Broncos Beat Seahawks 17-14 in Overtime as Ja’Quan McMillian’s Interception Sets Up Wil Lutz’s Game Winning Field Goal

Broncos Defense Delivers Again in Overtime

The Denver Broncos continue to find ways to win, even when their offense struggles to move the football. Despite another frustrating offensive performance and a depleted defense, Denver came through in the biggest moments Thursday night, defeating the Seattle Seahawks 17-14 in overtime to open Week 6 of the NFL season.

Cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted Sam Darnold on Seattle’s opening possession of overtime, setting up Wil Lutz for a 53-yard field goal that secured the victory. The Broncos improved to 4-2 after navigating a difficult six week opening stretch, while the Seahawks fell to 3-3 after suffering their second loss in five days.

Denver’s latest victory was far from pretty. The Broncos managed just 168 yards of total offense, recorded only three first downs and struggled to establish any consistency through the air. However, their defense once again delivered when it mattered most, keeping the team competitive long enough for the offense and special teams to make the decisive plays.

McMillian’s Interception Changes Everything

The decisive moment came on Seattle’s first possession of overtime. Darnold attempted to find Rashid Shaheed, but McMillian intercepted the pass at the Denver 43-yard line, ending the Seahawks’ possession and giving the Broncos an opportunity to win the game.

It was Darnold’s second interception of the night, and it proved costly for a Seattle offense that had produced significantly more yardage than Denver but struggled to turn that production into points. Following the turnover, the Broncos moved into position for Lutz, who calmly connected on a 53-yard field goal to end the game and send Denver home with another hard-earned victory.

Denver’s defense had been under pressure throughout the night, but the unit once again found a way to deliver in a critical situation. The Broncos recorded five sacks and hit Darnold 17 times, disrupting the Seattle quarterback despite allowing the Seahawks to accumulate 353 yards of total offense.

Seattle Wastes Opportunities

Darnold finished 27-of-51 passing for 278 yards, with two interceptions and no touchdown passes. Although his passing numbers were considerably better than those of Denver quarterback Bo Nix, the turnovers ultimately proved too much for Seattle to overcome. The Seahawks had another opportunity to win the game in regulation after mounting a late comeback.

Denver appeared to have secured the victory when Kris Abrams-Draine intercepted Darnold at the Broncos’ 30-yard line with 1:25 remaining. However, Denver managed to burn only 15 seconds before punting the ball back to Seattle, giving the Seahawks another chance to tie the game. Seattle took advantage of the opportunity, starting its final drive near midfield after Shaheed returned a punt 31 yards.

The Seahawks marched 67 yards on 11 plays, with running back George Holani scoring on a one yard touchdown run. Darnold then connected with Shaheed on a two point conversion, cutting Denver’s lead to 14-11 with 5:41 remaining. After the Broncos failed to put the game away, Seattle kicker Jason Myers drilled a 34-yard field goal with three seconds left to tie the score at 14-14 and force overtime.

Nix and Denver’s Running Game Unable to Find Rhythm

Denver’s offense once again did little to inspire confidence, even in a victory. Nix completed 17 of 27 passes for just 107 yards, struggling to generate explosive plays against Seattle’s defense. The second-year quarterback had thrown for only 123 yards in Denver’s previous narrow victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, and Thursday’s performance offered little evidence that the passing game is finding its rhythm.

Running back J.K. Dobbins led the Broncos with just 41 rushing yards, while Denver’s offense repeatedly stalled before reaching scoring position. The team finished with only 168 total yards, less than half of Seattle’s production.

Despite the struggles, Denver found enough offense early to establish control of the game. Dobbins scored on a four yard touchdown run, and fellow running back R.J. Harvey added a one yard touchdown after taking a direct snap on the Broncos’ next scoring drive.

Those touchdowns helped Denver build a 14-3 halftime lead, putting the Broncos in position to lean on their defense for the remainder of the game. Nix was candid in his postgame assessment of Denver’s offensive struggles, acknowledging the unit’s shortcomings as the Broncos continued to rely on their defense to secure victories.

Denver Finds Another Way to Win

The Broncos’ performance illustrated both the resilience and the limitations of their current team. Their offense struggled to sustain drives, their special teams nearly allowed Seattle to steal the game in regulation, and their defense entered the matchup dealing with significant injury concerns. Yet Denver still found a way to win.

After scoring just three points on its first eight drives, Seattle finally broke through with Holani’s touchdown and the successful two point conversion. The Seahawks then tied the game with Myers’ late field goal, putting Denver in danger of letting another winnable contest slip away. Instead, McMillian’s interception and Lutz’s long field goal completed the victory.

Seahawks Fall to .500 After Second Loss in Five Days

The loss dropped Seattle to 3-3, matching the number of defeats the Seahawks suffered throughout last season, when they went on to win their second Super Bowl championship. Seattle outgained Denver by a substantial margin and had opportunities to take control, but its inability to capitalize on scoring chances and Darnold’s two interceptions ultimately proved decisive.

The Seahawks showed resilience by erasing an 11-point deficit in the second half, but their comeback fell short when McMillian intercepted Darnold in overtime. For Denver, the victory was another example of a team overcoming its offensive shortcomings through defensive playmaking and timely special-teams execution.

The Broncos emerged from a demanding opening six weeks with a 4-2 record, putting themselves in a strong position early in the season despite an injury riddled roster and inconsistent quarterback play. Denver still has plenty to address offensively, but the Broncos have established an identity built around defensive pressure, opportunistic turnovers and finding ways to win close games. Thursday night, that formula proved sufficient once again.