Butker Misses Two Kicks as Chiefs Fall 20-3 to Seahawks

Harrison Butker missed two field goal attempts in a 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night, extending a streak of inconsistency that has plagued the Kansas City Chiefs this season. The second miss came from 45 yards out with eight and a half minutes remaining, a potential one-possession play that would have forced Seattle into overtime. Butker's failure to convert left the Chiefs with only a single field goal on the board for the entire game.

The kicker has now missed 15 kicks since the start of last season, a total that leads the National Football League. Those misses include 10 failed field goal attempts and five missed extra points. This is the third-highest paid kicker in the league, carrying the sixth-highest base salary on the Chiefs roster. Coach Andy Reid acknowledged the struggle, noting that Butker has been one of the most consistent kickers in football but is currently off his game.

Butker's performance stood out against a backdrop of poor play from the entire team. The Chiefs managed only 50 yards on the ground and 213 total offensive yards, converting just three of 11 third-down attempts. Seattle controlled the ball for nearly 11 minutes longer than Kansas City. The Chiefs defense allowed 410 total yards, including 153 rushing yards, while letting quarterback Sam Darnold convert 11 of 16 third downs. Patrick Mahomes said the team must feel the pain of the loss to build off it, citing the importance of performing well in big moments.

The offensive line struggled to protect Mahomes, who faced constant pressure. Kenneth Walker, returning to Seattle, had limited success in the backfield. The Chiefs committed only two penalties in the game, a rare positive in an otherwise dominant performance by the reigning Super Bowl champions. L'Jarius Sneed, who has struggled in his return to Kansas City, was targeted repeatedly by the Seahawks' offense. Tyquan Thornton and Rashee Rice remained out with injuries, weakening the wide receiver corps.

Nohl Williams, a second-year cornerback, picked off a pass in the end zone and returned it 65 yards, setting up a pre-halftime field goal opportunity that Butker also missed. Williams has been solid at cornerback all season. The Chiefs can escape Butker's contract after this season with a manageable amount of dead money, adding pressure to resolve his consistency issues. The team's offense has scored three points or fewer in only two games with Mahomes at quarterback, the first time being a 27-3 loss to the Titans in 2021.

The Chiefs travel to Denver next week to face the Broncos. Kansas City beat Denver 31-10 in the season opener. The Broncos have won their last three games, including a 17-14 victory over the Seahawks. Right tackle Jaylon Moore is in concussion protocol and may miss the trip. The Chiefs' injury list includes wide receiver Rashee Rice, who is dealing with a hamstring issue. The team aims to fix its offensive stagnation and defensive lapses before facing a Denver squad that has found its footing after a slow start.