Pro Football Highlights • Updated on October 16, 2026

Seattle’s Return to the Summit Starts With Keeping the Ball

Rushing limitations, pressure and repeated giveaways are shrinking the champions’ margin.

The pattern is larger than Thursday

Seattle is 3–3 after losing three of four, each by three points or fewer. The Seahawks committed ten turnovers across those four games. Against Denver, a late recovery earned overtime, but Darnold’s second interception helped put the Broncos in winning field-goal range. Those repeated possession losses support concern about a developing trend.

The rushing problem belongs in the explanation

Zach Charbonnet’s recovery and Jadarian Price’s absence have reduced Seattle’s backfield options. After Thursday’s loss, Mike Macdonald identified the run game and quarterback protection as areas needing solutions. Without reliable early-down gains, an offense has fewer ways to stay ahead of the pass rush. Calling more runs alone will not solve that: blocking, timing and ball security must make the calls productive.

Pressure is shared; decisions still belong to the quarterback

Seattle allowed five sacks against both San Francisco and Denver, with 17 quarterback hits in Denver. Those numbers require a protection review that includes linemen, backs, receivers and the quarterback’s timing. Darnold still owns his decisions with the ball. The fair analysis holds both ideas together: pressure can help explain a mistake without making every turnover unavoidable.

A comeback is evidence of resolve, not a complete repair

The defense gave Seattle repeated chances to recover. That is an asset for another championship pursuit, but a team cannot expect to spend every close finish repairing avoidable losses of possession. The concern is a recurring sequence: limited rushing help, difficult passing downs, pressure and a high-cost decision.

What would change the conclusion?

Look for fewer negative plays before third down, improved protection and games without giveaway possessions. Separate genuine late-game decision errors from every close loss: the latter can also reflect defense, kicking and chance. There is enough evidence to call turnovers a trend; there is not enough to declare that Darnold can never finish or that Seattle’s return to the summit is impossible.