10 Things to Watch in Chiefs vs Seahawks This Sunday Night
Kansas City at Seattle is the game I would build the entire NFL weekend around. The Chiefs arrive at Lumen Field 5–0, the only unbeaten team in the AFC, while the Seahawks are 3–3 and trying to steady themselves after an uneven opening six games. That would already be enough for Sunday Night Football. Then you add Kenneth Walker III.
Walker spent the previous four seasons in Seattle, helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX and was the game’s MVP. He then left in free agency for Kansas City. Six games into the new season, he has become the league’s leading rusher and the engine of a Chiefs running game that suddenly gives Patrick Mahomes a completely different kind of offensive support.
Seattle knows exactly what Walker can do because it developed him, celebrated with him and then decided not to match Kansas City’s offer. The Seahawks also happen to own one of the league’s toughest run defences. They have not allowed an individual 100-yard rusher in 35 consecutive games, and opponents are averaging just 3.5 yards per carry against them this season.
That gives us a perfect prime-time collision: the NFL’s hottest running back against the defence most specifically equipped to understand his strengths. It also gives Mahomes opportunities if Seattle overcommits to stopping Walker. That is the central chess match, but it is far from the only one.
Seattle’s offence has shown real flashes, especially through Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but Sam Darnold has thrown seven interceptions over the past four games and publicly talked this week about the need for greater consistency. Kansas City’s defence is good enough to punish hesitation, while Seattle’s home environment can make even the most experienced visiting offence look uncomfortable.
Kickoff is 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, 25 October, which is 1:20 a.m. in the UK on Monday morning. UK and Ireland viewers can watch on Sky Sports NFL or NFL Game Pass on DAZN. If you are going to stay up for one game this weekend, this is the one.
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10. Can Seattle Make Mahomes Earn Every Drive?
Patrick Mahomes has spent most of his career punishing defences that give him even one easy answer. Seattle’s best chance is not necessarily to chase spectacular sacks; it is to make every possession take time. The longer Kansas City has to execute, the more opportunities there are for a penalty, dropped pass, pressure or third-down mistake to interrupt the drive.
Mahomes said this week that Seattle’s defence is going to make the Chiefs earn it on every drive, which is exactly the challenge. Lumen Field magnifies protection communication, and Seattle’s defence has enough speed to disguise pressure without selling out completely. If Kansas City can consistently reach third-and-short through the run game, the noise matters less. If the Chiefs keep facing third-and-eight, the environment becomes part of the defence.
What I am watching: Kansas City’s first two third downs. If Mahomes is getting clean pockets and obvious answers, Seattle could spend the night chasing the game. If the Seahawks force him to hold the ball or reset protections, the crowd will become louder with every stop.
9. Rashee Rice’s Availability Could Change the Shape of Kansas City’s Passing Game
Rashee Rice did not practise on Wednesday because of hamstring and knee issues, while Travis Kelce was limited with an ankle problem. Patrick Mahomes was a full participant despite being listed with a knee issue. The difference between having Rice available and asking the rest of the receiving group to absorb his volume could shape how aggressively Seattle defends the box.
Kansas City can survive without one receiver because Mahomes distributes the ball and Andy Reid is comfortable changing the weekly plan. But Rice gives the Chiefs an efficient middle-of-field option who can turn short completions into meaningful gains. If he is limited or unavailable, Seattle can devote more attention to Walker and challenge Kansas City’s other pass catchers to win one-on-one.
What I am watching: personnel on Kansas City’s opening series. If the Chiefs lean into heavier groupings and early Walker touches, it may tell us that the offensive plan is built around controlling the game rather than asking the receiving group to win immediately.
8. Zach Charbonnet Gives Seattle a Chance to Rebalance Its Own Backfield
Seattle activated Zach Charbonnet from the physically unable to perform list this week, giving the Seahawks another option in a running game that has struggled to create the kind of consistency it had with Walker. That matters because asking Sam Darnold to carry the entire offence has become increasingly dangerous.
Seattle has not had an individual 100-yard rusher this season. That does not mean the Seahawks need Charbonnet to produce 120 yards on Sunday; it means they need enough efficient carries to stop Kansas City from treating every important down as a Darnold passing situation. The Chiefs’ defence is too well coached to give an inconsistent quarterback predictable looks all night.
What I am watching: whether Charbonnet immediately receives meaningful early-down work or is eased back in. If Seattle can turn second-and-nine into second-and-five, the whole playbook becomes more comfortable.
7. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Could Be Seattle’s Most Important Offensive Player
Jaxon Smith-Njigba came off the injury report and caught 12 passes for 134 yards in Seattle’s previous game. That kind of volume tells you exactly how important he has become to Darnold. When the quarterback needs a completion, Smith-Njigba is the receiver most capable of creating separation without forcing a low-percentage throw.
Kansas City will know that too. The question is whether the Chiefs decide to bracket him on obvious passing downs and force Seattle to win through Rashid Shaheed, tight ends or backs. Shaheed was limited in practice with a hip issue, so Seattle’s receiving depth is another storyline worth monitoring.
What I am watching: Smith-Njigba’s alignment. If Seattle moves him constantly between the slot and outside, that is an attempt to prevent Kansas City from settling into one coverage answer.
6. Sam Darnold Has to Stop Giving Defences Extra Possessions
Darnold’s seven interceptions over the last four games are impossible to ignore. Seattle’s offence has produced enough explosive moments to remain dangerous, but turnovers erase good drives and put a defence under pressure without warning. Against an unbeaten team, one unnecessary interception can be the difference between playing a one-score fourth quarter and spending the final period chasing two possessions.
The encouraging part for Seattle is that Darnold recognises the problem. He described consistency as the offence’s biggest focus this week. The challenge is translating that into patient decision-making when the game becomes loud and the opponent disguises coverage.
What I am watching: Darnold’s first deep attempt. If the read is clean and the throw is decisive, Seattle should keep using aggression. If it turns into a late ball into coverage, the Seahawks may need to shorten the game immediately.
5. Seattle’s Run Defence vs Kenneth Walker III Is the Main Event
This is the matchup everyone should want to see. Walker leads the NFL with 665 rushing yards despite Kansas City having already had its bye. He has rushed for at least 117 yards in four of his five games, with 70 as his lowest total. The Chiefs have gone from a Mahomes-centred offence that could struggle to run consistently into the league’s second-ranked rushing attack at 159.8 yards per game.
Seattle, however, is built to answer that. Opponents average only 3.5 yards per carry, fourth-best in the league, and the Seahawks have not allowed an individual 100-yard rusher in 35 straight games. They know Walker’s cuts, patience and acceleration better than any defence he has faced this year.
What I am watching: Walker’s yards before contact. If Seattle closes interior lanes and forces him to make his first move in the backfield, the Seahawks can keep him below his normal efficiency. If he is reaching the second level cleanly, Kansas City becomes almost impossible to defend because Mahomes will eventually punish the safeties for stepping forward.
4. The Emotional Side of Walker’s Return Matters
Players will tell you that every game is business, but this one clearly has emotional weight. Walker was the Super Bowl LX MVP with Seattle less than a year ago. Mike Macdonald has spoken warmly about what Walker meant to the championship team. Now the same player is returning as the most productive back in football wearing a Chiefs uniform.
That kind of familiarity cuts both ways. Seattle defenders know his tendencies, but Walker also knows the Seahawks’ personnel and the way they fit runs. The game does not become easier because everyone recognises one another. It becomes more personal.
What I am watching: the first time Walker breaks into the secondary. The reaction from the crowd and Seattle defence will tell us whether emotion becomes useful energy or starts pushing players into mistakes.
3. Lumen Field Is Kansas City’s Toughest Opponent That Does Not Wear a Uniform
Seattle at night is one of the hardest communication environments in football. The Chiefs are experienced enough not to panic, but experience does not stop crowd noise from changing snap counts, forcing silent communication and increasing the chance of protection errors.
Kansas City’s offensive line also enters the week with injury questions. Jaylon Moore did not practise Wednesday because of a concussion, while Josh Simmons missed practice with back and personal issues. Even if the starters are available, Seattle will try to stress every communication point.
What I am watching: false starts, timeouts and protection checks. If Kansas City stays clean in the first quarter, the crowd loses some power. If Seattle creates an early negative play, the noise can become a genuine tactical advantage.
2. Seattle Is Favoured Despite Kansas City Being 5–0
The market installed Seattle as a small home favourite, a fascinating detail given Kansas City’s perfect record. That tells us how much respect there is for the Seahawks at Lumen Field and how much uncertainty surrounds Kansas City’s injuries and Seattle’s ability to defend the run.
It also changes the psychological framing. Kansas City arrives unbeaten but not treated as invincible. Seattle arrives 3–3 but with a chance to remind everyone why it is the reigning Super Bowl champion. The Seahawks do not need to save their season on Sunday, but beating the AFC’s only unbeaten team would completely change the tone around a difficult start.
What I am watching: Seattle’s aggression on fourth down. A home team that believes it can win straight up should not coach like an underdog hoping the favourite makes mistakes.
1. This Game Could Tell Us Which Version of Both Teams Is Real
Kansas City has five wins and a transformed rushing attack, but Seattle is the kind of defence that can test whether the new formula travels into hostile prime time. If Walker still controls the game and Mahomes stays efficient, the Chiefs will leave Seattle looking like the AFC’s clear standard again.
For Seattle, the question is whether 3–3 represents genuine regression or simply an uneven start from a championship team still capable of beating anyone. The Seahawks have enough defensive talent, a dangerous receiver in Smith-Njigba and a home crowd capable of changing a game. But Darnold has to protect the football and the running game has to become more than a theoretical threat.
That is why this is the No. 1 thing to watch. The result matters, but the way each team gets there may matter more. Kansas City can prove its 5–0 start is built on a sustainable new identity. Seattle can prove the champion is still in the room.
My Prediction
I expect a tight, lower-scoring game than the star names might suggest. Seattle’s run defence is good enough to stop Walker from completely controlling the night, but Kansas City does not need him to reach 150 yards. It needs him to force Seattle to respect the run long enough for Mahomes to find the matchups he wants.
Seattle’s path is clear: avoid turnovers, let the defence keep the score manageable and turn Lumen Field into a fourth-quarter problem for Kansas City. If Darnold gives the Chiefs extra possessions, I do not think Seattle can recover.
My lean: Chiefs 24, Seahawks 21. I trust Mahomes slightly more in the final five minutes, even in the hardest environment he will face this season.
How to Watch Chiefs vs Seahawks
Kansas City visits Seattle on Sunday, 25 October 2026 at Lumen Field. Kickoff is 8:20 p.m. ET, which is 1:20 a.m. UK time on Monday, 26 October. In the United States, the game is on NBC. UK and Ireland viewers can watch on Sky Sports NFL or NFL Game Pass through DAZN.
Final Thoughts
Chiefs-Seahawks is not simply an unbeaten team visiting the reigning champion. It is a game built around one of the season’s best football stories: Kenneth Walker III returning to Seattle after becoming the centrepiece of Kansas City’s new rushing identity.
If Seattle stops Walker, Mahomes has to win in a hostile building against a defence that can play patiently. If Seattle does not stop Walker, the Chiefs may have found the one thing that makes defending Mahomes even more unfair.
Either way, this is exactly what Sunday Night Football should be: two teams with different questions, enough talent to punish mistakes and one matchup that could change the conversation around both conferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chiefs vs Seahawks?
Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 8:20 p.m. ET, which is 1:20 a.m. in the UK on Monday morning.
Where is the game?
Lumen Field in Seattle.
What are the teams' records?
Kansas City enters 5–0. Seattle enters 3–3.
Who is the key player to watch?
Kenneth Walker III. The former Seahawk returns to Seattle as the NFL’s leading rusher with 665 yards.
How good is Seattle's run defence?
Seattle is allowing 3.5 yards per carry and has gone 35 straight games without allowing an individual 100-yard rusher.
How has Sam Darnold been playing?
Seattle has had productive offensive stretches, but Darnold has thrown seven interceptions over his last four games and has emphasised consistency this week.
Is Zach Charbonnet back?
Seattle activated Charbonnet from the PUP list ahead of the game after he returned to full practice participation.
What is the Chiefs injury situation?
Rashee Rice missed Wednesday practice with hamstring and knee issues, Travis Kelce was limited with an ankle issue and Patrick Mahomes was a full participant.
How can UK viewers watch?
Sky Sports NFL and NFL Game Pass on DAZN carry the game for UK and Ireland viewers.
Who do I think will win?
My lean is Kansas City 24–21 because I trust Mahomes slightly more in a close fourth quarter.
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