four weeks. The Broncos enter the game at 3-2 and will wear throwback jerseys while attempting to secure a third straight Thursday-night victory and an 11th win in 12 games against NFC opponents.
Turnovers figure to play a central role in the matchup. Denver has forced seven takeaways through five games, including a three-turnover performance in Week 5 that helped fuel a fourth-quarter comeback and resulted in 13 points off turnovers. Seattle has turned the ball over eight times in the last three weeks, five of those interceptions by Sam Darnold, while its defense has forced seven takeaways in the past two weeks. Denver must also guard against its own ball security, since the offense has committed at least one turnover in every game this season and had multiple giveaways only in the Week 1 loss to the Chiefs.
The matchup presents a clash of statistical strengths. Since the start of 2024, Denver is 16-3 at home while Seattle is 16-3 on the road in that span. Broncos coach Sean Payton ranks first in average total yards per game among qualifying coaches since 2006, and Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald has allowed the fewest yards per game in that period. Prime-time history adds intrigue: Seattle has won seven straight night games, Denver has won five of its last six, Bo Nix is 7-2 in his career in prime time, and Sam Darnold is unbeaten in six prime-time starts since joining Seattle in 2025.
Containing Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be a key test for Denver’s defense. Through five games Smith-Njigba has accounted for 49 percent of Seattle’s receiving yards and is on pace to challenge recent franchise and league receiving marks. Denver will be without cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga, and cornerback Riley Moss is listed as questionable, but the Broncos have allowed the sixth-lowest passer rating to opposing quarterbacks this season. Seattle still ranks first in total defense and among the NFL leaders in scoring defense, though it has surrendered 29.3 points per game over the last three weeks.
Late-game execution has been a strength for Denver this season. All three of the Broncos’ wins in 2026 have required fourth-quarter rallies, and the club has scored 52 fourth-quarter points, the second-highest mark in the league. Since the start of 2025 Denver is 8-3 when trailing in the fourth quarter, well above the league average for comeback wins in that situation. Tight end Evan Engram said the team thrives in late-game moments, and tackle Mike McGlinchey said Denver must trust its plan to attack a top-tier Seattle defense.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Denver’s clearest path to a statement win is straightforward: protect the football and force mistakes. The Broncos have shown an ability to convert takeaways into points and to rally late, but they face a Seahawks defense that ranks among the league’s best and has been capable of giving up points recently. If Denver limits turnovers, contains Jaxon Smith-Njigba despite missing key defensive backs, and sustains drives in the fourth quarter, it can tilt the matchup in its favor. Conversely, another giveaway or failure to contain Seattle’s passing game would hand the advantage to a team that has thrived in prime time and on the road since 2024.