The Seahawks were not going to beat Kansas City. Everyone knew that from the moment the schedule came out back in May.

There was perhaps some hope this week that the Hawks could score against what seemed to be a susceptible Chiefs defense. But, instead, the 24-10 loss was another referendum on the Seahawks’ need for better players on both lines and for Pete Carroll and Clint Hurtt to figure out how to get their defenders to tackle.

While the Chiefs were limiting the Seahawks to very few yards after contact, the Hawks continued to whiff on the first tackle attempt throughout the first half. That allowed the Chiefs to put together a 17-3 lead that was more than enough as the Hawks’ offensive line got dominated yet again.

We’ve talked a lot recently about the need to redo the front seven on defense in 2023. But the interior offensive line clearly needs fortification as well. John Schneider witnessed yet another reminder of that Saturday.

Just as the defense righted itself, the Seahawks finally got Ken Walker going in the second half – he finished with 107 rushing yards. But most of his yards came on the edges. The Hawks simply need to upgrade over center Austin Blythe and their right guard platoon, Gabe Jackson and Phil Haynes. Abe Lucas, who has given up eight sacks in his rookie season, needs better support on the right side.

We did a quick mock draft during this game and landed this quartet with Seattle’s four picks in the first and second rounds: Georgia D-lineman Jalen Carter, Northwestern tackle (moving to guard in Seattle) Peter Skoronski, Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz and Baylor NT Siaki Ika.

The Hawks need to make it a big-boy draft.

For now, the Hawks still have a shot at making the playoffs; but, with these below-average lines, they are not going to advance even if they do sneak in.

The Hawks need to win their last two games – home vs. the Jets and Rams — and get one loss each from Washington and Green Bay OR two losses from the Giants plus one from either Washington or Green Bay. The problem is Dallas and Philadelphia — both locked into the playoffs — likely will rest their top guys in Week 18, possibly giving Washington and New York easier paths to victory.

Next week, Washington hosts Cleveland, Green Bay hosts Minnesota and New York hosts Indianapolis. The Packers’ final game is at Detroit.

There is a good chance the Hawks could win both games and still miss the playoffs – meaning their “reward” for a 9-8 season would be to drop lower in the first round (they are at 13^th right now).

Notes & observations from Twitter

A telling Seahawks stat: pic.twitter.com/5VXq6Ytd0G

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) December 25, 2022

The #Seahawks defense forced the #Chiefs to punt six times today – tied for the most in a game this season.

No forced turnovers, but they still did enough to give them a chance.

— Aaron Levine (@AaronLevine_) December 24, 2022

The Seahawks finished with only one sack and three official QB hits on Patrick Mahomes. Per @ESPNStatsInfo, Mahomes was under pressure on only 19% of his dropbacks (6 of 31), his lowest percentage since Week 9 of 2021. Also the second-lowest rate for Seattle's defense this year.

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) December 24, 2022

Ken Walker took blame for run game in the first half (9 rush, 16 yards). Says he was more decisive in 2nd half (17 for 91 yds)

"A lot of times I was trying to make something happen but I really just needed to go straight and be decisive and things (would) start to open up.”

— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) December 25, 2022

Pro Football Focus had this to say about Seattle's OL against Chiefs: pic.twitter.com/n3qJyPVbyT

— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) December 25, 2022

Geno Smith said playing more up-tempo was one of the keys to Seattle moving the ball better in the second half. He later said they need to get back to doing more of that. pic.twitter.com/RO7R6U3rjC

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) December 24, 2022

With a temperature at kickoff of 12 degrees, the Seahawks' loss to the Chiefs was the second-coldest game in franchise history. "The weather had nothing to do with anything," Pete Carroll said. "It just was not a factor … Our guys handled it …”https://t.co/iV0Et0HTo5

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) December 24, 2022

Pete Carroll: "We need to be more consistent on offense. The last couple of weeks the defense is really starting to step it up and that's what we need. So It's everything. We need to do a little bit better everywhere."

— Curtis Crabtree (@Curtis_Crabtree) December 24, 2022