Chiefs lose 20-3 to Seahawks as Butker's missed kicks prove decisive

Kicker Harrison Butker missed two field goals in the final quarter of Sunday night's game, and the Kansas City Chiefs lost 20-3 to the Seattle Seahawks.

The loss marked the second time in franchise history that the Chiefs have scored three points or fewer with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback. The previous instance occurred in a 27-3 defeat to the Tennessee Titans on October 24, 2021.

Butker's second miss came from 45 yards out with 8.5 minutes remaining. The attempt would have narrowed the deficit to a single possession. It was his second miss of the night, following a failed try in the first half after an interception by Nohl Williams.

The Seahawks dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 11 minutes longer than Kansas City. Seattle's offense converted 11 of 16 third-down attempts, while the Chiefs went 3 for 11 on comparable plays.

The Chiefs' offense managed only 50 rushing yards and 213 total yards. Kenneth Walker returned to Seattle but had limited impact. Mahomes faced constant pressure, and the offensive line struggled to protect him.

Seattle's defense targeted L'Jarius Sneed, who has struggled in his return to Kansas City. The Seahawks allowed 153 rushing yards and 410 total yards to the Chiefs, but their own defense kept Kansas City in check for the majority of the contest.

Butker has missed 15 kicks since the start of last season, including 10 field goals and five point-after-touchdown attempts. That total is the highest in the NFL. He has missed four of his first six field goal attempts this season.

The kicker carries the sixth-highest base salary on the Chiefs' roster. He is the third-highest paid kicker in the league. Kansas City can release him after this season with a manageable amount of dead money on the salary cap.

Head coach Andy Reid took responsibility for the performance in the postgame press conference. He noted that Butker has been inconsistent recently and said the team needs to address the issue. Mahomes said the team must feel the sting of the loss and use it as a foundation for improvement.

The Chiefs will travel to Denver for Sunday's game against the Broncos. Kansas City beat Denver 31-10 in the season opener. Denver has won its last three games, including a 17-14 victory over Seattle.