Super Bowl champions slump again as Darnold’s picks cost Seahawks against Broncos

Wil Lutz kicked a 53-yard field goal in overtime as the host Denver Broncos defeated the defending ⁠Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks 17-14 on Thursday night.

The result means the Broncos emerged from a tough six-week season-opening stretch with a 4-2 record despite an injury-riddled roster and a shaky offense. The 3-3 Seahawks, meanwhile, lost for the second time in five days. They also matched their loss total from last season, when they won their second Super Bowl title.

The winning kick was set up when Denver’s Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted a Sam Darnold pass at ⁠Seattle’s 43-yard line.

“A defensive battle and that’s how we wanted it, and we finished on top,” said Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton after the game.

JK ⁠Dobbins and RJ ​Harvey rushed for second-quarter touchdowns for the Broncos, who won despite punting on all six of their second-half possessions, excluding a one-play ⁠kneel-down, and producing just 168 yards of total offense on the night.

Denver quarterback Bo Nix completed 17 of 27 passes for 107 yards. Dobbins ⁠had a team-high 41 rushing yards on 17 attempts, and Harvey had three catches for 31 yards.

Darnold went 27 of 51 for 278 yards with no ‌touchdowns and two interceptions. Jaxon Smith-Njigba made 12 receptions for 134 yards, and Emanuel Wilson rushed for 52 yards on 14 carries.

The Broncos appeared to have clinched the victory when Kris Abrams-Draine intercepted a Darnold pass at the Denver 31-yard line with 1:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, the Broncos offense went three-and-out, taking just 28 seconds off the clock.

Rashid ‌Shaheed’s 31-yard punt return set the Seahawks up at their own 46-yard line, and Darnold drove the visitors into range for Jason Myers’ tying ​34-yard field goal with three seconds left.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Seattle’s George Holani scored on a one-yard run around the right end with 5:41 remaining. A two-point conversion pass from Darnold to Shaheed in the back of the end zone pulled the Seahawks within 14-11 before they tied it as time expired in regulation.