Jaxon Smith-Njigba kept piling up yards, Seattle’s defense kept squeezing the life out of Kansas City, and the Seahawks walked out of Sunday night with a 20-3 win over the defending Super Bowl champions.
For the Chiefs, it was a night of stalled drives and missed answers. Seattle limited Kansas City to 11 first downs, 213 total yards and a 3-for-11 showing on third down, turning the game into one of the lowest-scoring outings of the Mahomes era. The Chiefs never even got into the red zone, the first time that has happened in a Mahomes start, including the postseason, according to the NBC broadcast.
Patrick Mahomes finished 19 of 33 for 165 yards with an interception, a 58.3 passer rating. That number stands as one of the worst of his career; he has had a lower rating in only four other regular-season starts. Travis Kelce led Kansas City with four catches for 44 yards and moved into fifth place all-time in receptions, though that milestone came in a loss that offered little comfort.
Seattle’s offense did enough, and Smith-Njigba did the heavy lifting. He caught nine passes for 150 yards and a touchdown, continuing a season in which he has topped 100 yards in six of seven games and cleared 120 yards five times. Sam Darnold went 20 of 28 for 257 yards, one touchdown and one interception as the Seahawks put together 24 first downs, 410 yards and an 11-for-16 night on third down.
The Seahawks also found a way to slow Kenneth Walker, their former running back, after no one had contained him all year. Walker carried 14 times for 36 yards, a 2.6-yard average. He entered the night at 6.3 yards per carry over Kansas City’s first five games.
The Chiefs had a chance to make things tighter before halftime, but Harrison Butker’s 58-yard field goal try at the end of the first half fell short after Seattle’s interception. Butker later missed again, pushing a 45-yard attempt wide right midway through the fourth quarter with 8:33 left, which would have cut the deficit to seven.
Seattle made the game finish on its terms after that, with Emanuel Wilson breaking loose for a 21-yard touchdown run to seal it.
The result leaves the Vikings as the NFL’s only unbeaten team heading into Week 8 after the 49ers also lost to the Falcons earlier Sunday. The 4-3 Seahawks are back above .500 and will host the 5-2 Bears next Monday night. The 5-1 Chiefs head back on the road next week to play the 5-2 Broncos on Sunday afternoon.
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 🡒]