On Friday night, the Kansas City Chiefs battled the Seattle Seahawks to the end of an NFL Preseason Week 3 matchup; the game ended in a 9-9 tie.
Here are five rapid-fire takeaways from the game:
1. The rookies on defense have turned up the team speed
There’s no statistic for it, but the Chiefs’ defense has looked so much faster since rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane began playing with the starters in last week’s preseason game. He started Friday’s contest off with a tackle for loss.
Of course, the
team needs willing, physical tacklers on the outside, but Delane’s speed to the point of contact was outstanding. It goes along with the play he made last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, setting up his teammate for a tackle for loss on a quick screen.
Up front, it’s clear rookie defensive end R Mason Thomas is going to be a difference maker for Kansas City’s pass rush in 2026. The speed with which he gets off the ball is paired with the flexibility to turn the corner and disrupt the quarterback in the back of his drop.
The ease with which Thomas flies around the corner is truly different; the closest a defensive end has come to this skill set under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo with the Chiefs was Frank Clark, and the Chiefs arguably got the latter half of Clark’s prime as a dominant pass rusher.
2. Brashard Smith and Andrew Armstrong will be hard to cut
Since training camp began, it’s been clear the Chiefs see talent in running back Brashard Smith and wide receiver Andrew Armstrong. Each has been in the starting rotation throughout the preseason, but neither is guaranteed to make it through cutdown day.
Both made statements on Friday night.
Smith’s started in the return game, a facet of his skill set that could lead to a starting spot on the Chiefs. He is battling with wide receiver Nikko Remigio for the return job, and Smith showed the speed advantage he has in that competition during the preseason finale. He took one kickoff out of the end zone and gained 57 yards by winning to the edge of the coverage.
Smith also had his best performance as a runner this preseason. He ran downhill with a purpose, using his quickness to cut back efficiently on his way to a team-leading 72 yards over 16 attempts. He was stuffed at the goal line over numerous short-yardage attempts, but that will never be Smith’s strength as a player.
Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong led the team with five catches for 54 yards. The big-bodied receiver is a strong player among a receiving corps that doesn’t boast play strength.
3. Garrett Nussmeier, impressive, is still a rookie
Rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier started this game and played the whole way through. He finished with 22 completions over 34 pass attempts, averaging 5.8 yards per pass (198 yards) and throwing one interception with a passer rating of 68.
The interception was certainly a rookie moment: rolling left, Nussmeier lofted a pass leading wide receiver Xaiver Worthy to the sideline, or so he thought. Throwing off his back foot, the ball hung in the air and was short, making an easy interception for Seahawks cornerback Trevon Diggs.
The play ended a nice drive that advanced to the Seattle 30-yard line. There were good stretches of rhythm from the Chiefs’ offense, especially with a commitment to the ground game. Rookie running back Emmett Johnson gained 39 yards over seven carries as the lead back in this contest. The offensive line fired off the ball and kept moving.
Late in the game, Nussmeier made an impressive throw while on the move in the pocket for the second consecutive week to move the chains on 3rd & 12.
Despite all that momentum, Nussmeier couldn’t lead the Chiefs to a touchdown, settling for field goals on three possessions that got inside the 10-yard line. There’s a lot to like about Nussmeier, but there is also reason to believe he needs more time to develop before overtaking veteran Justin Fields as the immediate backup to quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
