The Denver Broncos escaped Thursday night with a 17-14 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks, but their offense produced just 30 yards in the second half. With a 14-3 halftime lead, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and the offense managed only two first downs and 29 yards passing in the final 30 minutes of regulation, forcing a defense that played 82 snaps to carry the finish.
Locked On Broncos host Cody Roark called it the worst half he has seen from the offense, pointing to protection issues, penalties, conservative late-game sequencing and Nix’s hesitation to pull the trigger. Locked On Broncos co-host Sayre Bedinger said the repeated offensive stalls have turned a 4-2 start into a mounting concern rather than a clean early-season success.
Denver moved the ball effectively early, building the 11-point lead. The second-half reversal left the Broncos relying on punter Jeremy Crawshaw to flip field position, and Roark argued the unit nearly gave the game away after the defense repeatedly created opportunities.
Roark said Nix’s decision-making needs to improve, especially after Denver ran only 15 seconds off the clock with 1:25 left in regulation. Bedinger did not call for a quarterback change, but said the pressure around Nix will grow if the offense keeps failing to find the decisive, confident version of its third-year starter.
Denver’s defense supplied the margin for error. The unit sacked Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold five times, recorded 17 quarterback hits and forced three takeaways. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph did it with a shorthanded group, while the Broncos used two-high safety looks to limit explosive plays and still generated consistent pressure.
The victory gives Denver a 4-2 record and a mini-bye to address the offense. The hosts’ point was direct: The Broncos cannot expect to make a January run while regularly asking the defense and special teams to compensate for scoreless second halves. Sean Payton’s next challenge is finding a way to restore rhythm and confidence without abandoning the parts of the offense that produced two first-half touchdown drives.
Broncos News and Notes
– Vance Joseph’s defense turned in the defining performance of the win. Seven Broncos contributed at least half a sack, and cornerbacks Kris Abrams-Draine and Ja’Quan McMillian each intercepted Darnold; McMillian’s overtime takeaway set up the winning drive.
Some or all of this content may have been generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, AI can occasionally produce incorrect information. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
