Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs struggled significantly in their 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night at Lumen Field, raising concerns about the team’s depth as they face a demanding stretch of the NFL season. The defeat marked a rare low point for Mahomes, who managed just three points in the first three quarters and failed to register any offensive snaps in the red zone.
The absence of key players left the Chiefs vulnerable, particularly at left tackle and wide receiver, as they continue to grapple with injuries to Josh Simmons and Rashee Rice. Simmons has not played this season due to a back injury, which led to his placement on injured reserve on Sunday. Despite the team’s insistence that Simmons’s IR designation is solely injury-related, questions linger about his availability, given a history of multiple absences in recent years. Simmons has previously missed time due to a torn patellar tendon, a personal leave of absence, a wrist injury, and now a back issue that threatens to sideline him for at least half the season.
Rice, meanwhile, missed his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury sustained nearly a month ago. The wide receiver’s durability has been a concern throughout his career, having appeared in only 12 of the past 37 games due to a torn ACL, a league suspension, a concussion, and now the current hamstring issues. The team is hoping for Rice’s return as early as next week.
On the offensive line, the Chiefs struggled to protect Mahomes, who faced pressure on nearly half of his dropbacks in the first half. According to Pro Football Focus data, Mahomes was pressured on seven of 15 dropbacks, resulting in an interception, limited yardage, and a passer rating of 32.1 in that period. Much of the pressure came from the edges, with fill-in right tackle Joshua Ezeudu responsible for a team-high five pressures. He filled in for Jaylon Moore, who leads the league in quick pressures allowed but was inactive. The instability up front forced Mahomes into frequent scrambling, often abandoning clean pockets before pressure arrived.
The receiving corps also showed signs of strain. Xavier Worthy led the unit in snaps but converted just six targets into 11 yards, dropping a critical pass. Second-year receiver Jalen Royals appeared confused on route assignments at times, while Andrew Armstrong dropped an easy catch. Newcomer Justin Watson caught one pass but has yet to make a consistent impact. The group’s overall lack of experience and continuity was evident throughout the game.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid emphasized focusing on the players available, but the impact of their injured personnel was clear. With a grueling schedule ahead—including six road games in eight weeks and matchups against multiple playoff contenders—the team faces a critical test of its resilience and depth. Rest and rehabilitation are now priorities for Simmons and Rice, with the Chiefs preparing to navigate one of the toughest stretches of the season. Their ability to perform at a high level in the coming weeks will likely determine their postseason fate.