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The Denver Broncos beat the Seattle Seahawks 17-14 in overtime on Thursday night after Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted Sam Darnold and Wil Lutz kicked a 53-yard field goal. The turnover was Denver’s third takeaway, and it rescued a game the Broncos had led by 11 points before Seattle forced overtime.
Denver improved to 4-2 and has won four of its last five games. Seattle fell to 3-3. The score will be remembered for the two overtime plays, but the larger story was a Broncos defense that absorbed 82 snaps, generated five sacks and 17 quarterback hits, and repeatedly prevented the defending champions from turning field position into points.
Broncos-Seahawks result at a glance
| Final | Broncos 17, Seahawks 14 (OT) |
|---|---|
| Decisive takeaway | Ja’Quan McMillian interception on third-and-7 |
| Winning points | Wil Lutz 53-yard field goal |
| Denver defense | 5 sacks, 17 quarterback hits, 3 takeaways |
| Records | Denver 4-2; Seattle 3-3 |
How overtime turned in four plays
Seattle faced third-and-7 in the extra period with a chance to extend its possession. McMillian read Darnold’s throw, stepped in front of the route and returned possession to Denver in immediate scoring range. Four plays later, Lutz connected from 53 yards.
The sequence was brief because Denver had already done most of the work. The defense did not merely force a punt; it created a short field and removed the need for the offense to manufacture a long overtime drive. Lutz still had to convert a pressure kick from beyond 50 yards, but the interception changed the percentages of the finish.
Denver built the lead in the first half
The Broncos scored touchdowns on consecutive first-half drives, one lasting 16 plays and the next nine. J.K. Dobbins reached the end zone for the second straight week, while RJ Harvey scored his first touchdown of the 2026 season. Those two drives gave Denver 14 first-half points, its highest first-half total of the season.
That efficiency mattered because the offense did not score in the second half. Denver’s early control provided enough margin for the defense to survive Seattle’s comeback, but it also exposed the main issue the Broncos must address: they did not turn a strong start into a regulation finish.
Seattle’s comeback created the real test
The Seahawks erased an 11-point halftime deficit and tied the game late. Darnold finished 27-of-51 for 278 yards with no touchdown passes and two interceptions, but Seattle found enough offense in the fourth quarter to extend the night.
Denver’s defense spent too much time on the field, yet it continued to win high-leverage snaps. Kris Abrams-Draine intercepted Darnold late in regulation, and Nik Bonitto forced a fumble from Rashid Shaheed that Justin Strnad recovered before Seattle could enter the red zone. Those plays kept the comeback from becoming a complete reversal.
Why the pass rush controlled the game
Seven Broncos contributed at least half a sack: Zach Allen, McMillian, Bonitto, Strnad, Jonah Elliss, Que Robinson and Malcolm Roach. Roach led Denver with four quarterback hits. That distribution prevented Seattle from solving the pressure by sliding protection toward one defender.
The 17 hits are as important as the five sacks. A defense can affect a quarterback without ending every play behind the line of scrimmage. Repeated pressure compresses timing, encourages checkdowns and increases the chance of the late or contested throw that produced McMillian’s winning interception.
What the win means for Denver
A 4-2 record keeps Denver positioned in the early AFC playoff race, and the Broncos remain unbeaten in three home games. Beating the reigning Super Bowl champion is useful evidence that the defense can hold up against a high-level opponent even when the offense stalls.
The caution is just as clear. Denver cannot depend on three takeaways every week, and a scoreless second half nearly wasted an excellent defensive performance. The sustainable version of this team pairs its aggressive pressure package with longer second-half possessions and cleaner closing drives.
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