Seahawks offense stalls again in 24-10 loss in Kansas City

Updated Dec. 24, 2022 4:33 p.m. ET

Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Seattle twice drove into Kansas City territory in the third quarter, twice went for it on fourth down while trying to dig out of a 17-3 hole and twice came up short on the frigid field inside Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday.

That about sums up the Seahawks offense these days.

Geno Smith struggled to deal with the Chiefs pass rush, his wide receiver group missing injured Tyler Lockett struggled to make plays, and the Seahawks didn't reach the end zone until a mostly meaningless touchdown in the closing minutes of a 24-10 loss that just about knocks Seattle out of the playoff hunt with two games left in the regular season.

It was the fifth loss in six games for a Seahawks team that was a surprising 6-3 after beating Arizona on Nov. 6.

The downfall of the Seahawks over the past six weeks largely can be attributed to the downfall of their offense, where a series of injuries to their running backs — and now a broken hand for Lockett — have kept Smith from having much help.

Seattle (7-8) briefly lost another Saturday when wide receiver Marquise Goodwin banged up his wrist.

Without them, the Seahawks struggled to move the ball, punting on their first six possessions before finally getting a field goal before halftime that came largely as the result of two penalties on Chiefs defensive back Joshua Williams.

Even then, Seattle failed to punch into the end zone three times before sending Jason Myers out for the kick.

The offensive woes of coach Pete Carroll's bunch were perhaps best encapsulated by the third quarter, though, when the Chiefs were struggling to build on their lead. Seattle had a promising drive end when tight end Colby Parkinson was stuffed short of the line to gain on fourth down at the Kansas City 34, and a few minutes later, another fourth-down attempt failed when Laquon Treadwell failed to run his route to the first-down marker and came up short.

The Seahawks were driving again in the fourth, trying once more to make it a one-possession game, when Smith spotted Treadwell heading to the pylon. But the Pro Bowl quarterback's throw airmailed everyone but safety Juan Thornhill, who toe-tapped in the end zone to secure the interception with 7:42 left in the game.

That was the last good chance Seattle had to mount a comeback.

In the end, it was a dismal performance that closely mirrored the past two for the Seahawks, when they gained 287 yards in a 30-24 loss to the Panthers and 277 yards in last week's 21-13 loss to the 49ers. And it was one that just about knocks the Seahawks out of the race for a playoff spot in the NFC with two games to go.

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