The 2026 regular season rolls on for the Denver Broncos and so does their gauntlet schedule of opponents. On Thursday Night Football, the Broncos will host the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Here is a deeper look at their Week 6 opponent.
2025 Seattle Seahawks Season Review
The Seattle Seahawks finished the 2025 regular season as the NFC West champions with a 14-3 record. They had top 3 units on offense and defense and went on to defeat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
2026
Seattle Seahawks Offseason Additions and Departures
When you win the Super Bowl, it’s hard to keep all your good players in the fold the following season. Seattle was no exception and lost a handful of quality contributors during the free agent period.
Defensive backs Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant headed to the NFC in free agency earning big contracts, while edge rusher Boye Mafe signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. On offense, Kenneth Walker III, last year’s Super Bowl MVP, earned himself a huge payday from the Kansas City Chiefs and has revitalized their rushing attack.
The Seahawks made some modest additions in free agency, but most of their remaining salary cap space was dedicated to extending defensive lineman Leonard Wililams, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and edge rusher Derick Hall.
The Seahawks had eight selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, their top two picks are injured and most of their rookie class isn’t seeing any playing time. Rookie running back Jadarian Price suffered a chest injury in the third game of the year and is on injured reserve. Bud Clark, the tenacious TCU safety they selected in the second round, broke his ankle in the preseason versus the Tennessee Titans.
Offensive X-Factor: Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba
In his fourth season with the Seahawks, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has solidified himself as one of the best receivers in the National Football League. Heck, he might just be one of the best players in football. Smith-Njigba has posted back-to-back seasons of at least 100 catches. Last season, he won the Offensive Player of the Year honors after he reeled in 119 catches for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Five games into the season, and the former first-round pick is on pace to blow away those numbers. He already has 37 catches, 583 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns. Of those 37 catches, 28 have resulted in a first down or a touchdown. Currently, he is averaging 117 yards per game receiving.
Quite simply, Smith-Njigba has been dominant to start the season. He already has four games with at least 100 receiving yards. He is certainly the player the Broncos’ defense is going to have their hands full trying to limit the most—especially with multiple starters out in their secondary for the second straight week.
Defensive X-Factor: Defensive lineman Byron Murphy
The Seahawks boast one of the best defenses in the National Football League. They’re a top-flight unit against the pass, force a lot of turnovers, and limit big play ability when defending against the run. It’s hard to pinpoint a weak spot in their defensive lineup. Their defensive line is stout, they’re secondary is making a lot of plays, and their linebackers can cover a lot of ground.
The Broncos haven’t performed that great in the trenches thus far. Thursday night’s primetime matchup will be another big test for them. One underrated player for Seattle is third year defensive lineman Byron Murphy. After a relatively quiet rookie season in 2024, the former Texas Longhorns standout started every game last season and put up 62 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and 13 quarterback hits.
This year, Murphy is picking up where he left off. He already has 18 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 5 quarterback hits, and 3 sacks. He is an ascending player and one of the best young interior defensive linemen in all of football. Denver’s interior offensive line is going to have their work cut out combating him and long-time veteran Leonard Williams. They are good against the run and the pass, so Denver’s guys up front better be prepared.
How the Broncos can secure a victory over the Seahawks
I usually try to be optimistic about Denver’s chances most weeks. Alas, this gridiron matchup is one where I’m struggling to find ways for them to win. We all know the Broncos are struggling on offense. It would be a big leap of faith to believe they’ll get back on track against a defense that creates a lot of turnovers and limits big plays down the field.
However, they may have a path if their defense can come up big like they did against the Los Angeles Chargers. Limiting Smith-Njigba will be their biggest test. Though quarterback Sam Darnold hasn’t played well since returning from injury and their run game is struggling. If the Broncos defense can force a few turnovers, that would give them a fighting chance.
At the end of the day, I do expect the Seahawks to win. They’re just a tough draw at this juncture for the Broncos who can’t seem to figure out the right recipe for success offensively.
Hart’s Prediction: Seahawks, 27, Broncos 17.
