The Kansas City Chiefs have taken care of business through six weeks of the regular season, but the seventh week may feature the toughest test yet.
A road trip to face the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field is a tall task for any NFL team, especially when the reigning Super Bowl champions have something to prove to stay above .500 on “Sunday Night Football.” Head coach Andy Reid previewed the Week 7 matchup at his Wednesday press conference.
“We know they’ve got a good team, obviously, world champs,”
Reid said. “We know the environment of the 12th man… great atmosphere for football, great venue all the way around, and two good teams playing each other.”
Last year, the Seahawks beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX with the help of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, now arguably the Chiefs’ most valuable player, but Seattle’s championship foundation was clearly the defense. Head coach Mike Macdonald has built one of the league’s best units, including leading the NFL in yards allowed (237 yards per game) so far this year.
“They’re the best in the business right now,” Reid emphasized. “Mike does a nice job with the defense, and they have a good scheme; then they fly around. They believe in it, and they fly around. They aren’t a lot of hiccups on the back end. You see some teams where something goes on, and suddenly someone is popping free. You don’t see that with these guys.”
The Seahawks have seven interceptions this season, led by a defensive backfield featuring two players with multiple interceptions: safety Julian Love and cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett. Macdonald’s scheme plays into that. His pre-snap disguises put defenders in position to take advantage of predetermined throws.
Reid acknowledged that and pointed to what quarterback Patrick Mahomes must do to avoid those game-flipping turnovers.
“You have to see it on your drop,” Reid said. “That’s all part of it. They do a good job of disguising and holding their looks; that’s being comfortable with the scheme.
“They also have a good front,” Reid continued. “It kind of starts up there. They’re going to give you an honest look every snap.”
Seattle has plenty of playmaking from its back seven, including linebacker Ernest Jones, who is tied for the team lead in sacks (3), but Reid is pointing out a talented group up front. Whether it’s veteran defensive end Leonard Williams or prodigal defensive tackle Byron Murphy — the other two sack leaders — the Chiefs’ offensive line will have its hands full.
Whichever level of the unit you want to highlight, Seattle’s likely the best group Mahomes has seen this season. He acknowledged the talent at the podium on Wednesday.
“They’re good at every single level of the defense,” Mahomes said. “Defensive line, linebackers, secondary, everybody, and they have a great scheme. They’re going to make you earn it every single drive, and it’s not always going to be pretty, but you have to be consistent and not push it too far, but push it enough to make plays happen.”
Mahomes’ history against Macdonald — the former defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 and 2023 — is something he can draw on to prepare for the ambigiously disruptive scheme.
“Going up against Coach Macdonald whenever he was with the Ravens, I learned that,” Mahomes remembered. “So this will be a great challenge for us. We have to go out there and match their energy and match their passion and execute at a high level.
