SEATTLE -- The Kansas City Chiefs signed the Super Bowl MVP away from the Seattle Seahawks, but the defending champions still have the AP Offensive Player of the Year. Jaxon Smith-Njigba reminded everyone of that Sunday night.
For all the attention Kenneth Walker III received this week as he prepared to face his former team amid a scorching start to the season, Smith-Njigba was the best offensive player at Lumen Field. His 150 receiving yards plus more dominant defense from coach Mike Macdonald's unit and a good-enough performance from Sam Darnold equaled a 20-3 Seahawks win over the previously unbeaten Chiefs (5-1).
The Seahawks (4-3) snapped their two-game losing streak and picked up a game in the NFC West standings, with the San Francisco 49ers (6-1) losing earlier Sunday. Even with Darnold throwing another interception, Brian Fleury's offense took a noticeable step forward, as it totaled 410 yards and went 11-of-16 on third down.
Here are the most important things to know for both teams:
Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
Trend to watch: Macdonald's defense has now gone 36 consecutive games without allowing a 100-yard rusher, the longest such streak in the NFL. Walker looked like the toughest test the Seahawks would face since that streak began midway through the 2024 campaign. He was leading the league in rushing despite the Chiefs having already had their bye, and he had rushed for at least 117 yards in four of their five contests. Seattle held him to 36 yards on 14 carries and allowed only 213 yards overall. Darnold and Seattle's offense haven't been consistent enough to completely quiet the questions about that side of the ball, but it's clear that the Seahawks can count on their defense -- which is allowing the second-fewest points of any team -- to keep them in every game.
QB breakdown: Darnold was rolling in the first half -- completing 13 of his first 17 attempts for 178 yards and a touchdown -- until he made another mistake that he can't make. His throw on second down into traffic in the back of the end zone in the final seconds of the first half was intercepted, costing Seattle at least three points. That was Darnold's eighth pick over the past five games. Overall, though, it was a better performance for the embattled quarterback (20-of-28 for 257 yards). He got the ball out quickly -- not taking a sack after taking five in each of the previous two games -- and extended plays when he had to.
Stat to know: Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 867 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. Per ESPN Research, he's the first player in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) with at least 850 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns in his team's first seven games of a season. His 129 receiving yards in the first half Sunday were the most in any half in his NFL career and the most in any half by a Seahawk since Tyler Lockett in 2020 (133 in the first half at Arizona). -- Brady Henderson.
Next game: vs. Chicago Bears (Nov. 2, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)
Even with Patrick Mahomes and Walker, players who have won a Super Bowl MVP, the Chiefs' best chance to score a touchdown Sunday was when cornerback Nohl Williams had the ball in his hands. The Chiefs' offense never reached the red zone, getting no closer than Seattle's 27-yard line. And even then, kicker Harrison Butker missed his second field goal, part of an unfulfilling night for Kansas City.
Kansas City's offense struggled mightily against the Super Bowl champs, especially without its best tackles (Josh Simmons and Jaylon Moore) and wideouts (Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton). Mahomes was pressured on eight of his 15 dropbacks (53%) before halftime, pressure that led to an interception and only 37 first-half passing yards.
One of the few bright spots for the Chiefs occurred in the final minute of the second quarter. Williams, a second-year player, made a leaping interception on Darnold's pass in the back of the end zone that was intended for wide receiver Rashid Shaheed. Williams even gave the Chiefs' offense a chance for points by returning his pick 65 yards. But that was the only real highlight for a Kansas City team that fell for the first time in 2026 -- and that has a trip to AFC West rival Denver lurking next week.
Defensive breakdown: Midway through the third quarter, the Seahawks had possessed the ball twice as much as the Chiefs and had run more than twice as many plays (51 to 24). The reason for such a disparity was that the Chiefs' defense couldn't get off the field, as the unit allowed the Seahawks to convert on 11 of 16 third downs. Even when longtime defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo blitzed, Darnold was able to find the easy answer. Most often, that answer was to throw the ball to Smith-Njigba, who shredded the Chiefs' secondary repeatedly. No other Seahawks pass catcher had double-digit targets. The Chiefs also never sacked Darnold, who was able to escape pressure a couple of times to gain 17 rushing yards.
Most surprising performance: Entering Sunday, the biggest spotlight was on Walker, who became the first Super Bowl MVP to play his former team the next season. Walker also began the week leading the league with 665 rushing yards. The Seahawks, who spent most of the game playing two deep safeties, never let Walker have a rush in which he gained at least 10 yards. Walker finished with just 36 yards on 14 carries.
Trend to watch: Brett Veach, the Chiefs' general manager, should continue to be interested in acquiring another wide receiver ahead of the trade deadline on Nov. 10 after the lack of production from the position. Without Rice, who missed Sunday's game with a strained right hamstring, and Thornton, who is on the injured reserve list after having surgery to repair his dislocated left ankle, the Chiefs' collection of wideouts -- Xavier Worthy, rookie Cyrus Allen, Justin Watson, Andrew Armstrong and Jalen Royals -- produced just six receptions for 39 yards. - Nate Taylor
Next game: at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)