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The Kansas City Chiefs' defense endured a tough outing last Sunday night in Seattle, falling 20-3 to the Seahawks. The rookie class faced a harsh test as Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba exploited the secondary for 150 yards and a touchdown, giving first-round pick Mansoor Delane a rude introduction to the NFL.
Despite the setback, fellow rookie defensive tackle Peter Woods is determined not to let one loss shape their future. Speaking to the media on Friday, Woods highlighted the special connection forming between the two young players. Selected 29th overall, just 23 picks after Delane, Woods and Delane entered the league together, and that shared path has forged a strong bond.
Woods made his stance clear regarding his cornerback teammate: "I'm always there for him. He's a tremendous player." He also noted that he trusts Delane to handle the backside of his coverage, a level of trust that is rare for players with only six NFL games under their belts. Woods is eager to see his friend succeed and plans to grow alongside him.
Statistically, Woods' rookie season has been challenging. He has played 46.3% of defensive snaps, recording three solo tackles, two quarterback pressures, and half a sack in 190 reps. Pro Football Focus grades him at 50.8 defensively, ranking 96th out of 126 qualifying tackles, with a run defense grade of 43.4—one of the league's lowest. However, Woods understands that the real work happens in the trenches, not on a spreadsheet.
Key Analysis
Woods is not shy about his feelings regarding the upcoming opponent. The Chiefs travel to Denver on Sunday, Nov. 1, for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. While some might view a division game as an exciting matchup, Woods has little interest in playing the Broncos. He told Sports Radio 810 WHB, according to Sports Illustrated, "If I'm being honest, I don't really like none of the teams that we play." That blunt honesty suggests a fire the team needs right now, especially in a heated rivalry.
General manager Brett Veach invested heavily in the defensive unit during the 2026 NFL Draft, using his top three picks on defensive players to build for the future. The loss to Seattle showed that this new group is still learning how to handle adversity. After the game, Woods listened to veterans in the locker room discuss getting back on track and improving—a listening session that might prove more valuable than any stat line this year.
The Chiefs have a short week to address issues on the interior line and secondary before facing the Broncos, a team Woods openly dislikes. The pressure is on the young draft class to prove they can handle the grind. Woods believes he and Delane can become something great if they continue working together, and the team needs that confidence to turn their season around. One bad game in Seattle does not erase the potential of the players Veach drafted.
Originally reported by yahoo.