Persevering with their second half free fall with a fifth loss in six video games, Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks did not reap the benefits of a number of potential scoring alternatives within the second half because the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs held on for a 24-10 house win on Christmas Eve.

Whereas Seattle continued to battle on offense and allowed too many chunk performs on protection in a decrease scoring recreation than anticipated, a number of gamers shined on each side of the soccer in defeat, together with a trio of rookies. Listed below are my high 5 grades and different notable performances from Arrowhead Stadium in Week 16.

Tariq Woolen

Total Grade: 88.0 (Protection 92, Tackling 88, Run Protection 86)

Placing one other bullet level on his resume for Defensive Rookie of the 12 months, Woolen respectfully wasn’t examined usually by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and nonetheless discovered a method to depart his imprint on the sport. Late within the first quarter, with the Chiefs already up 7-0 and trying to bust the sport open early, Mahomes took a shot downfield to receiver Justin Watson, who seemed to be broad open.

However as he has performed a number of instances this yr, Woolen turned on the jets and displayed outstanding closing pace with lengthy, easy strides catching as much as Watson, rising up and swatting away the cross down in the long run zone. Kansas Metropolis punted two performs later, retaining Seattle inside a rating. After that time, Mahomes solely challenged him one different time, finishing a six-yard first down cross to tight finish Travis Kelce.

Making a pair good performs within the run recreation and blowing up blocks on a pair of screens, he showcased his quickly bettering all-around recreation for individuals who paid shut consideration regardless of solely being focused twice.

Kenneth Walker III

Total Grade: 84.5 (Speeding 90, Receiving 65, Move Blocking 80*)

*Weighted for one cross blocking rep

Exhibiting no in poor health results from a lingering ankle damage and again spasms that led to him not training final week, Walker rebounded from a tough first half operating behind putrid blocking to blow up with almost 80 speeding yards after halftime. On Seattle’s second drive of the third quarter, the dynamic rookie exploded behind blocks by sort out Stone Forsythe and tight finish Will Dissly for a 20-yard acquire and adopted up with one other 11-yard acquire on the very subsequent play, shortly placing the crew in scoring place.

Later within the quarter, Walker in the reduction of in opposition to the grain on toss play to the proper, sprinting throughout the sector whereas outrunning a number of defenders to the left sideline for an additional 20-yard pickup previous midfield. Sadly, in each cases, the Seahawks had been left empty-handed with no factors.

Total, he amassed 5 rushes of 9 yards or extra within the closing two quarters and efficiently picked up a blitz on his lone cross blocking alternative, ending with 107 yards on 26 carries in a powerful all-around efficiency.

Boye Mafe

Total Grade: 83.5 (Run Protection 90, Tackling 90, Move Rush 70)

For no matter cause, Mafe hasn’t been capable of earn prolonged alternatives enjoying lower than 40 p.c of Seattle’s snaps in every of the previous six video games, however his stellar outing on Saturday ought to earn him extra enjoying time. Logging simply 20 snaps in opposition to the Chiefs, whereas he did not generate any pressures in seven cross speeding alternatives, Mafe made his presence felt setting the sting and hustling to make performs alongside the road of scrimmage in opposition to the run.

Halfway via the third quarter, the second-round select of Minnesota rocketed down the road after being left unblocked, corralling operating again Jerick McKinnon within the backfield for a one-yard loss in bottom pursuit.

Then on Seattle’s closing defensive possession, he shed a block from sort out Orlando Brown to promptly wrap up McKinnon for a one-yard acquire, contributing on a closing cease to present the ball again to the offense inside two minutes to play. He completed the afternoon with 4 tackles, together with three that went for 2 yards or much less, and no missed tackles on protection.

Quinton Jefferson

Total Grade: 81.5 (Run Protection 80, Tackling 76, Move Rush 88)

Much like Mafe, Jefferson did not see a lot motion in regard to snap counts on Saturday. However the veteran defensive sort out capitalized on restricted alternatives by harassing Mahomes with persistent inside stress. Proper off the bat, Jefferson powered via Kansas Metropolis’s line on the second defensive play of the sport with a bull rush, forcing the quarterback to bail the pocket to his proper and uncork an errant throw down the proper sideline.

Two performs later, the Chiefs had been punting on a 3 and out. Quick forwarding to the third quarter, Jefferson in opposition to made his presence recognized, utilizing a second effort after initially lacking Mahomes to hit the quarterback and get a bit of the soccer whereas forcing a essential third down incompletion.

Although he did not register a single sort out and barely performed on early downs, Jefferson used his underrated athleticism at 290 kilos to rack up three pressures, a quarterback hit, and a cross deflection on simply 15 cross speeding snaps, producing a powerful 20 p.c stress fee.

DK Metcalf

Total Grade: 81.0 (Receiving 85, Run Blocking 58*)

*Weighted for 23 run blocking reps

Taking part in with out his accomplice in crime Tyler Lockett, Metcalf drew much more consideration from the Chiefs protection than he is accustomed to. However that did not cease him from being the lone supply of offense for the Seahawks within the first half, as he accounted for 71 of Geno Smith’s 81 passing yards within the first two quarters on six receptions and picked up a pair of first downs.

This included a picturesque diving 35-yard reception on a go path to arrange a Jason Myers subject aim earlier than halftime. That reception pushed him over the 1,000-yard mark for the second time in his four-year NFL profession, offering a uncommon excessive level with the offense sputtering. Metcalf did not have an ideal recreation, as a holding penalty on Seattle’s first offensive play worn out an 18-yard run by Walker and he could not get each ft down at the back of the tip zone on a possible landing moments earlier than Myers’ subject aim made the rating 17-3. Nonetheless, he completed with team-highs with seven receptions for 81 yards.

Different Notable Performances

Whereas he wasn’t at his greatest and threw a expensive finish zone interception, Geno Smith overcame poor cross safety for a lot of the sport to nonetheless full 62.5 p.c of his passes and ended the sport with a landing cross to Noah Fant, salvaging a 77.0 grade. Standing out in comparison with his friends within the trenches, left sort out Charles Cross helped spring Walker on a few his massive runs within the second half and allowed two hurries in cross safety, receiving a gentle 76.0 mark.

On the flip facet, whereas battling elbow and knee accidents that compelled him to go away early, Abraham Lucas endured his worst recreation of the season permitting a sack and three pressures, receiving a 61.0 grade general. On the guard spots, Gabe Jackson turned in a powerful recreation in cross safety, permitting no pressures whereas struggling to maneuver defenders within the run recreation for a 71.0 grade. Damien Lewis gave up only one stress for a 70.0 grade, whereas Phil Haynes surrendered a whopping 5 pressures on simply 24 cross blocking snaps for a 58.0 rating.

Catching three out of 4 targets for 45 yards, Colby Parkinson turned within the longest play from scrimmage on a 39-yard catch, boosting his grade to 74.0.

Regardless of not producing many statistics with one sort out within the recreation, security Quandre Diggs did not permit any catches in protection and made a pleasant play protecting Travis Kelce on a key third down cease, incomes a 78.0 grade. At linebacker, Jordyn Brooks had a powerful recreation defending in opposition to the run with eight tackles, however his grade (69.5) suffered from permitting a 52-yard catch to Kelce down the seam on the Chiefs closing landing drive.

Off the sting, Uchenna Nwosu had a quiet recreation speeding the passer with a lone stress for a 72.0 grade, whereas Darrell Taylor scored favorably (77.0) due to a clutch sack on Mahomes. As for Cody Barton, regardless of ending with 9 tackles and a quarterback stress, his failure to get off a block on Kadarius Toney’s landing catch and a pair of missed tackles supplied an identical downgrade for his rating (67.0).

Within the secondary, Mike Jackson solely allowed two catches for 16 yards, however one in all them was a landing to McKinnon that included a foul missed sort out close to the aim line, dropping his grade to 66.0. Slot cornerback Coby Bryant did not yield a catch on two targets and registered a pair of tackles, incomes a 73.0 rating.

Hey, 12s! Get your Seahawks Tickets from SI Tickets … HERE!

Need the most recent in breaking information and insider data on the Seahawks? Click on Right here to subscribe to AllSeahawks.com’s E-newsletter.

Observe All Seahawks.com on Twitter and Fb

Be certain to subscribe to our every day podcast @lockedonseahawks immediately! Click on right here To Hear.

Need much more Seattle Seahawks information? Take a look at the SI.com crew web page right here.