Seattle, WA — Facing the challenge of turning around a two-game losing streak, the Seattle Seahawks delivered a statement performance Sunday night, shutting down the defending Super Bowl champions and handing the Kansas City Chiefs their first defeat of the season with a convincing 20-3 victory.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the centerpiece of Seattle’s passing attack, catching nine passes for 150 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 257 yards and a score, while running back Emanuel Wilson rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.
The victory improved Seattle’s record to 4-3 and demonstrated the team’s ability to respond under pressure against one of the NFL’s most successful franchises.
Smith-Njigba said the Seahawks understood the importance of the matchup and approached it with postseason intensity.
“Playing a team like Kansas City and all the killers that they got on that side, we knew how big this game was, and we wanted this one badly,” Smith-Njigba said. “You know, we saw it as a playoff game.”
Kansas City entered the contest at 5-0 but struggled to generate offense against Seattle’s aggressive defense. Patrick Mahomes completed passes for 165 yards and threw an interception, while the Chiefs managed just 213 total yards, including 50 rushing yards.
Seattle also contained Kenneth Walker III, who joined Kansas City during the offseason after earning Super Bowl MVP honors with the Seahawks last season. Walker, who entered the game averaging a league-leading 133 rushing yards per contest, finished with only 36 yards on 14 carries against his former team.
The Seahawks extended their remarkable defensive streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher to 36 consecutive games, the longest active run in the NFL.
“We know what kind of running back was coming in here, but we don’t allow people to run through our defense,” linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. “That’s just us.”
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid accepted responsibility for his team’s disappointing performance.
“Listen, all three phases we struggled, so we’ve got to do better, and that’s my responsibility,” Reid said. “So I take full responsibility for this. We’ve got to play better as a team.”
Smith-Njigba gives Seattle the offensive spark
The Seahawks gradually established control in the first half, using Smith-Njigba’s ability to create separation and make plays downfield to pressure the Kansas City defense.
Early in the second quarter, Darnold connected with Smith-Njigba on a 33-yard completion that moved Seattle into scoring position. Jason Myers finished the drive with a 25-yard field goal, giving the Seahawks a 3-0 advantage.
Seattle’s defense then created another opportunity when Ty Okada intercepted Mahomes on a pass intended for Jalen Royals.
The Seahawks capitalized on the turnover. Darnold contributed a seven-yard scramble to keep the possession moving before finding Smith-Njigba for a 28-yard touchdown. The score extended Seattle’s lead to 10-0 with 1:44 remaining in the first half.
Darnold and Smith-Njigba connected again late in the second quarter, this time for a 28-yard gain that brought Seattle to the Kansas City one-yard line.
However, the Seahawks missed an opportunity to add to their lead when Darnold’s pass was intercepted in the back of the end zone by Nohl Williams. Williams returned the interception 64 yards, giving Kansas City a chance to score before halftime.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker attempted a 58-yard field goal as time expired, but the kick fell short, allowing Seattle to maintain its 10-point advantage at the break.
Seattle defense keeps Mahomes and Kansas City in check
Seattle continued to control the game after halftime, preventing Mahomes and the Chiefs from finding the offensive rhythm that had helped them remain unbeaten through their first five games.
Myers connected on a 35-yard field goal to push the Seahawks’ lead to 13-0.
Kansas City finally got on the scoreboard late in the third quarter after advancing to the Seattle 30-yard line. But the possession stalled when Mahomes lost a fumble on third down, forcing the Chiefs to settle for a 50-yard field goal by Butker.
The three points represented Kansas City’s only scoring output of the night.
The Chiefs had another chance to close the gap early in the fourth quarter when Mahomes found Travis Kelce for a 19-yard completion. But the drive ended without points after Butker missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt wide right.
Butker has now missed 10 field goals since the beginning of last season, an issue Reid acknowledged must be addressed.
“He’s off a bit. Got to fix it,” Reid said.
Kansas City’s offensive struggles extended beyond the missed kicks. Seattle consistently limited the Chiefs’ running game, pressured Mahomes into mistakes and prevented the visitors from producing a touchdown.
Kelce did reach a significant career milestone despite the team’s struggles. His four receptions brought his career total to 1,104, moving him past Marvin Harrison and Cris Carter into fifth place on the NFL’s all-time receptions list.
Wilson delivers the finishing blow
With the Seahawks protecting a 13-3 advantage, Wilson provided the decisive offensive moment late in the fourth quarter.
The running back broke through for a 21-yard touchdown run with 3:47 remaining, capping the scoring and giving Seattle a commanding 20-3 lead.
Wilson’s 100-yard performance supplied the balance Seattle needed, allowing the offense to sustain possessions while the defense continued to frustrate Kansas City.
For head coach Mike Macdonald, the victory offered evidence of what his team can accomplish when it executes more consistently.
“I think this game reminds the guys what we’re capable of,” Macdonald said. “I think our guys understand that there’s more levels to where we can go, and so I hope they feel the sense of urgency that we can get there because it is stuff that we can control.”
Macdonald also pointed to details the Seahawks must continue improving, including procedural mistakes, red-zone execution, negative plays and defensive performance near the goal line.
Although the victory was an important step following two consecutive losses, Seattle’s coach emphasized that the team still has room to grow.
Personnel updates and injuries
Seahawks: Running back Zach Charbonnet was placed on the active roster during the week but was ruled out for Sunday’s game. Charbonnet rushed for 730 yards and 12 touchdowns last season before suffering a torn ACL. Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed left early in the second half with a knee injury and did not return. Offensive tackle Charles Cross exited in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.
Chiefs: Wide receiver Rashee Rice missed his third consecutive game because of a hamstring injury. Starting offensive tackle Jaylon Moore was also unavailable while in the concussion protocol.
What’s next:
Kansas City will look to rebound when it visits the Denver Broncos next Sunday. The Chiefs will need a more productive offensive performance to avoid another setback.
Seattle returns home to face the Chicago Bears on Monday, Nov. 2, with an opportunity to build on its defensive dominance and carry the momentum from its victory over Kansas City into the next week.
