Butker's 15th miss and weak offense sink Chiefs in Seattle

The Kansas City Chiefs fell to 5-1 on Sunday after losing 20-3 to the Seattle Seahawks. The defeat was the team’s second-scoring-lowest game in the Patrick Mahomes era, with the offense managing only 213 total yards.

Harrison Butker missed two field goal attempts during the loss. His second miss, from 45 yards out with 8.5 minutes remaining, prevented Kansas City from closing within one possession. Butker has now missed 15 kicks since the start of last season, the most in the NFL. This total includes 10 field goal attempts and five extra points.

The Chiefs' offense struggled against Seattle’s defensive line. Kenneth Walker, making his return to Seattle, gained minimal yardage, and the team finished 3 for 11 on third down. The offense held the ball for nearly 11 minutes less than the Seahawks. Sam Darnold and the Seattle offense converted 11 of 16 third-down chances, controlling the pace of the game.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid accepted responsibility for the performance. “He’s been one of the most consistent kickers in football. He’s off a bit,” Reid said of Butker. “So got to fix it.” Butker, the third-highest paid kicker in the league, carries the sixth-highest base salary on the Chiefs roster. The team can exit his contract after this season with limited dead money, adding financial pressure to his performance.

The defense allowed 410 yards, including 153 on the ground. Defensive back L'Jarius Sneed was targeted frequently by Seattle. The only bright spot for the Chiefs was Nohl Williams, who intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 65 yards. That play set up a field goal attempt before halftime, which Butker missed. The team committed only two penalties in the game.

Rashee Rice remained out with a hamstring injury, and right tackle Jaylon Moore sat out on concussion protocol. The Chiefs visit Denver next, having beaten the Broncos 31-10 in their season opener. Denver has won its last three games, including a 17-14 victory over Seattle.

Mahomes noted the difficulty of the loss. “You don’t want to perform like this in primetime, in a big moment like this,” he said. The Chiefs have scored three points or fewer in only two games with Mahomes at quarterback. The previous instance was a 27-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans in 2021.