The Kansas City Chiefs have played five games so far in this 2026 season. And while their AFC-best unbeaten record remains intact, a trip to Seattle to take on the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks will be their toughest battle yet.
Offensively, the Chiefs are facing more obstacles than you'd like with both starting tackles out (Josh Simmons, Jaylon Moore), and two starting receiver sidelines (Rashee Rice, Tyquan Thornton). And while they could have trouble mustering together multiple touchdown-ending drives, the Chiefs' defense will not be faced with an easy task either.
Most notably, they are going up against arguably the best receiver in the league since the start of last year, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. To this point, Kansas City ranks in the middle of the pack in passing defense, giving up a little over 200 yards per game through the air.
The problem is that the best receiver is that they have yet to face a team with a quarterback and a single receiver with as much talent and on-field chemistry as Sam Darnold and JSN.
Chiefs secondary needs to bottle up Jaxon Smith-Njigba, lest he explodes for massive day
The Seahawks and first-time offensive coordinator Brian Fleury like to move Smith-Njigba all over the line of scrimmage, whether it be from the slot, on the outside, in trips, or even from the backfield. And his routes are so pristine and unpredictable that it usually doesn't matter; he's going to get open.
It's why Kansas City needs to make containing Seattle's one and only true difference-making offensive weapon their first, second, and third priority. Aside from JSN, Seattle doesn't have a lot when it comes to offensive playmakers. They truly miss Kenneth Walker's impact, something the Chiefs have greatly benefited from this year.
Cooper Kupp is no longer who he once was, Rashid Shaheed has been a major disappointment, and Seattle very rarely uses its tight ends as threats in the passing game. The task of containing a player of JSN's caliber will not be easy, but Nohl Williams and Mansoor Delane might be up to the task.
Both have played really well this season, and what they have an advantage in when matched up with Smith-Njigba is their size. I foresee a lot of bumping, pushing, and heavy contact when in man coverage in this game at the line of scrimmage. This way, the Chiefs can at least slow his routes up for just a split second longer, allowing the Chiefs' pass rush to get home or make Darnold look somewhere else.
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