The Kansas City Chiefs have made a strong return to the top of the NFL in the 2026 season. Their performance positions them favorably for the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills. In contrast, the Seattle Seahawks, last year’s Super Bowl winners, have struggled. After beginning the season with victories over the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals, Seattle’s performance declined, resulting in a 1-3 run before the weekend.
Seattle suffered an unexpected defeat against the Washington Commanders, then managed a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. However, losses to the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos in overtime frustrated fans. These setbacks led to speculation about Sam Darnold’s future as starting quarterback, with discussions about Drew Lock potentially taking his place. Darnold’s stats in a losing game against Denver, going 27/51 with no touchdowns and two interceptions, fueled these debates.
“Sam’s played great football for us this year the majority of the time,” said Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, expressing his commitment to Darnold during an October 16 interview.
Despite ball security issues, Macdonald maintained his faith in Darnold’s capabilities, believing the quarterback is part of the team’s solution moving forward. Darnold demonstrated resilience against the Kansas City Chiefs. Although Patrick Mahomes struggled with an interception halting a Chiefs’ drive, Darnold excelled, connecting on a 33-yard pass to Jaxson Smith-Njigba and later a 28-yard touchdown to the same player.
Yet, Darnold’s ball security faltered again late in the second quarter with an interception by Noah Williams. Even though Williams’ run set up a potential score for Kansas City, kicker Harrison Butker missed a 58-yard field goal. Darnold responded in the third quarter with completions of 17, 12, and 19 yards, helping Seattle secure three more points, reaching a 13-0 lead.
Seattle’s defense significantly limited Kansas City’s typically powerful offense. Mahomes faced pressure that affected his performance, while Kenneth Walker struggled with just 14 carries for 36 yards. Butker missed another field goal opportunity, a 45-yard attempt, further contributing to Kansas City’s difficulties.
Seattle capitalized on these errors, securing the win with a 21-yard touchdown run from Emanuel Wilson. Dominating the game at Lumen Field, Seattle amassed 388 yards to Kansas City’s 210, achieving 22 first downs versus 11 for the Chiefs. The Seahawks executed 11 out of 15 third downs effectively, compared to 3 out of 11 from Kansas City.
The Seahawks’ upcoming match is against the Chicago Bears, while Kansas City heads to Denver to face the Broncos. Seattle’s performance provides hope for a more consistent season, despite their earlier struggles.