SEATTLE – The Seahawks were beginning an overtime they never expected to be in. The offense was beginning what would soon become one of the more memorable drives in Russell Wilson’s career – if not Seahawks history.

Over the roars of the largest-ever regular-season crowd at CenturyLink Field – 68,447 – in a rare Super Bowl rematch that was far more thrilling than the original, the Seahawks told themselves in that huddle: “It’s now. Or never.”

Under the overtime rules, a touchdown on the opening drive of the extra period would end the game, but a field goal would give Denver’s offense a chance to answer. So the Seahawks offensive players’ thought was as sound as their finish: Don’t even let Peyton Manning get back on the field.

“Yeah, it’s not optimal,” center Max Unger deadpanned of that prospect. “Not something you want to do.”

They never did. It was indeed now for Wilson. And never for Manning.

Adding more lore to a three-year career already full of it, Wilson scrambled five times for 28 yards to begin overtime. That included for two of the six first downs on Seattle’s decisive, 13-play, 80-yard trek. He threw right to Percy Harvin for 11 yards. He threw right on the run to Jermaine Kearse off another scramble for 12. He was 4-for-6 passing on the march.

Finally, Marshawn Lynch took a handoff, bolted up the middle, jab-stepped left and then dived across the goal line for a 6-yard score that gave Seattle a 26-20 win Sunday.

This was Wilson’s 40th NFL game. It was his 11th game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime.

“Just a championship drive,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “He’s an amazing football player, he really is.”

The first Super Bowl rematch in the following season in 16 years didn’t have the stakes of the NFL championship game Seattle won for the first time 7½ months ago, beating Denver 43-8. But in terms of drama and resiliency, it was better.

“It was a tremendous game,” Wilson said. “One for the ages.”

Manning had tied the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion pass with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter, when the Broncos (2-1) outscored Seattle 17-3 to erase a 14-point deficit. He was 31 of 49 for 303 yards with two TDs and one interception.

Wilson finished 24 of 34 passing for 258 yards, two TDs, one interception, his first pick in 165 regular-season and postseason throws. His three sacks would have been at least eight if not for his speed and improvisation. Wilson even caught his first career pass, 17 yards from Kearse in the first quarter.

“They threw punches at us and we had to take them; we were able to do that,” Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin said after his four catches for 56 yards. “That last drive, to go 13 plays, 80 yards for the score, for the game, that’s a testament to what this team has become.”

Lynch’s winning touchdown was his 26th carry, for 88 yards. He also had a touchdown receiving in the first half. That made it 17-3 Seattle at halftime.

The Broncos had been talking and thinking of redemption in this rematch since, oh, about halftime of their 35-point loss to Seattle in February’s Super Bowl. They signed big-bucks free agents such as rush end DeMarcus Ware and cornerback Aqib Talib to bolster their defense. They had standout left tackle Ryan Clady back on offense.

The Seahawks (2-1) were coming off a 30-21 loss to the Chargers.

Denver’s NFL record-setting offense of last season produced just a field goal over this game’s first 46 minutes. Then the Broncos outscored Seattle 17-3 over the final 14 minutes of regulation.

With the score 17-12 and 2:25 left Seattle’s Kam Chancellor, who had recovered a fumble forced by Earl Thomas on the game’s first play to set up the first of Steven Hauschka’s two field goals, stepped underneath Broncos receiver Wes Welker on a seam route inside the Seattle 20. The safety returned the interception 52 yards to the Denver 35.

When two runs by Lynch got the Seahawks to the Denver 10 with 1:48 to go, Seattle thought the game was over. But the Seahawks settled for a Hauschka field goal, and Manning had one shot with 59 seconds and no time outs left, down 20-12 with the ball at his own 20.

Manning characteristically led a 43-second, 80-yard drive to tie it. The final eight points came with 18 seconds left in regulation. Manning had time to wait on tight end Jacob Tamme’s double move that left Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright flat-footed and beaten on a 26-yard touchdown catch.

Manning again had time on the conversion play to find Demaryius Thomas in the back of the end zone.

Seahawks 26, Broncos 20

Denver	3	0	0	17	0	—	20
Seattle	3	14	0	3	6	—	26

 Sea—FG Hauschka 20

Den—FG McManus 24

Sea—Lockette 39 pass from Wilson (Hauschka kick)

Sea—Lynch 5 pass from Wilson (Hauschka kick)

Den—Irving safety

Den—J.Thomas 3 pass from Manning (McManus kick)

Sea—FG Hauschka 28

Den—Tamme 26 pass from Manning (D.Thomas pass from Manning)

Sea—Lynch 6 run

A—68,447.

	Den	Sea
First downs	20	26
Total Net Yards	332	384
Rushes-yards	20-36	37-129
Passing	296	255
Punt Returns	2-15	5-36
Kickoff Returns	1-22	1-13
Interceptions Ret.	1-13	1-52
Comp-Att-Int	31-49-1	25-35-1
Sacked-Yards Lst	1-7	3-20
Punts	8-47.3	6-50.2
Fumbles-Lost	1-1	0-0
Penalties-Yards	4-27	7-34
Time of Poss.	27:42	38:04

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Denver, Ball 14-38, Hillman 2-2, Green 1-0, Manning 1-(minus 1), Anderson 2-(minus 3). Seattle, Lynch 26-88, Wilson 9-40, Turbin 2-1.

PASSING—Denver, Manning 31-49-1-303. Seattle, Wilson 24-34-1-258, Kearse 1-1-0-17.

RECEIVING—Denver, Sanders 11-149, Welker 6-60, D.Thomas 4-31, J.Thomas 3-17, Tamme 2-22, Ball 2-6, Green 1-10, Hillman 1-7, Anderson 1-1. Seattle, Harvin 7-42, Baldwin 4-56, Lynch 3-40, Kearse 2-22, Walters 2-22, Miller 2-12, Lockette 1-39, Wilson 1-17, Coleman 1-14, Richardson 1-7, Turbin 1-4.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—Seattle, Hauschka 46 (WL).