The Chiefs host a do-or-die Seahawks team Saturday. Here’s how KC emerges victorious
The Chiefs (11-3) are home for the first time since Week 12 on Saturday to welcome the Seattle Seahawks (7-7) to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs and Seahawks, former AFC West foes, have met 52 times in the regular season, and the Chiefs hold a 33-19 edge in their all-time series. Chiefs coach Andy Reid is 1-1 against Seattle since arriving in Kansas City and the Seahawks won the most recent installment in 2018.
As for the present, Saturday presents a dangerous matchup for the Chiefs, who clinched the AFC West last week.
Unlike the Chiefs’ recent two games against the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans, the Pete Carroll-led Seahawks are in the thick of NFC playoff chase and need a win to stay alive.
“They’re right in the middle of the playoff hunt, so we know that they’re going to come in here ready to roll,” Reid said. “And likewise ... we’ve got a quarter of the season left that we’ve got to take care of business on.
“It should be a heck of a football game. They’re well-coached and they’ve got good players.”
Here are four key areas to monitor for the Chiefs, who seek to improve to 12-3 in the race for the AFC’s No. 1 overall seed:
‘YOU CAN’T TURN OVER THE FOOTBALL’
Despite possessing an impressive 11-3 record entering Week 16, the Chiefs have a turnover problem over the past month:
- Week 12: quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw an interception and rookie wide receiver Skyy Moore lost a muffed punt.
- Week 13: tight end Travis Kelce lost a fumble.
- Week 14: Mahomes threw three interceptions.
- Week 15: running back Isiah Pacheco and wide receiver JuJu Smith Schuster each lost a fumble.
That’s eight total turnovers right there.
The miscues in Weeks 14 and 15 didn’t cost the Chiefs a victory against two teams with a combined five wins this season. But they made both games more interesting than they should’ve been.
Taking care of the football has become a point of emphasis for the offense.
“We’ve had a number of turnovers in the past how many weeks in a row and it’s been addressed,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said. “And guys need to understand this — in order to be a team that wants to exceed all expectations and go and pursue a championship, there’s certain things you can’t do. You can’t turn over the football.”
Especially not against a good Seahawks team that’s +1 in turnover margin (tied for 13th-best in the NFL) and fighting for a playoff berth. Seattle’s defense has 21 takeaways, tied for eighth-most in the league.
WATCH OUT FOR METCALF
The Chiefs won’t face former Kansas State star Tyler Lockett Saturday. The talented wideout recently underwent finger surgery.
But the Chiefs will have to worry about DK Metcalf, one of the NFL’s imposing wide receivers.
Here’s Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on Metcalf:
“Sometimes I go on the internet to try to get pictures for my meetings and stuff, and there’s a picture of Metcalf without his shirt on,” Spagnuolo said. “And I’m like, ‘Good God.’ I mean, what a stud, right?”
The 6-foot-4, 236-pound Seahawks star reminds Spagnuolo of another big receiver: Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens.
While the Chiefs have defended some big, physical receivers this season, including Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans and the Chargers’ Mike Williams, Metcalf presents a unique challenge.
“He’s big, he’s strong, he plays a powerful game, he’ll out-muscle guys,” Spagnuolo said. “We’ve got to find ways to maybe get two on him. He’s a go-to guy. And I’ve watched teams that double him at times, and sometimes that doesn’t make a difference because he’s just so much physically bigger and stronger than the guys (he’s) going against.”
Metcalf is also fast, having posted a blistering 4.33 time in the 40-yard dash at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. With 924 yards so far this year, he’s on pace for his second 1,000-yard season.
The Chiefs must also recognize that Metcalf boasts a career yards per catch average of 13.9, so he can get down the field when needed for Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.
“We’ve got to limit those kinds of plays.” Spagnuolo said.
That responsibility will fall primarily on veteran corner L’Jarius Sneed and two rookie corners: Trent McDuffie and rookie Joshua Williams.
GROUND-GAME DELIGHT
The Chiefs are coming off a game against the Houston Texans in which they faced the NFL’s worst run defense. They took full advantage of that matchup and pounded out 189 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries, averaging a healthy 5.7 yards per carry.
Saturday provides another prime opportunity for the Chiefs to run the ball. Seattle ranks 31st against the run, allowing 161.1 yards per game. The Seahawks have also allowed 19 rushing TDs (29th in the league).
Pacheco, Jerick McKinnon and even Ronald Jones should be all over this advantageous matchup.
START FAST
A sluggish start plagued the Chiefs against the Texans in Week 15 (they woke up after falling behind 14-7).
If the Chiefs commit to the run early against the Seahawks’ dismal rush defense, Mahomes and the passing game should be able to take shots at the beatable Seattle pass defense, which ranks 17th in the league.
More numbers: Seattle ranks 29th in total defense (378.9 yards allowed per game); 29th in points allowed (25.4 per game); 28th in third-down percentage (45%); and 23rd in red-zone touchdown percentage (60%).
There’s a lot to like there if you’re the Chiefs, in other words, but KC must start fast and keep its foot on the pedal in order to exploit those favorable matchups.
This story was originally published December 22, 2022 at 6:30 AM.
