KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs’ performance in the first half proved more than sufficient to thwart the Seattle Seahawks.
After jumping out to a double-digit lead, the Chiefs’ defense made sure the Seahawks’ capable offense wouldn’t find any momentum Saturday afternoon.
The Chiefs’ defensive effort, which limited Seattle to 332 total yards, helped the home team secure a 24-10 win at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Seattle’s offense entered Saturday’s matchup ranked ninth in passing (241.5 yards per game), fifth in yards per play (5.9) and 12th in third-down percentage (42.2%).
But the Seahawks ran into a buzzsaw. Quarterback Geno Smith managed just 215 yards passing, and the Seahawks averaged a meager 4.5 yards per play and converted a scant two of 14 third-down attempts (14%).
The teams traded punts to open the game, but the Chiefs’ offense came alive on their second possession.
Rookie running back Isiah Pacheco had three straight runs for 17 yards, and then quarterback Patrick Mahomes found running back Jerick McKinnon on the left sideline for a 16-yard play to move the Chiefs to the Seahawks’ 25.
Five plays later, Mahomes connected with wide receiver Kadarius Toney for an 8-yard touchdown to give the Chiefs a 7-0 lead. Right guard Trey Smith helped clear the path by working his way from the right side of the line of scrimmage to deliver a crushing block on Seahawks cornerback Cobe Bryant.
The Chiefs’ nine-play, 58-yard scoring drive featured a balanced attack: five runs and four passes. Pacheco led the way on the drive with 20 yards on four carries, finishing the contest with 90 total yards (58 rushing).
The Chiefs added to the scoreboard on their first possession of the second quarter thanks to a seven-play, 53-yard drive.
Mahomes connected with tight end Travis Kelce on a 27-yard strike to move the Chiefs to the Seahawks’ 9-yard line. Two plays later, Mahomes threw a short pass to McKinnon, who ran it in for a 9-yard score to give the Chiefs a 14-0 lead.
The Chiefs added to their lead on Harrison Butker’s 47-yard field goal to take a 17-0 lead, but the Seahawks answered with their final possession of the first half with an assist from the Chiefs defense.
Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna sacked Smith on third down, but the play was wiped out by rookie cornerback Joshua Williams’ defensive holding infraction. Three plays later, Williams was flagged for defensive pass interference, which moved the Seahawks to the Chiefs’ 18-yard line. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed was also penalized for illegal use of hands, putting the Seahawks inside the Chiefs’ 10-yard line.
Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton saved a potential touchdown by bringing down Seahawks running back Deejay Dallas near the right sideline for a shot gain, and the Seahawks settled for a 22-yard field goal from kicker Jason Myers to put Seattle on the board, 17-3.
Neither team got anything going in the second half until midway through the fourth quarter when Mahomes connected with Kelce on two straight passes for 72 yards to move the Chiefs to the Seahawks’ 8-yard line.
The Chiefs signal-caller capped off the drive with a diving 3-yard run at the right pylon to give the Chiefs a 24-3 lead before the Seahawks added a touchdown late in the game to make the game closer.
Mahomes finished the game completing 16 of 28 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, adding 8 yards rushing and a touchdown on two carries. Kelce led the offense with six catches for 113 yards.
Defensively, linebacker Nick Bolton paced the Chiefs defense with 17 tackles, while linebacker Willie Gay chipped in with nine tackles and a pass defense. Safety Juan Thornhill recorded five tackles, an interception, and a pass defense. Defensive tackle Chris Jones recorded four tackles, a sack and four quarterback hits.
The Chiefs improved to 12-3 on the season, becoming the third team in NFL history to record at least 12 regular-season wins in five consecutive seasons. The other two teams to accomplish the feat are the New England Patriots (eight consecutive seasons from 2010-17) and the Indianapolis Colts (seven consecutive seasons from 2003-09).
With the win Saturday, the Chiefs kept pace with the Buffalo Bills, who defeated the Chicago Bears, in the race for the AFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
Here’s what else stood out Sunday afternoon:
Rookie showing
Chiefs rookie defensive end George Karlaftis had himself quite the first half, recording a sack on Smith for a 9-yard loss and a batting down pass at the line of scrimmage.
Karlaftis finished the game with a tackle, which went for a loss, a sacks, a quarterback hit and a pass defensed. The Chiefs’ second of two first-round picks in 2022 has recorded a sack in four of the past five games.
Scorching Jet
McKinnon has been on a scoring binge over the past four games.
When adding Saturday’s touchdown, McKinnon has found the end zone six times (one rushing, five receiving).
He finished Saturday’s game with 38 total yards (31 receiving) and the touchdown.
Traveling man
The Chiefs knew Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf could be a problem, but the Chiefs had a plan.
Wherever the 6-foot-4, 236-pound Metcalf lined up, cornerback L’Jarius Sneed was mostly on him.
This represented a change in defensive philosophy for the Chiefs, who often keep Sneed inside whenever the defense goes to a nickel package. But it made perfect sense for Sneed to travel with Metcalf because of Sneed’s size and experience.
Metcalf totaled seven catches for 81 yards, but the 6-foot-1, 192-pound Sneed held his ground and didn’t allow Metcalf to take over the game.
Streak snapped
The Chiefs entered Saturday with eight turnovers over the past four games.
Against the Seahawks, the Chiefs played a clean football game with no interceptions and no lost fumbles.
Injuries
None of note.
Not suited up
Defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (illness), quarterback Shane Buechele, tackle Geron Christian, rookie offensive lineman Darian Kinnard, defensive end Joshua Kaindoh and defensive lineman Malik Herring were inactive.
Up next
The Chiefs stay home in Week 17 and welcome the Denver Broncos to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
