TLDR: Seattle and Denver both come in at 3-2, both on 3 days' rest after Sunday games, and they meet on a Thursday night in Denver. One team has scored at least 29 points in 4 straight games, and the other is probably without both of its starting cornerbacks.
Two 3-2 teams play on a short week, and they faced the same 2 opponents in the last 2 weeks: Seattle outscored Denver 59-37 against the Chargers and 49ers. Denver relies on its defense and Wil Lutz, but it played the Chargers without Surtain and Moss and lost Hufanga to an ankle injury during that game. Seattle's offense has scored at least 29 in 4 straight, but its defense has allowed 30 or more in both losses.
The quarterbacks are headed in different directions. Sam Darnold's Seahawks have scored 31, 31, 30 and 29 in their last 4, and they kept scoring even in Sunday's 32-29 home loss to San Francisco, a game Darnold started by throwing an interception that led to a Brock Purdy touchdown. Bo Nix has had a tougher October. He went 16 of 27 for 123 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 23-17 win over the winless Chargers, and Denver needed Wil Lutz's field goals in the 4th quarter to pull away. That came a week after a 24-14 loss in San Francisco where Nix threw 42 times for 214 yards.
Denver's injury list is the bigger concern. Pat Surtain II (ankle) and Riley Moss (ribs) were both inactive at SoFi, and the Broncos won anyway. Then safety Talanoa Hufanga left that game with an ankle injury and was ruled out for the rest of it. A short week gives none of them much time to heal, and the Broncos are left facing a Seattle passing game that has Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed. Seattle's injuries are deeper in the roster but they add up. Zach Charbonnet is still on PUP, cornerback Julian Neal went to injured reserve with a hamstring, and linebacker Drake Thomas hurt his ankle against the 49ers.
Both teams played the same 2 opponents in the last 2 weeks, so the results line up for comparison. Seattle beat the Chargers by 7 and lost to the 49ers by 3 while scoring 59 points across the 2 games. Denver beat the Chargers by 6 and lost to the 49ers by 10 while scoring 37. Those are the same opponents in the same weeks, and Seattle's offense put up 22 more points.
Denver's case rests on its defense and its kicker, and that has mostly worked. The Broncos held Jacksonville to 13 and the Chargers to 17, and Lutz has been the one closing out the close games. Linebacker Alex Singleton had 14 tackles in the San Francisco game. The problem is that this Seattle offense scored 29 on a 49ers team that held Denver to 14. Without Surtain, the Broncos may have to rely on their pass rush more than they would like.
Seattle's issue is the other side of the ball. The Seahawks gave up 33 to Washington and 32 to San Francisco, so their 2 losses were shootouts in which their defense allowed more than 30. That gives Nix and an offense that has struggled the past 2 weeks some room. RJ Harvey caught all 10 of his targets against the 49ers, and Jaylen Waddle scored in the same game. Kickoff is 6:15 PM MT on Thursday, October 15. The early forecast calls for 62 degrees and clear skies, with some wind.
Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos — Darnold's Seahawks Visit a Denver Secondary Missing Its Top Corners | Polymarket Odds · Barstool Bush
