The schedule helps Seattle. The Seahawks played at Denver on a Thursday, so they get 10 days off before kickoff at 5:20 PM PT. The Chiefs beat the Chargers at home on the 18th and then have to make the trip to the Pacific Northwest on a normal week. Seattle needs the rest. The Denver game was its 2nd loss in 5 days, after the 32-29 loss to San Francisco, and linebackers Drake Thomas (ankle) and Chazz Surratt (calf) both missed the Broncos game.
Kansas City's run has been efficient more than dominant. The Chiefs beat the Colts 33-30 and the Raiders 30-27, then held Denver to 10 points and the Chargers to 6. The pass rush finally showed up against Justin Herbert: 3 sacks, with 5 different players getting at least half a sack, and Ashton Gillotte ended the sack drought. Seattle's 3 losses went the other way. It lost 33-31 to Washington, 32-29 to San Francisco and 17-14 in overtime at Denver. This is a team that keeps getting itself back into games, including a comeback from 11 points down in the 4th quarter at Denver, and then makes the mistake that loses them.
Kansas City's receivers are thin. Rashee Rice is out, Tyquan Thornton is on IR and Jared Wiley was inactive, so Xavier Worthy is the top target. He made the most of it against the Chargers, catching 4 of 4 targets for 51 yards in the 1st quarter alone. Seattle's best weapon is Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who caught 12 of 16 targets for 134 yards in Denver and will draw plenty of attention from rookie corner Mansoor Delane. Seattle's backfield is a problem. Zach Charbonnet (knee) missed the Broncos game, and Macdonald's timeline for Jadarian Price points to a return after this game rather than for it. That leaves Emanuel Wilson and George Holani carrying the ball.
The early forecast calls for upper-40s temperatures and light drizzle, with almost no wind. That could change over a week, but it isn't a night for anyone to be loose with the ball. Harrison Butker missed an extra point and a 52-yarder against the Chargers, so even the reliable parts of the Chiefs have looked shaky. The question for Seattle is whether its defense and 10 days of rest can keep it close long enough for Darnold to play a clean game. If he doesn't, Walker and an unbeaten team are coming to town ready to make them pay.