Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks prediction, pick for NFL Week 6 on Thursday 10/15/26

Sean Payton took back Denver’s play-calling Sunday, yet the Broncos still needed three takeaways to escape the Chargers. His offense scraped together a paltry 224 yards. Seattle brings their own frustrations—and a matching 3–2 record—to Thursday’s throwback night at Empower Field, having handed San Francisco four turnovers in a 32–29 loss. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for this week’s NFL game between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks.

Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.

Broncos vs. Seahawks prediction, preview

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been outrageous: 583 receiving yards and seven touchdowns through five games, both NFL highs. Cleared after his ankle scare, he now draws Denver without All-Pro corner Patrick Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga. Riley Moss, their other starting corner, remains questionable. Offensive coordinator Brian Fleury sprang Smith-Njigba outside against San Francisco with two tight ends and Cooper Kupp blocking. I’d make Denver tackle him on those throws all evening. If defensive coordinator Vance Joseph leans on zone again, Smith-Njigba also knows how to settle between defenders conceding the sticks.

Sam Darnold’s hesitation is maddening. Smith-Njigba separates, and Darnold still needs to release the ball sooner. The 49ers sacked him five times without Nick Bosa. Denver has pressured quarterbacks on an imposing 40.5% of dropbacks, while Darnold has completed just 15 of 38 pressured attempts this season. Denver linemen Zach Allen and D.J. Jones can punish Seattle inside, where blockers have struggled to exchange assignments. Center Jalen Sundell must sort those calls through the home crowd’s noise, with precious little practice time to repair the mistakes.

Seattle’s blockers have hardly helped Emanuel Wilson, either. Defenders have hit him at or behind the line on 53% of his carries; his miserable 3.4 yards per rush owes plenty to that congestion. Denver’s missed tackles have helped opposing backs reach 4.5 per carry. Wilson should find some encouragement there, but punter Jeremy Crawshaw can strand Seattle deep. The Seahawks have converted a wretched 29.8% of third downs; even with Smith-Njigba tormenting the secondary, I’m struggling to get this offense past the low twenties.

Seahawks vs. Broncos pick, best bet

San Francisco had protected Brock Purdy through four games without conceding a sack. Then Seattle defensive tackle Byron Murphy II got him twice Sunday. With Leonard Williams available alongside Murphy, Denver’s guards have to handle a dangerous interior rush while their running game struggles. J.K. Dobbins has averaged a meager 3.6 yards per carry this season. Bo Nix hasn’t cleared 5.5 yards per throw in four of five games, including a pitiful 4.6 Sunday. I’m baffled by how little this offense is getting from their receivers.

Tight end Evan Engram supplied Denver’s longest gain Sunday, part of a team-leading 55 yards on four catches. Payton ought to send him through the middle, where Tyrice Knight replaces injured linebacker Drake Thomas. Jaylen Waddle can challenge corner Josh Jobe outside after Mike Evans repeatedly beat him Sunday. Yet Nix has scarcely attacked downfield this season. Seattle’s defenders swarm short completions, allowing an NFL-low 8.6 yards per completion. I’ll lay less than a field goal on this team after they just lost to the Niners, and have another chance to gain a divisional leg up on the Rams.

Best bet: Seahawks -2.5 (-112).

Projected score: Seahawks 23, Broncos 17.

Best Bet: Seahawks -2.5 (-110) at Denver Broncos