Seahawks vs. Broncos: How to Watch Thursday Night Football Week 6

Sam Darnold’s turnover problems collide with one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses when the Seattle Seahawks visit the Denver Broncos on Thursday night, opening Week 6 of the 2026 season at Empower Field at Mile High.

Both franchises sit at 3-2, but their trajectories over the past three weeks have diverged sharply. Seattle has surrendered possession eight times in that span, a trend that directly contributed to last week’s 32-29 defeat against the San Francisco 49ers. Denver, conversely, stabilized its ground game and secondary to grind out a 23-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, keeping pace in an AFC West race currently defined by narrow margins.

Sep 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The statistical mismatch tilts heavily toward the visitors. Seattle allows just 251.2 yards per game through five weeks, ranking among the top units in the league for total defense. That efficiency places immediate pressure on Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, whose offense generates only 19.4 points per contest. Nix, now in his third NFL season after being selected 23rd overall in the 2024 draft, has shown improved pocket awareness under head coach Sean Payton but still operates behind an offensive line that ranked in the bottom half of the league in pass-block win rate entering Week 6.

Darnold faces a different schematic challenge. Signed by Seattle during the 2026 offseason following stints with the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco, he operates in an offense that relies on timing routes and pre-snap motion. The Broncos’ defensive front, coordinated by Vance Joseph, frequently deploys simulated pressures designed to disrupt those exact timing mechanisms. Denver’s ability to force negative plays on early downs will likely dictate whether Seattle can sustain drives or continues bleeding possessions.

Thursday night games historically suppress scoring. Teams playing on short rest average roughly four fewer combined points than their Sunday counterparts, largely because installing new game plans in a compressed three-day window limits offensive complexity. For two squads separated by minimal margins in their respective divisions, field position and special teams execution often decide these matchups more reliably than explosive plays.

Kickoff is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, 2026. Amazon Prime Video holds the exclusive national broadcast rights for Thursday Night Football. Viewers in the Seattle market can watch locally on FOX13, while Denver-area fans can tune in via Denver7. Streaming options include Fubo for local broadcasts and Prime Video for national coverage.

The Broncos enter this contest having won their last two home games at Empower Field at Mile High, where the altitude routinely tests visiting teams’ conditioning in the fourth quarter.