Lutz 53-yard OT field goal gives Broncos 17-14 win over Seahawks after Darnold’s late interceptions

The host Denver Broncos beat the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks 17-14 in a Thursday night game in Denver, and Sam Darnold was intercepted twice late in the contest.

Seattle entered the game as the reigning Super Bowl champions and fell to 3-3 with the loss; it was their second defeat in five days and matched the number of losses they recorded last season when they won their second Super Bowl title.

Wil Lutz converted a 53-yard field goal in overtime after Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted a Sam Darnold pass at Seattle’s 43-yard line to set up the kick. Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton said: "A defensive battle and that’s how we wanted it, and we finished on top."

Denver’s scoring came on second-quarter rushing touchdowns by JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey, and the Broncos managed the victory despite punting on all six of their second-half possessions excluding a one-play kneel-down and totaling just 168 yards of offense. Quarterback Bo Nix completed 17 of 27 passes for 107 yards; Dobbins rushed 17 times for a team-high 41 yards and Harvey caught three passes for 31 yards.

Seattle’s offense was led statistically by Darnold, who went 27 of 51 for 278 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Jaxon Smith-Njigba made 12 receptions for 134 yards, and Emanuel Wilson gained 52 yards on 14 carries.

Late in the fourth quarter Kris Abrams-Draine intercepted Darnold at the Denver 31 with 1:25 remaining, but the Broncos went three-and-out, using 28 seconds off the clock. Rashid Shaheed returned the ensuing punt 31 yards to the Seahawks’ own 46, and Darnold drove Seattle into Jason Myers’ range for a 34-yard field goal that tied the game with three seconds left in regulation.

Earlier in the fourth quarter George Holani scored on a one-yard run with 5:41 remaining, and a two-point conversion pass from Darnold to Shaheed brought Seattle to within 14-11 before Myers’ late field goal forced overtime.

The result moved Denver to 4-2 as they emerged from a difficult six-week season-opening stretch with an injury-riddled roster and a shaky offense.