Chiefs Stumble in Preseason as Seahawks Dominate 33-16

Game Overview

Friday night at Lumen Field turned chilly and wet, but the Seahawks made the most of the atmosphere. Seattle opened the scoring early and never really looked back, pulling away to a 33-16 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The loss put Kansas City at a disappointing 0-2 in the 2025 preseason, while Seattle improved to 1-0-1.

Seattle’s first drive set the tone. After a brief kickoff return, the ball landed in the hands of Sam Darnold, the former New York Jets starter who signed a three‑year, $100.5 million deal this offseason. Darnold completed all four of his passes for 34 yards, using short throws to tight ends AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo before stretching the field to fullback Robbie Ouzts and wideout Jaxon Smith‑Njigba. The drive stalled, but the early success sparked a buzz among the 12,000 fans in the rain‑drenched stadium.

When Darnold eventually left the field, backup Drew Lock stepped in and grew comfortable fast. Lock was 10‑of‑12 for 129 yards, delivering two touchdown passes to the speedy receiver Jake Bobo. Coach Mike Macdonald praised Bobo’s crisp route‑running and reliable hands throughout the game.

Key Performances and What It Means

The Chiefs tried to find a rhythm with three different quarterbacks. Gardner Minshew, who started the day, posted a passer rating of 136.1, completing 7 of 9 attempts for 70 yards and a TD to veteran tight end Robert Tonyan. Chris Oladokun and Bailey Zappe each saw limited action — Oladokun threw for 31 yards on 4 of 7 attempts, while Zappe finished with 9 yards on 3 of 4 completions. Overall, Kansas City’s aerial attack tallied only 88 yards on 14 of 20 attempts.

Scoring swung heavily in Seattle’s favor. The Seahawks led 7‑0 after the first quarter, extended the margin to 23‑7 by halftime, and pushed the lead to 30‑10 after a third‑quarter touchdown. Both teams added field goals in the final period, sealing the 33‑16 final score.

• Seattle scoring summary:
  1. First‑quarter touchdown pass (Darnold to tight end)
  2. Half‑time touchdown run (defense)
  3. Third‑quarter pass (Lock to Bobo)
  4. Final‑quarter field goal
  5. Additional field goal
• Kansas City scoring summary:
  1. Touchdown pass (Minshew to Tonyan)
  2. Field goal in second quarter
  3. Field goal in fourth quarter

For Seattle, the preseason outing gave the coaching staff a clear look at how Darnold handles pressure in his new uniform and confirmed that Lock can step in without missing a beat. Bobo’s chemistry with both quarterbacks suggests Seattle has multiple weapons to stretch Kansas City’s secondary.

Kansas City, on the other hand, must still decide which quarterback will start the regular season. Minshew’s efficiency is encouraging, but the limited yardage points to a need for deeper development across the receiving corps. The Chiefs’ defensive unit also showed vulnerability in pass protection, allowing Seattle to exploit the rainy conditions with quick, precise throws.

As both teams head into the final preseason games, Seattle looks poised to lock in its offensive hierarchy, while the Chiefs face a crucial evaluation period. The upcoming weeks will likely determine whether Minshew retains the starting nod or if the coaching staff opts to give the reins to another contender in the quarterback carousel.