The Seattle Seahawks delivered an impressive defensive performance on Sunday night, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 20-3 at Lumen Field on October 25. The victory ended Kansas City’s unbeaten start to the 2026 NFL season and gave Seattle a much-needed boost after two consecutive losses.
The game also marked Kenneth Walker III’s first return to Seattle as a member of the Chiefs. However, the former Seahawks running back struggled to find space against his old team’s defence, finishing with just 36 rushing yards on 14 carries.
Meanwhile, Seattle’s offence received another outstanding contribution from wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He recorded nine receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown, helping the Seahawks control the game and secure a convincing victory.
According to the Associated Press and the Seahawks’ official game report, Seattle limited Kansas City to 213 total yards while producing 410 yards of its own. The result highlighted the Seahawks’ defensive strength and exposed significant problems in the Chiefs’ offensive performance.
Seahawks Defence Shuts Down Kenneth Walker III
Kenneth Walker III entered the matchup in excellent form. After joining Kansas City during the offseason, he had become a central part of the Chiefs’ offence and led the NFL in rushing yards heading into Week 7.
His return to Seattle, however, proved difficult.
The Seahawks consistently closed running lanes and limited Walker’s opportunities to break free. He finished with 36 rushing yards on 14 attempts, averaging just 2.6 yards per carry. His longest run covered only seven yards.
Seattle’s defensive approach also disrupted Kansas City’s overall offensive rhythm. Without an effective rushing attack, the Chiefs struggled to create favourable situations for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The Seahawks had entered the game with one of the NFL’s strongest defences against the run. Their performance against Walker reinforced that reputation and helped Seattle maintain control throughout the contest.
Walker was not the only factor behind Kansas City’s struggles, but his limited production removed a key weapon from the Chiefs’ offensive game plan.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs Offence Struggle
Patrick Mahomes endured a difficult night against Seattle’s defence.
The Kansas City quarterback completed 19 of 33 passes for 165 yards and threw one interception. The Chiefs failed to score a touchdown, managing only a 50-yard field goal from kicker Harrison Butker.
Seattle’s defence applied pressure, restricted passing opportunities, and prevented Kansas City from building sustained scoring drives.
The Chiefs also struggled to move the chains. According to the Seahawks’ official game report, Kansas City finished with only 11 first downs and converted three of 11 third-down attempts.
The inability to establish the run made the passing game more predictable. Seattle could focus on limiting Mahomes and forcing the Chiefs to work through difficult situations.
Kansas City’s offensive line also faced personnel challenges heading into the game, while the team was without wide receiver Rashee Rice. Those absences added to the difficulty of finding consistency against a disciplined Seattle defence.
For the Chiefs, the defeat was a reminder that their offensive success depends on more than Mahomes’ passing ability alone.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Leads Seattle’s Offensive Attack
While Seattle’s defence controlled the contest, Jaxon Smith-Njigba provided the biggest spark on offence.
The wide receiver finished with nine catches for 150 yards and one touchdown. His ability to create separation and make difficult catches helped Seattle sustain drives and capitalise on Kansas City’s defensive weaknesses.
Smith-Njigba connected with quarterback Sam Darnold throughout the game, repeatedly producing important gains when the Seahawks needed to keep their possessions alive.
His touchdown reception helped Seattle establish an early advantage, and his continued production made it difficult for the Chiefs to focus exclusively on stopping the running game.
Smith-Njigba’s performance also strengthened his growing reputation as one of the NFL’s leading receivers. His consistent production has made him an important part of Seattle’s offence and a player to watch as the season continues.
With the Seahawks seeking greater offensive consistency, his ability to deliver explosive plays could prove particularly valuable in upcoming games.
Sam Darnold and Emanuel Wilson Help Secure the Win
Seattle’s offensive performance extended beyond Smith-Njigba.
Quarterback Sam Darnold completed 20 of 28 passes for 257 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. Although his interception came in the end zone, he otherwise managed the game effectively and helped Seattle maintain possession.
The Seahawks also received a significant contribution from running back Emanuel Wilson.
With Seattle’s usual backfield options unavailable, Wilson took advantage of his opportunity. He carried the ball 24 times for 100 yards and a touchdown, providing a dependable rushing threat throughout the game.
His 21-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter helped put the result beyond doubt.
Wilson’s performance was especially important because it allowed Seattle to balance its passing attack with a productive ground game. The Seahawks finished with 69 offensive plays, compared with 50 for Kansas City.
That difference reflected Seattle’s ability to extend drives and keep the Chiefs’ defence on the field.
Seahawks Dominate Third Downs and Time of Possession
One of the clearest signs of Seattle’s control was its performance on third down.
The Seahawks converted 11 of 16 third-down opportunities and successfully converted their only fourth-down attempt. Kansas City, by contrast, struggled to sustain possessions.
Seattle also held the ball for 35 minutes and 51 seconds, while the Chiefs managed just 24 minutes and nine seconds of possession.
Those numbers illustrate how Seattle controlled the pace of the contest.
By extending drives, the Seahawks gave their defence time to recover while limiting Mahomes’ opportunities to respond. The strategy also created more chances for Smith-Njigba and Wilson to make important plays.
Although Seattle’s offence had room for improvement in the red zone, its ability to move the ball and control possession played a major role in the victory.
Harrison Butker’s Missed Kicks Add to Kansas City’s Problems
Kansas City’s offensive struggles were compounded by an inconsistent performance from Harrison Butker.
The Chiefs’ kicker missed two field-goal attempts during the game, including a long-range effort. With Kansas City unable to produce a touchdown, those missed opportunities became more significant.
A successful field goal would not have solved the Chiefs’ larger offensive problems. However, additional points could have helped keep the contest closer and reduced some of the pressure on Mahomes and the offence.
Butker has previously established himself as a reliable kicker, but his recent results from longer distances have raised questions about his consistency.
The Chiefs will need to assess their special-teams performance alongside their offensive issues as they prepare for their next matchup.
What the Seahawks’ Victory Means for Both Teams
The result carried different implications for Seattle and Kansas City.
For the Seahawks, the 20-3 win ended a two-game losing streak and improved their record to 4-3. It also demonstrated that their defence can disrupt a high-performing offence when it executes its game plan effectively.
Seattle’s next challenge will be maintaining that standard while improving its own red-zone efficiency. The team’s defence and Smith-Njigba’s production offer reasons for optimism, but consistency remains important over a long NFL season.
For the Chiefs, the defeat ended their 5-0 start and dropped them to 5-1. Their performance raised concerns about the running game, pass protection, and ability to sustain drives when opponents limit Walker.
Kansas City still has the talent to respond, but the game showed why its offence needs multiple reliable ways to move the ball.
Ultimately, Seattle’s victory was built on defensive discipline, productive receiving, and better control of possession. The Seahawks successfully limited Walker in his return, contained Mahomes, and made the most of their opportunities.
The 20-3 result gave Seattle an important win while handing Kansas City its first defeat of the 2026 regular season.
