Chiefs Vs Seahawks: Final Headlines, X Factors

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The time for talking is almost done before Saturday’s kickoff. The Kansas City Chiefs are set to host the Seattle Seahawks in a non-conference game. Despite already winning the AFC West, Kansas City has a few items that they are looking to clean up heading into the postseason. There is still some hope that they can possibly get the AFC’s number one seed. An upcoming Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals contest will determine their chances.

In the meantime, the Seahawks are still in the thick of the NFC playoff race. A 6-3 start to the season has been followed by a 1-4 showing by Seattle in their last five games. Certainly, both teams will be looking to start strong and look to put the opponent on their heels early.

We have discussed key matchups and gameplans all week long. What are the final headlines to watch for before Saturday’s kickoff? We will list those, along with players to watch for, who could be viewed as under the radar x factors entering the game from both the Chiefs and the Seahawks. Let’s kick it off.

Final Headlines

Can Either Defense Build Momentum?

To say that each team has been struggling defensively, it would be putting it mildly. You could argue that the biggest reason for the Seattle losing stretch in the second half of the season is largely due to their defense. Passes are being completed into wide open space. The Seahawks have failed to offer resistance to opposing rushing attacks. Furthermore, Seattle has seen their points per game number climb in the last month or so.

On the other hand, the Chiefs are making plenty of fundamental errors. Misreading play direction at the snap, missed tackles and failure to disengage from blocks has led to frustration. It is not that uncommon for Kansas City’s defense to make those mistakes. Yet, we have usually seen those decrease during the final stretch of the regular season under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Can either defense build momentum on Saturday? Overall, the Seahawks are looking to limit explosive plays. The Chiefs are looking to maintain better leverage and body positioning in space, to boot. Whichever group can stay on top of plays in the open field will likely help their team emerge victorious.

How Does Lockett’s Absence Alter Seahawks’ Offensive Attack?

Tyler Lockett will miss this game after suffering a broken finger last game, which required subsequent surgery. Obviously, the Seahawks still have one of the league’s most physically gifted pass catchers sans Lockett, in DK Metcalf. There is sometimes no answer for what Metcalf provides. Nevertheless, Lockett creates so many opportunistic chances for the Seattle passing attack. He can offer efficiency with yards after the catch on short passes. Elsewhere, Lockett is savvy at winning vertically and testing defensive backs deep. The Seahawks will simply miss the smooth route running and separation that he offers, which generally generates quick hitters for explosive gains.

Seattle places the running game as one of their top staples offensively. With a deep and versatile running back room, the Seahawks can increase their touches for guys coming out of the backfield. On top of that, the heavy usage of running backs may open up looks for depth receivers in the place of Lockett. If Marquise Goodwin is active, his speed could break things open if Kansas City is caught watching the backfield. Others like Laquon Treadwell and Penny Hart have the athleticism to test the Chiefs in space. Of course, the Seahawks will not be afraid to use multiple tight end sets, either.

Will Chiefs Take Advantage Of Rookie Defensive Backs?

While the Seahawks are dealing with the absence of Lockett, the Chiefs come into Saturday fully healthy at wide receiver. We have seen JuJu Smith-Schuster consistently produce at a heavy clip. With his emergence, you have seen Patrick Mahomes get comfortable with taking what the defense is giving him. That often materializes with Smith-Schuster winning immediately underneath, followed by swift yards after the catch. Other wide receivers have still been searching for that same consistency in the Kansas City offense.

Perhaps against rookie cornerbacks, the Chiefs will see some depth pieces take a step forward. It should be stated that each of Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant have still had admirable rookie seasons. Though, the steady presence of takeaways, pass breakups and sticky coverage from early in the season has become more uneven in recent weeks. Both defenders can get grabby at the top of routes. When you consider the silky-smooth separation ability of names like Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore, Kansas City could prey on the inexperienced Seattle cornerbacks.

X Factors

Chiefs CB Joshua Williams

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Joshua Williams has certainly taken his lumps this season. But mostly, he has bounced back after a poor performance from the Chiefs secondary. Kansas City’s defensive backs were chasing everything last week, including avoiding penalties, limiting yards after the catch and easy completions underneath. Williams is known for being long and physical. Without the likes of Lockett, the rookie cornerback has an advantageous matchup against Seattle’s depth receivers, as he looks for a rebound.

Seahawks OT Abraham Lucas

The Seahawks drafted two offensive tackles in the 2022 NFL Draft. Each of them has stood out immediately this year. However, right tackle Abraham Lucas is also looking for a rebound, like the aforementioned Williams. The vaunted 49ers pass rush led to Lucas having a long night last week. Not only did his wires get crossed from a read and react perspective, but he also struggled with leverage and hand placement on punches. Lucas was often too high when trying to corral the San Francisco defenders. As a result, he will look to respond quickly to a group of physical and heavy-handed pass rushers in Kansas City.

Chiefs TE Noah Gray

While much of the attention at tight end will go to Travis Kelce, Noah Gray has begun to occasionally shine in the Chiefs offense. He is finding soft spots in zones urgently. Moreover, Gray has been reliable, when it comes to making difficult catches in traffic. It seems like he is gaining separation often, while also being another security blanket in the short to intermediate passing game. Quietly, Gray has had multiple receptions in seven of his last nine games. If this game is tight, look for Mahomes to trust in the Duke product if his top options are covered.

Seahawks LB Cody Barton

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Cody Barton may not receive much national recognition. However, the Utah product can often act as a dependable machine in the middle of the Seattle defense. The Seahawks benefit from Barton’s ability to do the little things well. He noticeably takes sharp angles to to stay ahead of possible contact that is scraping towards him. On the flip side, Barton is incredibly intelligent at recognizing play direction and possible fakes. Even if he is somehow caught out of position, Barton seemingly has the range and long speed to recover.

Be on the lookout for our FPC Chiefs game recap and reaction articles following Saturday’s game. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.