Well, it finally happened. The Kansas City Chiefs arrived in Lumen Field playing with house money, knowing that they would face a desperate Seattle Seahawks team that would approach this as a playoff game, given their slow start to the season.
Mike Macdonald's unit was more aggressive, better prepared, and made the most of its opportunities. The Chiefs, on the other hand, couldn't string together good drives, left points on the board, and were sloppy on all three sides of the ball.
The 20-3 final score does not even begin to tell the story of how one-sided this matchup was. Hopefully, in the end, this was a good wake-up call for Andy Reid and company. Considering that, let's talk about the winners and losers from this tough matchup.
2 winners and 4 losers from the Chiefs' first loss of the season
Winner: Nohl Williams
Unlike L'Jarius Sneed and most of the secondary, Nohl Williams was actually pretty solid in this one. He was the best player in the secondary by a significant margin, making a great heads-up play to anticipate and intercept Sam Darnold's pass in the end zone.
Williams gave up two catches on three targets, but they went for a grand total of 22 yards. He also had eight total tackles (five solo) and three run stops, and he continues to look like a star in the making for Steve Spagnuolo.
Loser: Kenneth Walker III
Kenneth Walker III wasted an opportunity to let the Seahawks know they made a mistake by letting him leave in free agency. Instead, he may have made general manager John Schneider feel great about his decision.
The reigning Super Bowl MVP turned 14 carries into just 36 yards (2.6 yards per carry) in his return to Lumen Field, hauling in four catches for 21 yards. This was his worst game of the young season, and he just proved he's human. He'll bounce back, though.
Loser: Mansoor Delane
It took him a while, but it looks like Mansoor Delane finally got his 'welcome to the NFL' moment. The rookie out of LSU has typically looked great, but Sam Darnold's perfectly placed two rainbow throws down the left sideline to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. And despite his pristine coverage, JSN left him hopeless and exposed for a big touchdown grab.
Delane gave up three completions on five targets for 71 yards, one touchdown, and two first downs. He had a couple of run stops, too. Delane should be just fine, and there wasn't much he could do in that situation, to be fair.
Winner: Nick Bolton
Nick Bolton keeps showing signs of improvement. He's the team's most active player at the second level, and he was everywhere in this one, logging a team-leading 10 total tackles (8 solo) and showing his sideline-to-sideline range.
The Chiefs' run defense did a solid job of keeping Emanuel Wilson in check until the final five minutes of the game, and much of that was due to Bolton's instinctual tackling prowess. He logged four run stops and was one of the few bright spots on the team.
Loser: Patrick Mahomes
While this loss wasn't fully on him, and it's not like Mahomes can throw the ball to himself, this was a game to forget if you're Patrick Mahomes. He was under duress from start to finish, and no one could create an inch of separation.
Mahomes finished the game with just 19 completions on 33 attempts for 165 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. He may have only taken one sack, but the Seahawks' Dark Side defense roughed him up pretty badly in this one.
Loser: Harrison Butker
Harrison Butker is officially a problem, and it's about time the Chiefs have some tough conversations about his future with the organization. He went from being one of the most reliable kickers in the game to a big liability.
Butker could've made this a closer game twice, and his second missed field goal of the evening sealed the Chiefs' fate in this one. His first miss was an odd one, and he may not even have his elite range anymore.
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