Kansas City Chiefs suffered their first loss of 2026, a 20-3 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks (Getty Images)
The Kansas City Chiefs lost for the first time this season on Sunday night in Seattle, falling 20-3 to the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks and slipping to 5-1. Kenneth Walker III has been one of the league’s best backs, and the Chiefs came in averaging 5.51 yards per carry, tops in the NFL. Because its run game and its deep threats fed each other, kansas City had been 5-0.
Jerry Jeudy has lost some shine in recent years, though he has not had a passer like Three points was all the offense could manage. Rashee Rice sat out with a hamstring injury, and Tyquan Thornton suffered an ankle injury that has him out for an indefinite period. Those absences hurt, but they also exposed something bigger. Even a healthy Chiefs receiver group has questions, and Seattle’s win made those questions harder to ignore for Kansas City. Thornton and Xavier Worthy gave the offense vertical speed, which kept defenses from crowding Walker. Take Thornton out, and the balance wobbles. Three names stand out. George Pickens would be expensive, but he is one of the league’s best at contested catches, something Kansas City lacks.
To be clear, these are names raised in commentary, not reported trade talks. The logic still holds up. The AFC is competitive this season, and waiting for injured players to return is not a plan.
Kansas City’s next chance to respond comes Sunday at Denver, the team that beat these same Seahawks in overtime earlier this month.