The Kansas City Chiefs' perfect start to the season came to an end on Sunday night, as the Seattle Seahawks throttled Patrick Mahomes and company 20-3 at Lumen Field. The defeat dropped Kansas City to 5-1, but the night still delivered a signature moment for tight end Travis Kelce, who quietly rewrote the NFL record book even as his team's offense sputtered.
The Chiefs fell to 5-1 after a disappointing 20-3 loss to the defending champions, the Seattle Seahawks, at Lumen Field. It was Kansas City's first setback of the 2026 campaign after opening the year unbeaten.
Kelce passes a Chiefs legend
Amid the gloom, Kelce delivered one of the night's few genuine highlights. Kelce went into the night needing 35 yards to pass Tony Gonzalez, whose 15,413 career receiving yards included 15,127 in the regular season and 286 in the playoffs, and finished with 15,423 combined yards, 10 more than Gonzalez. The record covers both regular-season and postseason production for a tight end.
A career-defining catch
The milestone arrived on a 19-yard grab in the fourth quarter. The historical catch came in the fourth quarter as Kelce's quarterback and best friend Patrick Mahomes threw the tight end a 19-yard pass, which was the longest catch of the night for Kelce. He finished the night with four catches for 44 yards on eight targets, modest numbers that carried outsized significance.
Climbing multiple leaderboards
Kelce's big night didn't stop at the receiving-yards mark. His third reception moved him past Cris Carter (1,101) and Marvin Harrison (1,102) into fifth place on the NFL's career receptions list, finishing the game with 1,104. Gonzalez still owns the regular-season-only yardage record, but Kelce's combined total, including playoffs, now stands alone atop the position.
Mahomes and an offense that never found rhythm
The milestone provided little comfort given how the Chiefs' attack performed overall. Patrick Mahomes had a forgettable outing, completing 19 of 33 passes for 165 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. Seattle's defense swarmed him from the opening snap, and the final numbers reflected the pressure.
According to postgame research cited by ESPN, the Chiefs' three points are their fewest in a game started by quarterback Patrick Mahomes since Week 7 in 2021. Kansas City also struggled to sustain drives, finishing with just 11 first downs, 213 yards, and 3-11 on third down. For context on how thoroughly the Chiefs' passing game was neutralized, Mahomes' struggles echoed broader issues for a Kansas City Chiefs offense missing key pieces up front.
Kenneth Walker III's return falls flat
The game also marked a notable homecoming for running back Kenneth Walker III, who faced his former team for the first time since signing with Kansas City in the offseason, as detailed in his return to Seattle. The reunion didn't go his way statistically. Walker, playing against his former team for the first time, registered 14 carries for 36 rushing yards and caught four passes for 21 receiving yards.
On the other sideline, Seattle's passing attack carried the day. Sam Darnold led Seattle's offense, completing 20 of 28 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown, while wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught nine passes for 150 yards and one TD.
Standings and what comes next
Where things stand
The result shook up the early-season picture across the league. The game's result leaves the Vikings as the lone unbeaten team entering Week 8, as the 49ers also lost to the Falcons earlier on Sunday. Seattle, meanwhile, snapped a skid of its own: back above .500, the 4-3 Seahawks will host the 5-2 Bears next Monday night.
The Chiefs' upcoming test
Kansas City doesn't get much time to regroup. The Chiefs are scheduled to visit the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Nov. 1, at Empower Field at Mile High, with kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS. It's the first of two meetings between the AFC West rivals this season, and a quick response will be crucial for a Chiefs team suddenly facing questions about its offensive line and receiving corps after a night to forget in the Pacific Northwest.