The Seahawks head into Week 7 with a problem that has been impossible to ignore: the football keeps ending up in the wrong hands. Now they’ll have to try to clean that up against a Chiefs defense built to punish mistakes.
Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold has been a major part of the issue. He has thrown seven interceptions so far, the second-most in the league, and his recent play has only sharpened concern about how well he’s protecting the ball. For a team trying to find more rhythm on offense, that’s a dangerous place to be.
The trouble hasn’t been limited to the passing game, either. Seattle has coughed it up 11 times as a team on fumbles, adding another layer to an already shaky turnover picture. Rashid Shaheed has been hit hardest, with four fumbles on the season, while Emanuel Wilson, Jadarian Price and George Holani each have two.
That’s a bad combination to bring into a matchup with Kansas City. The Chiefs have already produced five interceptions and forced four fumbles this year, and their defense has smothered teams on the ground and through the air. Opponents have managed just 444 rushing yards, the second-fewest allowed in the league, and 1,120 passing yards, which is fourth-fewest.
All of that points to a tough night ahead for Seattle. If the Chiefs can squeeze the Seahawks into tougher passing downs and more aggressive throws, the pressure on Darnold and the rest of the offense only grows. For Seattle, the assignment is simple enough to say and difficult to do: take care of the ball.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Running Back Decision Fans Didnt Expect
With the NFL trade deadline approaching and the backfield picture starting to shift, the Seahawks are suddenly in a position where they may have to decide whether to add at running back or move pieces out to make room. Injuries around the league, the possible return of healthier options in Seattle, and the chance to chase a bigger name all have the front office looking at a group that includes Emanuel Wilson, George Holani and Zach Charbonnet.
What makes this a little more intriguing is the contract side of it. Wilson, Holani and Charbonnet are all on expiring deals, which gives Seattle some flexibility if it wants to pursue another runner, whether that means a splashier target or simply more depth. Charbonnets recovery from ACL surgery only adds another layer to the discussion, because the Seahawks still have to weigh what he can be coming off the injury against what the roster might need in the short term. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Just Got A Painful Kenneth Walker Reminder From Mike Macdonald
Kenneth Walker III has stayed in the conversation around Seattle even after moving on, and Mike Macdonald made sure of that during a recent SiriusXM NFL Radio appearance. The Seahawks coach was complimentary about the running backs work with the Kansas City Chiefs, pointing to Walkers strong play and the way he has backed it up with some of the leagues top statistical production.
For Seattle, the reminder stings a little because Walker was not kept on the franchise tag earlier this year before landing a three-year deal with Kansas City. Macdonalds comments arrived just as the Chiefs are set to face the Seahawks, adding a little extra weight to a matchup that already carries an obvious layer of familiarity and second-guessing. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Put Perfect Start On The Line Against Walkers Former Team
Kenneth Walker III has helped fuel Kansas Citys 5-0 start, giving the Chiefs another dynamic piece as they try to keep their perfect opening intact. The matchup also brings some familiarity for Seattle, which is trying to settle in as defending Super Bowl champions while navigating a 3-3 beginning that has been shaped by uneven quarterback play from Sam Darnold and injuries in the backfield.
The Seahawks have still had a dependable presence in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, whose value has only grown as the offense works through its issues. Still, this is the kind of game that can sharpen the questions around Seattles early-season identity, with the Chiefs carrying momentum and a back who knows exactly what his former team is trying to do on the other side. [Read more 🡒]