The Seahawks came into Sunday's game having lost two in a row, needing to bounce back against one of the league's top teams, the 5-0 Chiefs. Led by a dominant defensive performance, and yet another huge game from Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Seahawks were able to get the big win they needed, handing Kansas City its first loss of the season while improving their record to 4-3.

Here are six rapid reactions to Sunday's 20-3 win at Lumen Field:

1. That was a masterful performance by the Seahawks defense.

Holding any team in the NFL to a single field goal is a big accomplishment for a defense. Holding an Andy Reid-coached, Patrick Mahomes-quarterbacked offense, one that features the league's leading rusher in Kenneth Walker III and a future Hall of Famer in tight end Travis Kelce to just three points? Well, that's just ridiculous, but that's what the Seahawks were able to do.

Seattle's defense, which hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in its last 35 games, was facing a big test in Walker, who had over 100 yards in four of his first five games, but Seattle held him to just 36 yards on 14 carries. The Seahawks limited the Chiefs to just 213 total yards, 11 first downs and a 3 for 11 conversion rate on third down.

Sunday's game marked the first time the Chiefs have been kept out of the red zone in a Mahomes start, and it was the Chiefs' lowest yardage total, first down total and tied for fewest points in a Mahomes start.

And per Josh Dubow of the Associated press, Sunday's game was just the fifth time, playoffs included, that the Chiefs have been shut out in a first half with Mahomes at quarterback.

Given the opponent, the stakes -- the Seahawks were trying to end a two-game losing streak -- and the hype around Walker's return to Seattle, it was one of the best performances for Mike Macdonald's defense, which is saying a lot.

2. The Seahawks were outstanding on third down, but have work to do in the red zone.

While the Seahawks didn't have a huge day on the scoreboard -- more on that in a moment -- they moved the ball well throughout the night, totaling 410 yards and 24 first downs while punting only twice. A big reason why was their ability to convert on third down to stay on the field. For the game, the Seahawks were 11 for 16 on third down and, at one point in the third quarter, were 9 for 11, including several conversions on third-and-long. On their first scoring drive, which ended with a field goal, the Seahawks converted twice on third-and-9 and once on third-and-7. Their next possession included a Sam Darnold scramble to convert on third-and-6, one of two Darnold had with his legs on third-and-long, and the drive ended with Darnold hitting Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 28-yard score on third-and-9.

Thanks to all of those conversions, the Seahawks enjoyed a big time of possession advantage (35:51 to 24:09) and ran 69 offensive plays to Kansas City's 50.

But for all that went well for Seattle's offense, the game could have been even more lopsided had the Seahawks been able to convert in the red zone. While the Seahawks love long touchdowns -- they had a pair of them Sunday from Smith-Njigba and Emanuel Wilson -- they also want to be better in the red zone than they were Sunday, when three trips inside the 20 netted only six points, with two of those possessions ending on short field goals and another ending in an interception in the end zone at the end of the first half.

3. We're running out of superlatives for Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Smith-Njigba was already having a big first half when, in the second quarter, he found himself matched up one-on-one with rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane on third-and-9. Darnold, recognizing that single coverage on Smith-Njigba is always a good matchup, even against a good young corner like Delane, lofted a perfect pass towards the end zone, and JSN snagged it for a 28-yard touchdown. Those two would hook up on a similar play on Seattle's next possession to get to the 2-yard line, though that drive ended with an interception in the end zone instead of points, just two of many big plays for Smith-Njigba on a night full of them.

By halftime, Smith-Njigba was up to 129 yards and a score on six catches, and he finished with 9 for 150, giving him his sixth 100-yard game in seven games, as well as a league-leading eight touchdown interceptions. With Sunday's big performance, Smith-Njigba, who now has 867 yards this season, joins Jerry Rice (1986) and current teammate Cooper Kupp (2021) to have 800 receiving yards and eight touchdowns through the first seven games of a season.

4. One turnover notwithstanding, that was a strong bounce-back performance by Sam Darnold.

After throwing two interceptions in last week's loss, Darnold was very hard on himself, knowing his turnovers in recent losses had been costly.

And while Darnold wasn't perfect on Sunday, throwing an interception in the end zone at the end of the half to cost the Seahawks points, he was noticeably sharper, making quick, decisive throws and spreading the ball around, with Smith-Njigba, as always, leading the way. Darnold finished the game 20 for 28 for 257 yards and a touchdown, and also used his legs to scramble for first downs on two third-and-long situations.

5. Nick Emmanwori is one of one.

Earlier this season, the Seahawks had the second-year safety occasionally line up in a four-point stance as an edge rusher, an interesting wrinkle that saw him generate a couple of pressures in a win over the Chargers. On a couple of occasions Sunday, Emmanwori was running stride-for-stride in coverage with receiver Xavier Worthy, one of the fastest players in the NFL and someone who clocked a 4.21 second time in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine.

Emmanwori was credited with a pass break-up on a crossing route that went incomplete, and was with Worthy the whole way on a deep ball that fell incomplete. Emmanwori, who had four tackles, also helped create a takeaway for Seattle's defense, using his speed to chase down Mahomes, who was sprinting left out of the pocket, hitting the All-Pro quarterback as he threw, leading to an errant pass that was intercepted by Ty Okada.

6. Emanuel Wilson had a big day to lead the rushing attack.

While it looked earlier this week like Zach Charbonnet might make his 2026 debut, he instead was ruled out, needing a bit more time to get back from the torn ACL that happened last January. That meant Wilson was again tasked with being the lead back, and he turned in his best performance as a Seahawk. Wilson finished with 100 hard-fought yards on 24 carries, and helped put the game on ice with a 21-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

With Wilson leading the way, the Seahawks rushed for 153 yards on 41 carries.