Seahawks’ franchise-record streak on the line vs Kenneth Walker III

An old friend figures to challenge a franchise-record streak for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7.

Report: Seahawks TE Elijah Arroyo expected to go on IR

The Seahawks take an impressive run of 35 straight games without allowing a 100-yard rusher into their primetime clash with Kenneth Walker III and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

It’s shaping up to be the classic collision of the immovable object against the unstoppable force.

Seattle hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since Week 8 of the 2024 season when Buffalo Bills running back James Cook rumbled for 111 yards in a 31-10 home defeat that is arguably the worst loss of the Mike Macdonald era. It also came right before a midseason turnaround by Seattle’s defense in its first year under Macdonald.

Over that stellar streak, the Seahawks have faced several talented running backs, a list that includes Christian McCaffrey (five times), Breece Hall, Kyren Williams (five times), Josh Jacobs, Aaron Jones (twice), Jonathan Taylor, Travis Etienne Jr. and Bijan Robinson.

Walker, who was with the Seahawks from 2022-25, has reached the century mark on the ground in four of Kansas City’s five games this season, including two games with more than 170 yards. It’s resulted in him leading the NFL with 665 rushing yards despite having played one less game than most since the Chiefs already had their bye week.

Those numbers just begin to illustrate how dominate Walker has been since leaving Seattle to sign a three-year deal worth up to $45 million with the Chiefs over the offseason.

In addition to leading the league in total rushing, the reigning Super Bowl MVP is first in yards per rush (6.3), broken tackles on rushes (12), rush attempts per broken tackle (8.8) and yards after contact (279). He’s also second in yards after contact per carry (2.6) and has rushed for the third-most first downs (33).

A helping hand

Walker’s talent has been a major part of the incredible start to his Chiefs career, but he has also had some help from an offensive line that features a pair of Pro Bowlers on the interior and an undrafted rookie who has been among the league’s best run blockers by one ESPN metric.

Kansas City’s offensive line had posted the third-best run block win rate in the league at 76% entering Week 6, per ESPN. Three-time All-Pro center Creed Humphrey was eighth among interior offensive linemen with a 76% run block win rate, and undrafted rookie Khalil Benson was sixth among tackles with an 80% run block win rate.

With a strong offensive line in front of him, Walker has the league’s second-most rushing yards before contact (386) and second-most yards before contact per rush (3.6).

Can Walker keep it up?

While Walker is having a spectacular start to the season, it’s fair to wonder if he can stay healthy while maintaining the sort of usage he’s had in five games with Kansas City.

It wouldn’t necessarily be fair to label Walker as injury prone, but he did miss at least two games in each season with the Seahawks outside of last year when averaged a career-low 14.8 touches per game during the regular season.

Walker is currently on pace for what would be by far a career high in touches at 24 per game with the Chiefs, which would equate to 408 over the course of a 17-game season. Over the past 20 seasons, only McCaffrey (413 in 2025) has had more touches in a season, per Pro Football Reference.

Walker’s previous career high in touches per game was 18.1 during the 2024 season when he missed six games due to oblique, calf and ankle injuries.

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