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The Kenneth Walker III revenge game did not go as planned.
The Seattle Seahawks defense dominated in a 20-3 victory over the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs in a Sunday night cap, holding Patrick Mahomes and Walker, who won the Super Bowl MVP for the Seahawks in February, to their lowest passing and rushing totals of the season, respectively.
After losing two straight games, Seattle got its best win of the season and is now just two games behind the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West.
“Really proud of our team,” Seahawks coach Mike MacDonald said after the game. “To stand constantly in some disadvantage, that’s what we do. We find solutions.”
The Seahawks’ defense was the story. Mahomes was limited to just 165 yards through the air. He threw for no touchdowns and one interception. Meanwhile, Walker was even more limited.
He entered Sunday’s game leading the NFL in rushing yards and yards per carry (minimum 30 carries) and tied for the third most rushing touchdowns. Against his former team, Walker only ran 14 times for 36 yards and no scores. He had run for at least 115 yards in four of the Chiefs’ first five games, and his previous lowest rushing total of the season was 70.
Walker walked off the field after the loss without greeting his former teammates.
The Seahawks ultimately held Kansas City to its fewest total yards, first downs and red-zone drives in any Mahomes start, while the Chiefs’ three-pointers were also tied for their lowest output in any Mahomes start, per NFL researcher Tony Holzman-Escareno.
“Our guys played great, man,” MacDonald said when asked about his defense. “They’re just a bunch of warriors.”
He added: “How do you not just tip your cap to these guys?”
Said Chiefs coach Andy Reid of his offense: “We’re going back to the drawing board.”
The win was a much-needed breakthrough for Seattle, which has had an up-and-down season defending its Super Bowl victory. The Seahawks won their first two games before dropping three of their last four. Their losses were close though, as all three came together with eight points.
Kansas City’s three points were the fewest by a Seattle opponent this season. And on the other side of the ball, quarterback Sam Darnold had one of his better performances of the year.
After throwing two interceptions in three of the last four weeks — all in losses — Darnold threw for 257 yards, one touchdown and just one pick Sunday night. He was greatly assisted by receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who had nine catches for 150 yards and a score.
And in an ironic twist, the Seahawks had one of their best rushing performances of the season. Seattle ran the ball 41 times for 153 yards, its second-highest total on the ground this season. Running back Emanuel Wilson ran for 100 yards, the first time a Seahawks player has reached the century mark since Walker did it in the Super Bowl.
Seattle is now 4-3 with two straight home games in the next two weeks.
The Chiefs fell to 5-1, scoring less than 22 points for the first time this year. Mahomes never looked in sync, while his receivers didn’t separate against one of the league’s best secondaries. Of Mahomes’ 19 completions, 11 went to Walker and the tight end.
“You have to feel it. This sucks,” Mahomes said of the overall performance.
Kicker Harrison Butker didn’t help the cause, missing two field goal attempts, one of which would have made it a 13-6 game in the fourth quarter.
“All three phases, we have to do better,” Reid said. “I take full responsibility for that.”
Kansas City’s offense needs to bounce back quickly as it will face another great defense in the Denver Broncos in Week 8.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, will be tested again on Nov. 2 when they host the 5-2 Chicago Bears, who are averaging 30.8 points in quarterback Caleb Williams’ four starts.
