Mahomes' Supporting Cast Absent as Chiefs Fall to Seahawks

SEATTLE — The Kansas City Chiefs' 20-3 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football at Lumen Field exposed a glaring issue: Patrick Mahomes lacked crucial support, and the help he needed was not on the field. Left tackle Josh Simmons and wide receiver Rashee Rice, both absent due to injuries, were sorely missed as the Chiefs struggled to move the ball.

Mahomes, who did not have his best game, was pressured on seven of his 15 dropbacks in the first half, according to PFF data. He managed just 37 yards on those plays, threw an interception, and posted a passer rating of 32.1. The pressure came primarily from the edges, with fill-in right tackle Joshua Ezeudu allowing a team-high five pressures and Kahlil Benson earning the second-worst grade at halftime.

Key Analysis

The Chiefs' decision to rely on Simmons and Rice, despite their histories of unavailability, proved costly. Simmons, who has not played this season, was placed on injured reserve with a back injury that was initially minor but has now sidelined him for at least half the season. Over the past 24 months, he has missed games for four different reasons: a torn patellar tendon, a personal absence, a wrist injury, and now a back issue. Rice, who missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury, has appeared in only 12 of the past 37 available games, including playoffs, due to a torn ACL, a suspension, a concussion, and now a hamstring injury.

Without them, the Chiefs' offensive line crumbled, and Mahomes often bailed from clean pockets, showing a lack of trust in his protection. The wide receiver corps also struggled: Xavier Worthy led the group in snaps but dropped a crucial pass and turned six targets into just 11 yards. Jalen Royals, Andrew Armstrong, and Justin Watson also had minimal impact, with Royals lining up incorrectly on back-to-back plays and Armstrong dropping a pass with no defender nearby.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has insisted that Simmons' placement on injured reserve is solely due to injury, but a pre-game report from NFL Network suggested that Reid and Mahomes had told Simmons to leave a team meeting earlier in the week. Regardless, the Chiefs are now in a critical stretch of six road games in eight weeks, facing both Super Bowl participants and all four conference championship game participants. Their ability to navigate this schedule will depend on getting Simmons and Rice back—and keeping them on the field.

For now, the Chiefs must find a way to win with the players available. But as Sunday night showed, that may be easier said than done.

Originally reported by kansascity.