Josh Simmons and Andy Reid’s clash or Seattle Seahawks’ defense in Kenneth Walker III’s absence? What cost Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs their first 2026 NFL season loss

Josh Simmons kept his legs on the table during a team meeting. Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told him to keep them down. Simmons admitted that he had a hip and back problem causing him discomfort, which was why he kept his legs on the table.A heated exchange took place between the coach and the player. Simmons reportedly refused to obey Reid, prompting Patrick Mahomes to intervene. Mahomes asked Simmons to leave the meeting, and Simmons left.Now that we know the whole story, the timing of its occurrence - just before the Week 7 game of the 2026 NFL season - makes us wonder: did it break the Kansas City Chiefs’ five-game winning streak?Or was it the dominant Seattle Seahawks defense alone that did not let Mahomes move even an inch? They even lost their own Super Bowl-winning rusher, Kenneth Walker III.Josh Simmons’ heated exchange raises Chiefs’ loss questionsThe Kansas City Chiefs suffered their first defeat at the hands of the 2025 Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks, after a frustrating 20-3 loss on Sunday night in Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season.Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense struggled, while Seattle’s dominant defensive performance proved to be the defining factor in the Week 7 clash.However, it was the reported heated exchange between second-year offensive tackle Josh Simmons and head coach Andy Reid - and the later alleged involvement of Patrick Mahomes - that preluded this heartbreaking loss.After the clash, Reid reportedly told Simmons to leave the meeting and seek treatment, a move that Mahomes supported. Simmons later apologized to the coach and the team leadership for how he handled the situation.However, Simmons was placed on injured reserve immediately thereafter because of a bulging disc in his lower back. Andy Reid dismissed any notion that the heated exchange caused the roster move. He emphasized instead that Simmons needed to recover from his injury.Nevertheless, this incident could have caused the team to lose its spirit. If a player was injured and treated a certain way, it could impact the squad’s overall morale. It raises the question: what if another player were experiencing discomfort and needed to keep their legs in a comfortable position?Chiefs Patrick Mahomes’ offensive strugglesPatrick Mahomes completed 19 of 33 passes for 165 yards and threw an interception. He threw zero touchdowns and gained a 58.3 passer rating.The Kansas City Chiefs managed only 213 total yards of offense. The offense struggled to sustain drives, recording just 11 first downs and converting only 3 of 11 third-down opportunities.Kansas City’s only points came after kicker Harrison Butker made a 50-yard field goal in the third quarter of the Week 7 clash [he missed two other attempts]. Josh Simmons’ absence was deeply felt, as was Jaylon Moore’s unavailability due to a concussion suffered during Week 6 win against the Los Angeles Chargers.Seattle Seahawks’ surprising defensive dominanceFor the first five games of the 2026 NFL season [Week 5 was bye for the Chiefs], Patrick Mahomes established himself as an unstoppable threat despite having only recently recovered from an ACL tear.In those initial games, five teams lost to the Chiefs. But when the Seattle Seahawks came to face one of the NFL’s most dangerous quarterbacks, the Super Bowl-winning team’s defense delivered a statement performance.Sam Darnold-led Seattle limited Mahomes’ team to just three points. They controlled the line of scrimmage and persistently prevented Mahomes from establishing an offensive rhythm.The unit also prevented individual 100-yard rushers. The Seahawks’ disciplined tackling and calculating defense forced the Chiefs into difficult passing situations.The victory was more than just crucial for Seattle - who had been waiting a long time for a rebound. They had endured just one victory and three losses in nearly a month’s time. With the win, they improved their 2026 season record to 4-3, while the Chiefs fell to 5-1.Kenneth Walker III’s Seahawks returnKenneth Walker III played against his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, in a Week 7 matchup. The running back was not offered enough money to remain with the Seahawks, despite winning a Super Bowl and earning MVP honours for them just last season.Walker entered the 2026 free agency. The Seahawks reportedly did not offer him a contract extension because they wanted to prioritize salary cap flexibility.They did not engage in a bidding war for a running back too. The Kansas City Chiefs capitalized on that by signing Walker to a blockbuster deal [three-year, $43.05 million contract].However, when it mattered the most, Walker couldn’t cast his magic. He had been at the heart of all five wins for Kansas City; but was limited to just 36 rushing yards on 14 carries against his former team in the Week 7 loss.Facing a vacant running back spot without Walker while Zach Charbonnet was recovering, the Seahawks signed Emanuel Wilson after Wilson entered free agency following his departure from the Green Bay Packers.Wilson did not find it intimidating to play against a former Seahawk [Walker]; he rushed for 100 yards on 24 attempts, helping the home team secure a firm hold on the game.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.