Seahawks Fall to Broncos 17-14 in Overtime as Darnold Interceptions Erase Comeback

DENVER — The Seahawks lost 17-14 to the Denver Broncos in overtime Thursday night after quarterback Sam Darnold threw his second interception of the game, setting up Wil Lutz's walk-off 53-yard field goal. Seattle fell to 3-3 with its second straight defeat.

The loss came despite Seattle outgaining Denver 353 to 168 and tying the game at 14 with three seconds left in regulation. Darnold threw one interception in Broncos territory with 1:25 remaining in the fourth quarter and another on the first possession of overtime.

Seattle trailed 14-3 after three quarters and had been kept out of the end zone for more than three and a half quarters before George Holani scored on a 1-yard run. Rashid Shaheed caught the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 14-11 with less than six minutes to play, and Jason Myers made a 34-yard field goal with three seconds left to force overtime.

Darnold was sacked five times, matching his total from the previous week. He has now been sacked 14 times in four full games this season after being sacked 27 times all of last season. His first late interception came under pressure and ended a potential tying drive; the second, intended for Shaheed, gave Denver the ball at midfield in overtime.

Seattle's offense struggled for most of the night. A promising drive to open the second half ended when Myers missed a 47-yard field goal off the upright after a 42-yard reception by Shaheed. Denver built its lead with back-to-back second-quarter touchdown drives, including rushing scores by J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey from 1 yard out. Shaheed fumbled in the second quarter, but Denver did not capitalize.

The Seahawks took an early 3-0 lead on Myers' 55-yard field goal. Seattle's opening possession had ended with back-to-back sacks of Darnold near midfield. The defense forced a three-and-out on Denver's first series, but the offense failed to build on the early lead.

After the loss, defensive lineman Leonard Williams said, "It's definitely like crunchtime right now." Columnist Mike Vorel wrote that the loss "isn't only on Sam Darnold, but it starts with him," while reporter Bob Condotta noted Darnold's courageous effort against a relentless Denver pass rush was undone by the two interceptions.

Amazon's broadcast noted Seattle has the worst overtime record in NFL history at 19-29-1. After Darnold's overtime interception, Denver gained just eight yards before Lutz converted from 53 yards for the win. The Thursday night game streamed on Prime Video and NFL Plus.

Seattle now faces a possible three-game deficit to the San Francisco 49ers, according to Williams, and hosts Kansas City next Sunday. Darnold's standing as the starting quarterback remains a central question after his seventh interception in the last four games.

Reporting by The Seattle Times. Read the original report: Seahawks Fall to Broncos 17-14 in Overtime.