This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Seahawks.They’r

e a playoff team now Damien Williams Jersey , by sticking to their convictions, even if they’re not in line with the rest of the league.The Seahawks secured a playoff berth Sunday night with a 38-31 win over the Chiefs, improving to 9-6 on the season.They’ve done it by going back to coach Pete Carroll’s roots, after an offseason spent jettisoning old players and former assistant coaches. They’re still playing a reasonable facsimile of their old defense, but it’s their old-school offense that’s the difference.The Seahawks lead the league in rushing, which is a matter of intent as much as talent. They entered the game with 80 more rushes than pass attempts (457-377), and they kept that pace up against the Chiefs.They ran for 210 yards on 43 attempts (including late knees which took the average below 5.0 per carry), and attempted just 29 passes.Coupled with the kind of late-game magic by quarterback Russell Wilson (three touchdowns, the passing kind) they’ve always enjoyed, it’s an interesting mix. And it definitely goes against the current trends in the league Derrick Thomas Jersey , which suggest you have to fling it all over the place, all the time, to be successful. When everyone is moving in one direction, there’s always room to succeed by going against the grain.Some might call it innovating.Here are five more things we learned during :1. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes probably won’t have to throw another pass in a visiting stadium this season.He’s done quite enough already.Mahomes’ sidearmed third-quarter touchdown pass was his 30th this year. In the road games, we mean.That broke Tom Brady‘s record of 29, set in 2007 for the most in league history.It’s an interesting dynamic that he’d put up better numbers on the road (he has 17 touchdowns and five interceptions in seven home games so far, heading into next week’s finale), but so much of what he’s doing this year is unprecedented.He pushed it to 31 in the fourth quarter, against just six interceptions in eight road games. They can clinch home field advantage in the AFC by beating the Raiders next week.2. Seahawks running back Chris Carson topped the 1,000-yard barrier in the third quarter http://www.chiefslockerroom.com/authentic-joe-montana-jersey , and has become the closest thing they’ve found to a bell-cow back since Marshawn Lynch left town.They’ve worked with committees and used a first-round pick on Rashaad Penny (who was inactive with a knee injury), but the 2017 seventh-rounder has emerged as a guy they can trust.Not every team can pluck a back out of thin air (and their improvements on the offensive line have been significant), but Carson’s style is a perfect fit for the scheme and personality of the Seahawks.3. Chiefs safety Eric Berry may not be quite back. But he’s getting there.He was limited to just a half in his debut last week, as he works his way back from a bone spur issue in his heel (after missing 15 games last year with a torn Achilles).He’s yet to look like the old Eric Berry, and he was on the sidelines late in the fourth quarter, as they continue to monitor his snaps.Their defense has enough problems, and getting him back to anything resembling his old form will be crucial to their playoff chances.It’s an oddball unit, because they have top-shelf talent, such as defensive end Chris Jones (who extended his streak of games with a sack to a record 11) and outside linebacker Dee Ford. They’ve been missing Berry all year, and if he gets his legs underneath him and Kendall Fuller gets back Womens Larry Johnson Jersey , there’s clearly room for improvement.4. Elder Seahawks kicker Sebastian Janikowski was hurt in the third quarter, on a roughing the kicker penalty.He was able to hit a 28-yard field goal later in the possession, but clearly wasn’t right.That opened the door for Australian punter Michael Dickson to kick off, and he drop-kicked it inside the 5-yard-line.Dickson has been a difference-maker in terms of field position for the Seahawks this year, and his ability to be effective in other ways (and his drop-kick field goals in pregame warm-ups were amazing), only adds to the layers of novelty.Dickson’s second attempt went out of bounds, giving the Chiefs the ball at the 40, so it wasn’t nearly as cute then.5. Chiefs wide receiverMarcus Kemp had played just 22 snaps of offense this year.But he made one of the most athletic plays you’ll see, proving his value to a good team.The Chiefs were able to pin the Seahawks inside their own 10-yard line on a punt that went into the end zone, thanks to Kemp’s leap. He took off before crossing the goal line Len Dawson Jersey , and batted it back into the field of play before he landed. His teammates seemed stunned at first, as they gave away a few yards by letting it role.But the former undrafted rookie from Hawaii, who hung around on their practice squad last year, gave a perfect example of how fringe players can hang on for years. The number of players who can physically make that play are few, but the number who are willing to practice the craft of special teams to the point they know when and how are smaller still. The Chiefs chose a 324-pound defensive tackle with their third-round pick."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Kansas City Chiefs NewsOpen ThreadsFull ArchiveLibrary Community GuidelinesContact InformationOdds Shop About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕NFL DraftChiefs 2019 draftNFL Draft results: Chiefs select Western Illinois DT Khalen Saunders at No. 84New,206commentsThe Chiefs chose a 324-pound defensive tackle with their third-round pick.CDTShareTweetShareShareNFL Draft results: Chiefs select Western Illinois DT Khalen Saunders at No. 84The Kansas City Chiefs used the No. 84 overall pick in the third round on Western Illinois defensive tackle Khalen Saunders. Unless they trade back into the third round, the Chiefs are done with picks until the fourth round begins Saturday morning.DT Khalen SaundersWestern Illinois • 6’0” • 324 lbsThomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports(report powered by the KC DRAFT GUIDE, published on 4/8)EXPECTED DRAFT RANGE: Top 100BACKGROUND: Limited interest and offers coming out of high school, so he opted to stay close to home and attend Western Illinois. Played sparingly as a redshirt freshman before starting the rest of his college career. Named to the FCS All-American second team as a senior. STRENGTHS: Saunders has a thick lower half and upper body to match but moves incredibly fluid. Good explosion and lateral burst while remaining light on his feet to allow for quick change of directions on counter rushes. He has good body control to avoid contact and slip through gaps with fast arm-over or euro-step pass-rush moves. His motor stays on and very active hands in passing lanes. Saunders has a strong natural punch and core strength to shed blockers. Holds well at the point of attack when head up and penetrates gaps when shaded off blockers. WEAKNESSES: Saunders struggles with length due to his short limbs. His conditioning level may not be pro ready and he often stops mid-rush in an attempt to bat passes down. Pass-rush plan is set in stone upon the snap and he rarely shows the reaction skills to peel off as the play develops. Blockers can quick-set Saunders as his hands are often late and being carried too low. Against the run, Saunders’ length shows up as he struggles to punch-extend blockers off his chest. Easily reached and turned based upon a late get-off and he stands upright while trying to read the ball carrier. Saunders doesn’t have the power currently to withstand double teams or quality down blocks without giving ground. HOW HE FITS WITH THE CHIEFS: Saunders is a developmental player that is going to take some time to adjust to the level of competition. The good news in that regard was his impressive performance at the Senior Bowl http://www.chiefslockerroom.com/authentic-marcus-allen-jersey , in which he looked every bit as good as Power 5 prospects. Even so, in the NFL, his conditioning and hand technique all need improvement to make him more than just a good athlete. As he progresses, he will provide a dynamic interior option that can play behind the line of scrimmage. For the Chiefs, Saunders’ potential is a perfect fit to rotate in with Chris Jones and the nose tackles to provide a second interior rusher, even if there is a time commitment to his development. PLAYER COMP: Darius PhilonReaction: The 84th pick in the draft was the 84th ranked player in the KC Draft Guide. Saunders is one of the more fun players and stories in this entire draft. He was a Senior Bowl participant who became a father in the middle of the event. You’ll find him on social media showing off his ability to do backflips.He might be my favorite pick of the draft. Big, fluid athlete that should thrive executing the stunts and twists in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme. The value is solid and the fit is obvious. The Chiefs have only Derrick Nnadi under contract in 2020. They have more depth now. Saunders has a ton of potential and could be an excellent value down the road. Chiefs 2019 NFL Draft picks (six picks)Round 2: Pick No. 56 overall — Georgia WR Mecole HardmanRound 2: Pick No. 63 overall — Virginia S Juan ThornhillRound 3: Pick No. 84 overall — Western Illinois DT Khalen SaundersRound 6: Pick No. 201 overall — South Carolina CB Rashad FentonRound 6: Pick No. 214 overall — Utah State RB Darwin ThompsonRound 7: Pick No. 216 overall — Illinois C Nick AllegrettiSelection time limitsDay 2: Round 2 (seven minutes per pick) • Round 3 (five minutes per pick)Day 3: Rounds 4-6 (five minutes per pick) • Round 7 (four minutes per pick)(Compensatory picks = four minutes)