The Kansas City Chiefs signed NFL’s leading rusher, running back Kenneth Walker, this offseason. Over his previous four seasons, he was a talented member of the Seattle Seahawks’ backfield, but an old saying fits what the Seahawks are now seeing from their former second-round pick.
“You don’t know what you got til it’s gone.”
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The latest Kansas City Chiefs news
The Seahawks sorely miss Kenneth Walker III. Now they must stop him at his best | The Athletic
Seattle’s defense has not allowed an individual 100-yard rusher in 35 consecutive games. Buffalo Bills running back James Cook was the last to do so, galloping for 111 yards in a 31-10 win against the Seahawks on Oct. 27, 2024, Macdonald’s eighth game as head coach.
“He has picked up where he’s left off from last season,” safety Julian Love said of Walker. “His tape looks incredible. So it’s an all-hands-on-deck effort to try to contain him, to try to stop him. He looks every bit as explosive as he (did) for the Seahawks.”
Kansas City and San Francisco are a combined 11-0 and are two of the three remaining undefeated teams, joined by the 5-0 Vikings. Since 2019 — the season they first met in the Super Bowl — the Chiefs have the most wins (including playoffs) in the NFL, and the 49ers are third, behind the Chiefs and the Bills.
Are we looking at a Chiefs-49ers Super Bowl for the third time in eight seasons? SportsLine projections currently have it as the most likely matchup for the Lombardi Trophy. These are the five most likely through six weeks:
Chiefs vs. 49ers: 5.85%
Bills vs. 49ers: 5.19%
Chiefs vs. Vikings: 4.41%
Bills vs. Vikings: 3.91%
Jaguars vs. 49ers: 3.30%
NFL Week 7 predictions: Upsets, fantasy sleepers, stat lines, TD scorers, more | ESPN
Kansas City Chiefs +2.5 (+120 moneyline) at Seattle Seahawks
Kansas City has the defense to keep this close even if Seattle slows down QB Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs create pressure on nearly 39% of dropbacks, and QB Sam Darnold has completed only 38% of his throws under pressure this season. Seattle’s struggles with run blocking could leave him handling too many difficult passing downs.
Offensively, running back Kenneth Walker III faces a tough rushing matchup against his former team, but Seattle has had issues covering RBs as receivers. That gives Kansas City another way to move the ball and win this outright.
Grant Gordon – Digital Content Editor
K9 muzzled by former team
The addition of Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III has reinvigorated the Chiefs’ offense, which leads the NFL in yards per game (414.0). Currently the league’s leading rusher, Walker returns to Seattle to face the squad that let him walk in free agency. Oh, the drama. Though the Seahawks’ rushing attack has sputtered without Walker, the “Dark Side” defense is still a bear — and it will be just that on Sunday, holding K9 to fewer than 70 yards rushing in a season-worst outing. In the process, the Seahawks will snap their two-game skid and deliver the Chiefs their first loss of the season on Sunday Night Football.
For the Seahawks, the question is whether their defense can keep Walker in check and slow a surging Kansas City attack. “If you can get this Seahawks defense in any ways… sometimes running backs in the passing game [are the answer],” the podcast highlighted.
On the flip side, the crew noted the Seahawks’ offense is hampered by a struggling run game and a lack of complementary weapons for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Defenses have heavily clouded and bracketed him, daring Seattle to win elsewhere. The Chiefs’ defense, meanwhile, excels at bracketing top receivers and will likely try to take away JSN, forcing someone else to step up.
Around the NFL
NFL House in Paris closes ahead of street protests in French capital | ESPN
The U.S. State Department this week issued a security alert that cautioned “Americans in Paris for the NFL game” to “exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings” because of protests.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said this week that preparations were made in consultation with U.S. and French authorities. Street protests, he said, “are not unusual in France.”
Seahawks sent mixed signals about whether Zach Charbonnet would play on Sunday | Pro Football Talk
Actually, the Seahawks could have milked the uncertainty for two more days. Charbonnet could have been listed as questionable on Friday, with the decision announced on Sunday that he won’t be among the active players.
Still, it feels odd. Especially since Ian Rapoport of ESPNFL said on Friday’s Pat McAfee Show that Rapoport expects Charbonnet to “play and play a lot” on Sunday night. (The clip apparently was deleted from Twitter, but it’s still in the YouTube version of the episode.)
Ravens’ Lamar Jackson (ankle) questionable to make return Sunday vs. Bengals | NFL.com
“Right now, I’m headed in the right direction,” Jackson said after Friday’s practice. “I can’t call it right now, still got a grace period, so we’ll see, man, hopefully. But I feel like I’m heading in the right direction right now.”
Jackson, who said he’s been dealing with a high ankle sprain, explained that his availability will be based more on pain tolerance than swelling in the ankle.
“I feel like the swelling went down a lot,” Jackson said, “but just the pain tolerance, just trying to move like I move. If I can’t do that, I can’t help my team, I can’t put my team in a situation to win. I feel like I’m doing a disservice if anything.”
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs-Seahawks Week 7 Final injury report: Jaylon Moore ruled out
Starting outside linebacker Uchenne Nwosu (hip) is questionable after popping up on Thursday’s injury report as a limited participant after not appearing on Wednesday’s list. He was limited on Friday as well.
Second-year safety Nick Emmanwori (hip) appeared on the final injury report as questionable after not being listed on Wednesday or Thursday. He is one of Seattle’s top playmakers; he has nine quarterback pressures (including two sacks), 3 tackles for loss and a pass defended.
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