Seahawks cannot get a miracle and lose to Chiefs in Week 16

The Seahawks fell to 7-8 with a loss to the Chiefs in Week 16 24-10. The loss basically ends Seattle’s playoff hopes as they don’t seem capable of beating anyone. Heck, even if Seattle were to get a miracle and make the postseason, would they win any games once there? Likely, not.

The game against Kansas City was a weird one. The score wasn’t ever really close after Kansas City was able to make it 14-0 in the first half. Did the officiating help the Chiefs get there while keeping Seattle at 0? Maybe. But Seattle simply wasn’t good enough to beat the Chiefs.

But the game was strange because into the fourth quarter, the Seahawks had more total yards than the Chiefs and controlled time of possession by almost 5 minutes. Seattle running back Ken Walker III had his best game in weeks and had over 100 yards rushing after not getting the ball enough in the first half.

Seahawks fall to the Chiefs in Week 16

That’s part of the issue, though, isn’t it? Seattle has now lost five of their last six games and a big reason for it is that Seattle didn’t have a good enough game plan – offensively or defensively – entering the game. Seattle doesn’t have enough talent on defense for sure, and Seattle was without Tyler Lockett against the Chiefs, but better coaching would help.

Speaking of Lockett, he would have made a touchdown reception out of a pass DK Metcalf caught with only one foot in the end zone in the first half. Body control isn’t Metcalf’s strength but it is Lockett’s. A touchdown reception might have changed the narrative of the game. Lockett might return in Week 17 but it is too little too late most likely for Seattle at this point.

If you ignore the score, you might have thought this was a close game but it wasn’t. Seattle never got back within two touchdowns down with 8:56 left in the second quarter. Seattle outgained Kansas City 332 to 297. And the Seahawks held the ball for 34:47 to the Chiefs 24:58. It was a game that on paper Seattle should have won.

But games aren’t played on paper and now the Seahawks are probably looking forward to the 2023 NFL draft. This team isn’t far away from being good and Geno Smith should return as the quarterback. But there are many issues that need to be fixed, including game planning by the coaches, consistency on defense and better offensive line play, and some of those might be fixed in free agency or the draft. But the coaching won’t be.