Seahawks outgain Chiefs however lose fifth of their final six video games

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Properly, the maths appears fairly easy for Seattle now following a 24-10 loss Saturday to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs — win the 2 ultimate video games at house in opposition to the Jets and Rams and possibly the playoffs can nonetheless occur.

However the margin of error for the Seahawks is mainly gone after a recreation Saturday that was by no means actually doubtful as Seattle misplaced for the fifth time in six video games to show a once-glistening 6-3 report to a desultory 7-8. 

Kansas Metropolis scored on three of its first six possessions to take a 17-0 lead late within the first half, and Seattle by no means acquired nearer than 14 factors the remainder of the best way.

Nonetheless, simply when embarrassment appeared within the offing the Seahawks turned powerful, forcing three straight Kansas Metropolis punts to begin the second half and thrice driving into Chiefs territory to the 34 or nearer.

However failures on two fourth-down makes an attempt within the second half — and three for the sport — in addition to a Geno Smith interception in the long run zone meant the Chiefs by no means actually felt uncomfortable.

The final failure was the true killer because the interception got here with 7:42 left and on a second-and-12 play on the Kansas Metropolis 22 with Seattle trailing 17-3.

There seemed to be some confusion as Smith tried to hit Marquise Goodwin down the sideline however threw the ball far over his head giving Juan Thornhill a straightforward choose.

The Chiefs, who to that time had gained simply 13 yards on 11 performs within the second half, put the sport away with a five-play, 80-yard drive keyed by a 52-yard catch-and-run from tight finish Travis Kelce. Patrick Mahomes acquired the TD on a scramble to the precise facet for 3 yards on third-and-goal, stretching the ball to the pylon as he went out of bounds.

That made it 24-3 with 4:42 left and despatched blissful KC followers to the exits and into some heat.

Seattle acquired a landing with 2:25 left on a 6-yard go from Smith to Noah Fant. However the Chiefs recovered the onside kick, and that was that.

The sport kicked off with a temperature of 12 levels, making it formally the second-coldest recreation in Seahawks historical past behind solely the well-known minus-six of a wild card playoff recreation at Minnesota in 2016.

The one excellent news on the day got here in Carolina the Panthers beat Detroit. Meaning Seattle stayed forward of the 7-8 Lions for the eighth spot within the NFC playoff standings as a result of head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Chiefs dominated the primary 28 minutes of the sport, outscoring the Seahawks 17-0 and outgaining them 181-32 earlier than Seattle lastly put collectively a drive to get on the board.

However that, too, resulted in disappointment as Smith threw incomplete on two passes from the 3-yard-line within the ultimate seconds of the primary half, which meant Seattle needed to accept a 22-yard subject objective by Jason Myers as time ran out.

The Seahawks used a 35-yard go from Smith to DK Metcalf — in addition to three penalties on the Chiefs, two drawn by Metcalf — to get shut.

Metcalf nearly had a TD on the drive however couldn’t get each toes in bounds on a catch behind the top zone.

Whereas the Chiefs typically moved it simply, averaging 5.8 yards per play, they have been simply 2-of-6 on third downs, one failure approaching a drop of a go that may have gotten a primary down, and two others when Mahomes was off track on throws.

However a little bit little bit of sloppiness by the Chiefs was about all that stored Seattle shut in any respect all through the primary half.

The Seahawks had simply 26 yards speeding on 10 carries within the first half — 16 on 9 from rookie Kenneth Walker III, who performed regardless of not training all week because of ankle and again accidents.

The Seahawks didn’t get their preliminary first down of the sport till beneath eight minutes to go within the second quarter. Seattle had six first downs within the first half, however three got here on penalties.

Smith was 10-of-18 for 81 yards within the first half, at one level within the second quarter getting up sluggish after a sack. However Smith didn’t go into the blue medical tent and didn’t miss a play.

Seattle acquired the ball first to begin the second half. However on a third-and-7 play, Smith determined in opposition to operating when it appeared he might need had room to get the primary to as an alternative throw down the center to Marquise Goodwin. Goodwin dived however couldn’t make the catch, forcing Seattle to punt.

However the protection stored Seattle in it. The Seahawks moved to the 34, 29 and 22 on its subsequent three drives.

The primary drive was stopped on a go for no acquire to Colby Parkinson on a play when penalty on Penny Hart would have negated it anyway.

On the following drive, a fourth-and-9 go from the 29 went for simply 7 yards to Laquon Treadwell.

Then got here Smith’s interception, and Seattle noticed some shocking statistical benefits for naught — the Seahawks outgained the Chiefs 315-289 for the sport, holding the No. 1 offense within the NFL 132 yards beneath its common, and outgaining the Chiefs 235-116 within the second half.

This story can be up to date.