Chiefs Fall in Seattle: Mahomes and Receivers Struggle
Jaxon Smith-Njigba sets a franchise record while Kansas City's passing attack stalls in a 27-19 loss.
By Imani Donovan ·
The Kansas City Chiefs lost their first game of the 2026 season on Sunday, falling 27-19 to the Seattle Seahawks. The defeat ended a perfect start for the defending champions, who had won their first six contests. The game marked a difficult day for the Chiefs' offense, which failed to generate consistent production against the Seattle defense.
The Seahawks relied heavily on Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the victory. He finished with 129 receiving yards in the first half, a career high for the team since Tyler Lockett in 2020. Smith-Njigba now leads the NFL with 867 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. According to ESPN Research, he is the first player in the Super Bowl era to reach at least 850 yards and eight scores in a team's first seven games.
Quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 257 yards on 20 of 28 attempts for Seattle. He completed 13 of his first 17 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown in the first half. However, he threw his eighth interception in the last five games during the final seconds of the first half. That pick cost the Seahawks three points entering the halftime break.
The Chiefs' receiving corps combined for only 39 yards on six receptions. The unit lacked depth with Rashee Rice out with a strained right hamstring and Tyquan Thornton on injured reserve. The group included Xavier Worthy, rookie Cyrus Allen, Justin Watson, Andrew Armstrong, and Jalen Royals. General Manager Brett Veach is expected to consider trade options for additional receivers before the November 10 deadline.
Patrick Mahomes scored a season low of six fantasy points in the loss. He threw for 165 yards and has topped 250 passing yards only once in his past four games. He has not thrown a touchdown in his last two starts. His average output has dropped to 12.4 fantasy points per game over that span.
Running back Kenneth Walker III, the former Super Bowl MVP, played against his former team for the first time. He rushed for 36 yards on 14 carries. The Seahawks played two deep safeties for much of the game and did not allow him to rush for more than nine yards on a single carry. He enters the game as the league leader with 665 rushing yards.
The Seahawks face the Chicago Bears next on November 2. The Chiefs play at the Denver Broncos on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Source: ESPN
