Front Range
Lutz hits from 53 in overtime as Broncos survive Seattle rally for a 17-14 win
Denver led 14-3, produced almost nothing after halftime, and still won: two late interceptions of Sam Darnold, the second by Ja'Quan McMillian in overtime, set up Wil Lutz's winning kick at Empower Field.
DENVER
Lutz's kick, with 4:53 left in overtime, came after McMillian picked off Darnold at the Seattle 43-yard line. Denver gained only eight yards on the winning drive, and it was enough. The win moved the Broncos to 4-2 and dropped Seattle to 3-3, the Seahawks' second straight defeat and, as Reuters noted, a loss total that already matches their total from all of last season.
Denver built its lead the straightforward way. Seattle opened the scoring on Jason Myers' 55-yard field goal with 6:31 left in the first quarter. The Broncos answered with two second-quarter touchdown runs: J.K. Dobbins scored on a 4-yard run over right tackle with 12:52 left in the half, capping a 16-play, 74-yard drive, and RJ Harvey took a direct snap in from one yard out with 5:15 left to finish a nine-play, 79-yard drive. Denver led 14-3 at halftime, and the third quarter was scoreless.
Seattle's best second-half chance before the rally died at the upright. The Seahawks reached Denver's 24-yard line on their opening drive of the half before Darnold was sacked and Myers' 47-yard attempt hit the right upright. George Holani finally broke through with a 1-yard touchdown run with 5:41 left in the fourth quarter, and Darnold's two-point pass to Rashid Shaheed in the back of the end zone cut the lead to 14-11.
Denver's defense appeared to end it with 1:25 left in regulation, when Kris Abrams-Draine intercepted Darnold at the Denver 31, undercutting Tory Horton, in NBC Sports' account. It did not end, because Denver's offense went three-and-out and Shaheed returned the punt 31 yards to the Seattle 46. Darnold drove Seattle back into range, and Myers tied the game 14-14 with a 34-yard field goal with three seconds left.
The numbers explain both the win and the unease that followed it. Seattle outgained Denver 353 yards to 168. Darnold completed 27 of 51 passes for 278 yards, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba catching 12 passes for 134 yards and Emanuel Wilson rushing for 52 yards on 14 carries. But Darnold also threw the two interceptions, was sacked five times and, NBC Sports reported, was pressured on 24 of his dropbacks. Denver's Bo Nix finished 17 of 27 for 107 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Dobbins led Denver with 41 rushing yards on 17 carries, and Harvey caught three passes for 31 yards.
The second half was the problem. Reuters reported that Denver punted on all six of its second-half possessions, excluding a one-play kneel-down, and NBC Sports put the second-half offense at 30 yards and two first downs, with Nix going 7 of 12 for 29 yards after halftime. That showing drew the night's sharpest criticism from Prime Video analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick, who said on the postgame show, in NBC Sports' account, that former players watching the performance would call it garbage. Athlon reported that cornerback Riley Moss returned to the lineup after missing the previous game, while Surtain and safety Talanoa Hufanga were inactive with ankle injuries.
NBC Sports noted that Denver still has not lost a home game it led by 11 or more points in the fourth quarter since a 2004 loss to the Raiders. Thursday was as close as that streak has come to ending in a while: an 11-point lead, two defensive stands, one tying kick beaten and one winning kick made. The Broncos take the record and the questions about their offense into a longer week.
