Seattle and Denver enter Thursday night at 3-2 with little room to absorb another setback. Both clubs were No. 1 seeds in their conferences last season, but each has been beaten by unbeaten San Francisco during the past two weeks.
The Seahawks are trying to stay within reach of the 49ers in the NFC West, while the Broncos are pursuing an undefeated Kansas City team in the AFC. Denver’s visit to Seattle puts two contenders under pressure to stop their recent slide.
Quick facts
- Seattle leads the NFL in fewest yards allowed per game at 251.2.
- Denver quarterback Bo Nix faces a Seahawks defense with a 44.3% pressure rate, second-highest in the league.
- Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 583 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions.
- Denver may again be without cornerbacks Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss, plus safety Talanoa Hufanga.
- Seattle has committed eight turnovers over its last three games.
Nix faces a difficult Seattle front
Mike Macdonald’s defense was unable to contain Mike Evans last week, but Seattle remains one of football’s most efficient units. The Seahawks also lead the league in fewest yards per play allowed at 4.1 and surrender only 150.8 passing yards per game.
That is a daunting matchup for Nix and a Denver offense ranked 26th at 19.4 points per game. The second-year quarterback has struggled to create downfield plays through five weeks.
Nix has attempted throws of at least 10 air yards on only 23.5% of his passes, the lowest rate among qualified NFL quarterbacks. His 6.0 air yards per attempt are also last in that group.
Pressure has been especially damaging. Nix has completed 35.4% of his passes when pressured, third-lowest among qualified passers, and averages 4.1 yards per attempt in those situations, fifth-lowest in the league. He is one of only three qualifying quarterbacks without a touchdown throw while under pressure.
Seattle has produced pressure on 44.3% of opposing dropbacks and has allowed the NFL’s second-fewest explosive plays. Denver’s running game has not offered much relief, ranking 25th and producing a league-low 15 forced missed tackles on rushing attempts in 2026.
The Seahawks have missed fewer tackles than any other defense. Denver has also trailed in the fourth quarter of every game, a distinction shared only with the Saints, Titans, Chargers and Dolphins.
Seattle needs Darnold to protect the football
Sam Darnold absorbed five sacks and threw two interceptions in Seattle’s loss to San Francisco, his highest sack total since joining the club. The trouble has extended beyond one afternoon.
The Seahawks have turned the ball over eight times in their last three games. Darnold has been responsible for five of those giveaways since returning from injury, throwing three touchdowns and three interceptions over the last two weeks.
His passer rating during that span ranks seventh-lowest among qualified quarterbacks. Seattle’s backs have contributed the remaining three turnovers.
Emanuel Wilson and George Holani each lost a fumble deep in Seattle territory against the 49ers, and San Francisco converted both possessions into touchdowns. Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will have reason to emphasize takeaways after his defense recorded five interceptions through Week 5, tied for sixth-most in the NFL.
Denver’s secondary could be shorthanded again
The Broncos played the Chargers without starting corners Surtain and Moss last week. Hufanga, the safety tied for Denver’s team lead in interceptions, exited that game with an ankle injury.
Moss was a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice, but Surtain and Hufanga did not practice. Their availability for Thursday remains uncertain.
Denver has capable cornerback depth, but the Chargers offense it handled last week has been dealing with its own injuries and has yet to find consistency. Seattle presents a different challenge because Smith-Njigba has again become the focal point of its passing game.
The reigning Offensive Player of the Year has 583 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches, both league-leading totals. Denver’s entire wide receiver group has combined for 529 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions this season.
Smith-Njigba is managing an ankle issue himself, adding another injury watch to the matchup. He has accounted for 49% of Seattle’s receiving yards, the largest single-season share by an NFL player since Ken Burrough produced 50.6% of the Oilers’ receiving yardage in 1975.
Any limitation for Smith-Njigba would significantly alter Seattle’s offense. But if Surtain cannot play, Denver may have to handle the NFL’s most productive receiver without its 2024 Defensive Player of the Year.
