The Denver Broncos beat the Seattle Seahawks 17-14 in overtime on Thursday, October 15, after cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted Sam Darnold and kicker Wil Lutz converted a 53-yard field goal. The finish gave Denver a win despite a second-half offense that struggled to sustain drives—and left fans asking how the NFL’s overtime format works now.
Quick answer: In the 2026 NFL regular season, overtime is a 10-minute period. Both teams generally get an opportunity to possess the ball, even if the first team scores a touchdown. If the score remains tied at the end of the period, the game ends in a tie. Postseason overtime uses 15-minute periods and continues until a winner is decided. Consult the current NFL rulebook for official wording.
By Shivam Das | October 16, 2026
What happened in Broncos vs. Seahawks overtime?
Seattle rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit and tied the game 14-14 with a 34-yard Jason Myers field goal with three seconds left in regulation. The Seahawks then received the ball to open overtime, but McMillian read Darnold’s pass intended for Rashid Shaheed and intercepted it near Seattle’s 43-yard line.
Denver did not need a long drive. Four plays later, Lutz kicked a 53-yard field goal with 4:53 remaining in overtime, securing a 17-14 win. The sequence showed how a single turnover can outweigh a large statistical advantage: Seattle finished with far more total yardage, but Denver’s defense made the decisive play.
Read the Denver Broncos’ official game recap and the Seahawks game center for team coverage and highlights.
How NFL regular-season overtime works in 2026
- Duration: The regular-season overtime period is 10 minutes.
- Possession: Both teams have an opportunity to possess the ball, subject to the rulebook’s stated exceptions.
- After both teams possess: If the score is still tied after both teams have had their opportunity, the next score wins.
- End of the period: If the game is still tied when the 10 minutes expire, the result is a tie.
- Playoffs: Postseason overtime uses 15-minute periods and continues as necessary until a winner is determined.
The coin toss still matters, but it no longer automatically gives a team the old, simple “score first and end it” advantage. Coaches must weigh field position, defensive confidence, weather, and whether having the second possession provides useful information about the score they need.
For the official rules, consult the 2026 NFL Rulebook, particularly Rule 16 on overtime procedures. This explainer is a reader-friendly summary, not a replacement for the rulebook.
Why the Broncos-Seahawks finish mattered
Denver’s defense repeatedly gave its offense another chance, recording five sacks and forcing turnovers. The Broncos managed only 168 yards of offense, according to game reports, yet the defense kept the Seahawks from turning their late momentum into a lead. That imbalance is the story beneath the final score: overtime rules create another possession, but they cannot protect a team from a costly mistake.
For Seattle, the late comeback was real progress, but the overtime interception erased the opportunity to finish it. For Denver, the win highlighted the value of a defense that can produce a game-changing play when the offense has stalled. One game does not settle either team’s season outlook, but the contrast between yardage and execution made this ending instructive.
Does a touchdown on the first overtime possession automatically end an NFL game?
Under the current NFL format, regular-season overtime gives both teams an opportunity to possess the ball, subject to the rulebook’s exceptions. Refer to the current season’s official Rule 16 rather than older explanations of the previous sudden-death format.
Can an NFL regular-season game end in a tie?
Yes. If the score remains tied when the 10-minute regular-season overtime period ends, the game is recorded as a tie.
Is NFL playoff overtime different?
Yes. Postseason overtime uses 15-minute periods and continues until a winner is decided. The regular-season tie provision does not apply to playoff games.
Why did Denver win the Seahawks game?
McMillian’s overtime interception gave Denver favorable field position, and Wil Lutz converted the 53-yard field goal. The Broncos won 17-14 after Seattle had tied the game in the final seconds of regulation.
Where can fans watch the official highlights?
The Broncos’ official full-game highlights and the NFL’s overtime interception video show the decisive sequence.
