The Seahawks’ run defense is about to get one of its sternest examinations of the season, and the timing could hardly be more pointed. Seattle heads into Sunday’s game against the Chiefs trying to protect a remarkable streak: no opposing player has run for 100 yards against them in 35 straight games, a franchise record and the longest active run in the NFL.
That number has held since Week 9 of 2024, but ESPN’s Brady Henderson noted this matchup could be the biggest threat to the streak yet. He called it “the toughest test the Seahawks have faced since the streak began in Week 9 of 2024. Former Seahawk Walker leads the league in rushing, despite the Chiefs having already had their bye, and he ran for at least 117 yards in four of their five games.”
The guy looming over this game is former Seahawks back Kenneth Walker III, now powering Kansas City’s ground attack. Walker enters Week 7 with 665 rushing yards, the top mark in the NFL, even with the Chiefs already through their bye week.
And it’s not just a hot start in the aggregate. Through Kansas City’s first five games, Walker has topped 117 rushing yards in four of them, a steady level of production that puts real pressure on Seattle’s streak.
For the Seahawks, the formula is simple: stay disciplined, plug the lanes and finish tackles. If they do that, they can keep Walker from becoming the first 100-yard rusher against them in 35 games. If they don’t, Kansas City’s ground game could be the one that finally snaps one of the league’s most impressive defensive runs.
In Other News...
Seahawks-Chiefs Just Got One More Problem For Seattle To Handle
Heavy rain is now part of the buildup for Sunday nights meeting between the Chiefs and Seahawks in Seattle, adding one more layer to a game that already carries plenty of intrigue. The forecast calls for wet conditions at kickoff, which could affect footing, ball security, and the overall feel of a nationally televised matchup at Lumen Field.
For Seattle, it is another variable to manage in a game where every small edge matters. The Seahawks will know the conditions as well as anyone, but rain can still reshape play-calling and execution, especially against a Kansas City team that is used to making opponents adjust on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Is Forcing The Chiefs Into A Tough Reality
Jaxon Smith-Njigba keeps making opposing defenses adjust, and the latest reminder came from Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who acknowledged the challenge of trying to slow down the Seahawks receiver. For Seattle, that kind of attention is a sign of how far Smith-Njigba has come as a featured part of the passing game, and it also underscores how much stress he can put on a defense that has to account for him on every snap.
The Chiefs are hardly the only team seeing that reality now, but their conversation about matching up with him fits a broader league-wide theme: receivers who force coverage changes can reshape game plans before the ball is even snapped. Seattle has been looking for exactly that sort of offensive edge, and Smith-Njigbas growing influence is starting to create it in a way that opponents are openly admitting is difficult to handle. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Are Headed For A Free Agency Squeeze Fans Will Debate
At 3-3, the Seahawks are staring at a familiar roster decision window, and this one could be trickier than most. Several players who have mattered to the season are moving toward free agency, which means Seattle is about to sort through not just who fits on the field, but who fits its long-term budget and depth chart.
Uchenna Nwosu has played well enough to make himself expensive, while Drew Locks work as a backup has put him in line for a multi-year deal. The picture is less settled for Ty Okada, whose standing is clouded by both his performance and Bud Clarks emergence, and Anthony Bradfords absence offered a reminder of how much he matters up front, a factor that could help him land another contract. [Read more 🡒]