If the Seattle Seahawks’ run game looked cleaner in Sunday night’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the question still isn’t fully settled: do they actually need to go get another running back?
On the stat sheet, the answer can look pretty encouraging. But the details matter.
Emanuel Wilson piled up numbers, yet plenty of that came late in the fourth quarter when the Chiefs defense was worn down. Still, the Seahawks have long wanted the ground game to serve as the finishing blow, and that approach worked in their emphatic victory.
The bigger issue is what comes next. Seattle wants steady improvement, and there are still questions about whether the roster already has enough to keep that momentum going.
How long will it take Zach Charbonnet to get up to game speed? Can Jadarian Price hold onto the ball?
And when people talk about Jonathan Taylor, is that a real need or just a tempting idea?
Sunday night’s 20-3 win over Kansas City did more than spark the run-game debate. It also put the Seahawks at 4-3 on the season and reinforced the idea that their defense is still playing at a high level. The victory drew attention across the league, especially because it came against the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks after they beat Kansas City 20-3.
Seattle’s defense got plenty of praise for how it handled Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the prime-time spotlight. The performance was strong enough to fuel talk that the Seahawks remain among the NFL’s elite when they’re clicking.
There were also individual storylines bubbling up out of the game. The discussion around Kenneth Walker III’s departure picked up again after the Seahawks’ win, with the result quieting some of that debate. On the defensive side, there was also a question about whether Nick Emmanwori should get credit for an interception, and Seattle continues to draw notice for its hot streak with defensive draft picks.
One major concern did emerge from the win: left tackle Charles Cross. ESPN reported that Cross is expected to miss time after an MRI showed a high ankle sprain suffered in Sunday night’s game against the Chiefs, according to a source told to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Elsewhere, Byron Murphy II continues to gain attention for the way he’s developing in the middle of Seattle’s defense. And on the offensive side, the Seahawks’ running game is still the conversation piece - even after a win that showed signs of life.
Around the NFC West, the Cardinals have a receiver out for the season, the 49ers’ defensive line drew heat after a rough outing against the Falcons, and the Rams are staring at two must-win games before the trade deadline.
In Other News...
Seahawks Added Insult To Chiefs First Loss In Brutal Fashion
The Seahawks 20-3 win over the Chiefs in Week 7 was already one of the most lopsided results of the NFL weekend, but it carried an extra layer of embarrassment for Kansas City. Seattles defense controlled the game from start to finish, and the victory also came on a day when Travis Kelce reached a notable milestone, passing Tony Gonzalez for the most combined regular-season and playoff receiving yards by a tight end.
After the game, Seattle added a little more salt to the wound with a social media post that leaned into Taylor Swift, Kelces wife. The team included a friendship bracelet image and paired it with a caption quoting one of Swifts songs, a playful jab that kept the Seahawks in the spotlight even after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Kenneth Walker Couldnt Hide His Frustration After Seahawks Shut Him Down
Kenneth Walker III had a rough return to Seattle in Week 7, and the frustration showed after the final whistle. The former Seahawks running back, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, did not stop to greet his old teammates following Seattles 20-3 win, a departure from the usual postgame courtesies that drew attention after a game in which the Seahawks defense controlled the action.
Walker later explained his reaction by pointing to the loss itself, and it was easy to see why the evening left a mark. Seattle made a point of taking him out of the game plan, holding him to a season-low 36 rushing yards and helping set the tone for a defense that dictated the matchup from start to finish. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Face One Big Injury Question Heading Into Bears Week
Mike Macdonalds latest injury rundown offered the Seahawks a mix of relief and lingering uncertainty as they turn the page toward Bears week. Rashid Shaheeds knee injury is showing positive early signs, while Charles Cross appears to be dealing with a high-ankle sprain that could keep him out for another one to two weeks, leaving Seattle to juggle its protection plans up front.
The backfield situation is less clear. Zach Charbonnet is back to practicing at full capacity, but his game status is still undecided, and Jadarian Price is set to return to practice with his own availability still to be determined. For a Seahawks team trying to settle in before the next test, the biggest question may be less about who is available in a practice window and more about who is actually ready to take the field on Sunday. [Read more 🡒]