Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos
1 of 3
How Do the Denver Broncos Offset Slow Starts?
The Broncos have been notoriously slow starters since the 2025 campaign began. It continued to be an issue this season, which is why Sean Payton stripped offensive coordinator Davis Webb of play-calling duties and the head coach took over the job once again.
However, Thursday’s approach was different.
The Broncos weren’t generating explosive plays. Instead, Denver employed a strong ball-control approach by leaning on the run game, with Payton asking Bo Nix to get the ball out quickly when he dropped back to pass.
Nix also took a few shots downfield in an attempt to stretch the defense, though those passes didn’t connect.
Ultimately, Denver built a 14-3 halftime lead. In an ironic twist, the unit and team, as a whole, struggled during the second half before winning in overtime.
QB Bo Nix Remains a Problem
The Bo Nix we’ve seen this season is not the same player we saw last year. Yes, Payton did a better job manufacturing a little offense to start the game, but the unit still wasn’t particularly good overall.
Denver won Thursday despite generating only 168 yards of offense. As Sumer Sports’ Shawn Syed noted, the victory came without Nix completing a pass over 10 air yards. An aggressive and opportunistic defense led the way.
Payton can devise an improved game plan and place his squad in a better position to succeed, but eventually Nix must shoulder the responsibility that comes with his position and perform at a higher level. Otherwise, this Broncos team won’t be able to match up against the AFC’s best.
Is Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold Part of the Problem?
It’s weird to question a Super Bowl-winning quarterback just six games into the following season, but Darnold was a primary reason why the Seahawks lost Thursday. He simply hasn’t played well since returning from injury.
Darnold threw two critical interceptions. One occurred in the fourth quarter and the other came in overtime. The latter was particularly devastating because it led to the Broncos’ game-winning field goal.
On the first interception, the Seattle QB’s throw on an over route arrived late and too far inside, allowing the defensive back to undercut it. The second was far more egregious: Darnold attempted a hole shot despite Denver’s safety being positioned over the top, leaving little room to complete the throw.
Granted, Denver pressured Darnold all night long, amassing 17 quarterback hits. At the same time, the Seahawks signal-caller made debilitating mistakes at critical moments. He has now thrown two interceptions in each of three of Seattle’s last four games.
Seahawks Must Feature Rashid Shaheed
Jaxon Smith-Njigba may be the NFL’s most productive wide receiver, but he could use a little help. Shaheed is the perfect complementary option because of the 28-year-old’s explosive traits.
Shaheed is more than a special teams ace and offensive gadget contributor. He can be a legitimate WR2 on Seattle’s roster, as evidenced Thursday with five catches for 66 yards. Both figures were season-highs.
Cooper Kupp isn’t the wide receiver he once was, and Tory Horton has yet to prove he can be a reliable option. Shaheed is the logical choice to be the Seahawks’ primary option after Smith-Njigba, thus taking some pressure off the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
This content was brought to you by: Bleacher Report – Front Page
