Most safeties in an NFL game by one team: Where Broncos defense's pair vs. Seahawks ranks on all-time list

Bryan Murphy

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Most safeties in an NFL game by one team: Where Broncos defense's pair vs. Seahawks ranks on all-time list image

The Broncos recorded just one safety as a team throughout the entire 2023 NFL season. Denver managed to double that number in 2024 — and needed less than one half of football to do so. 

The big storyline heading into this season for Denver surrounds rookie quarterback Bo Nix. The No. 12 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Oregon won the starting job over Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham in training camp, and he made his NFL debut on Sunday. 

Whenever a rookie QB is getting his first start on offense, it's imperative that he receives help from the defense. Whether that's as simple as keeping the opponent out of the end zone or picking up a defensive touchdown, it's always a good sign when both sides of the ball are contributing to the scoreboard. 

Well, the Denver defense decided to add points to their first half total in unique style. The Broncos recorded not just one but two safeties in the first half of the Week 1 game against the Seahawks. Not only did it help get Sean Payton's team out to an early lead, but there is also historical significance, as well. 

MORE: How old is Bo Nix? Broncos QB joins Brandon Weeden on list of oldest NFL rookie quarterbacks

Here's a look at who has the most safeties in a game by a single team. 

Broncos safeties vs. Seahawks

The first safety that Denver scored came in the second quarter in one of the most unique ways possible. 

The sequence leading up to the safety was not a positive one for Nix. With the Broncos facing third-and-9 at the Seahawks' 31-yard line, Nix chucked up a deep pass intended for wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the end zone. However, his ball did not have enough juice on it, and Seahawks safety Julian Love jumped the route, leaping up for the grab and dropping his two toes just inbounds to come up with the pick. 

The only problem was that Love did not land in the end zone, which would've been a touchback and the Seahawks would have started at their own 20-yard line. Instead, the offense got the ball at the 1-yard line.

It left QB Geno Smith hardly any room for comfort. The first play from the pick was an incomplete pass to wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, but offensive guard Anthony Bradford was flagged for holding in the end zone. Given the location of the flag, the rules dictated that the Broncos were awarded a safety. 

The second safety came with a little more style. An excellent punt and recovery by the Denver special teams unit resulted in the ball being downed at Seattle's 1-yard line. Once again, Smith and the offense had little room to operate. 

After the botched play last time they were in the situation, the Seahawks elected to run the ball with running back Zack Charbonnet. That didn't work either, as he was swallowed up in the end zone, giving the Broncos two points and possession with the second safety of the day. 

To put in perspective how rare a feat it is, there were only two teams in 2023 that had multiple safeties by the defense the whole season. The Jets defense managed to secure three, while the Rams got two from their defensive unit.  

MORE: Live updates, top moments from Tom Brady's broadcasting debut

The Broncos are already out to a fast start, getting a very early edge for bragging rights on most safeties in the 2024 season. 

Most safeties in an NFL game by one team

The Broncos became just the 19th team ever to record at least two safeties in a game. However, there is only one club that has the bragging right of securing three safeties in a single contest. 

That honor goes to the Rams, who recorded three safeties in a 33-12 blowout win over the Giants on Sept. 30, 1984. 

Before the Broncos accomplished the feat on Sunday, the Dolphins were the last team to register two safeties in a single game. That came during the 2017 season in a 35-9 win over — ironically — the Broncos. 

Here is the full list of times one team recorded multiple safeties in a single game. 

TeamDateSafeties
RamsSept. 30, 19843
BroncosSept. 8, 20242
DolphinsDec. 3, 20172
RamsNov. 6, 20112
VikingsNov. 9, 20082
BillsNov. 16, 20032
VikingsOct. 5, 20032
CowboysOct. 5, 20032
JaguarsOct. 3, 19992
49ersSept. 8, 19962
BillsNov. 8, 19872
SaintsSept. 13, 19872
BroncosJan. 2, 19832
RaidersOct. 26, 19752
RamsOct. 21, 19732
CowboysNov. 19, 19722
BearsNov. 9, 19692
GiantsNov. 5, 19612
GiantsSept. 17, 19502

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.