Local and national media make their picks and predictions for Sunday night's game between the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs at CenturyLink Field.

Elliot Harrison, **NFL.com**: Seahawks 28, Chiefs 25

Harrison: This will be the closest Patrick Mahomes will come to feeling what his counterparts deal with when they're calling signals at throaty Arrowhead. Although Mahomes played in Seattle during the preseason, when much of the country got an opportunity to see his rubber arm for the first time (his debut in 2017 came in Week 17, with hardly anyone outside of K.C. paying a whole lot of attention). The question here: How many drives will Mahomes and the Chiefs' offense receive to produce points, much less showcase the sophomore QB's arm talent? The Seahawks lead the NFL in rushing, putting the spotlight on an area of Kansas City's defense that has been downright terrible. The Chiefs allow 5 yards per carry and would be 32nd in rushing yards allowed if opponents weren't forced to throw so much to keep pace with Andy Reid's scoring machine.

Adam Teicher, **ESPN.com**: Chiefs 34, Seahawks 27

Teicher: The Seahawks are 0-4 in games against teams that, like the Chiefs, are in the top 10 in scoring. The Seahawks are ninth in scoring but have posted more than 31 points just once, against the lowly 49ers. The Chiefs have been over 31 points eight times and are better equipped to win a shootout, which this game will become.

Brady Henderson, **ESPN.com**: Chiefs 34, Seahawks 30

Henderson: The Seahawks' defense had several coverage busts in the first half of their overtime loss to the 49ers in Week 15, showing what a great playcaller like Kyle Shanahan can do against Seattle even without a great cast of skill players. It'll get much harder Sunday against the bright offensive mind of Andy Reid and arguably the NFL's best quarterback/receiver/tight end trio in Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. The Seahawks are a whopping 16-2 in prime-time home games under Pete Carroll, but a dangerous Chiefs offense that leads the league in scoring plus a banged-up Seahawks roster is a bad combination. 

Michael David-Smith, **ProFootballTalk.com**: Seahawks 27, Chiefs 24

MDS: A very intriguing game, with the Chiefs trying to hold on to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and the Seahawks wanting to bounce back from last week's disappointing loss. I like Seattle to win a good game at home.

Mike Florio, **ProFootballTalk.com**: Seahawks 20, Chiefs 17

Florio: The Chiefs have struggled in prime time this year, and everyone struggles in Seattle.

Pete Prisco, **CBSSports.com**: Seahawks 28, Chiefs 23

Prisco: Both teams are coming off tough losses and need this game. That will make for a classic battle between the Chiefs offense and Patrick Mahomes against the Seattle defense, which plays especially well at home. I think the key, though, will be Seattle's ability to run the football and control the clock. I think they will and win this game.

**BleacherReport.com**: Seahawks 28, Chiefs 26

BR: Indeed, the Seahawks have the NFC's best road record since drafting Russell Wilson in 2012, and they've won three in a row at CenturyLink Field by a combined 44 points. And indeed, they need this game, probably more so than Kansas City, who will make the playoffs regardless. The Seahawks are jockeying for position in a wild-card race with Minnesota, Philadelphia and Washington, two of whom are favored this weekend. 

Jim Moore, **710Sports.com**: Chiefs 38, Seahawks 20

Moore: In this matchup, the Chiefs have the much better offense, but their defense is the worst in the league. Specifically, the Chiefs are 26th against the run, allowing 127 yards a game, while the Seahawks are the NFL's best at 155 rushing yards a game. I'm guessing Seattle will have to rush for 180 to 200 yards to beat the Chiefs. Not only will that type of yardage move the chains, it will give the Seahawks a big advantage in time of possession, lessening Patrick Mahomes' opportunities.

Bob Condotta, **Seattle Times**: Chiefs 31, Seahawks 23

Condotta: This looms as a tough matchup for an increasingly beat-up Seahawks team. Kansas City needs to win to secure its desired postseason seed, and has had three extra days of rest. Seattle, meanwhile, has a number of key vets nursing injuries, and the key one for this game could be starting strong safety Bradley McDougald, who has been so good solidifying a young secondary this season. Suffice to say that his absence — or even just being much less than 100 percent — is going to be problematic against the second-rated passing offense in the NFL.

Mike Vorel, **Seattle Times**: Chiefs 35, Seahawks 24

Vorel: The Chiefs may tout the best offense of any team the Seahawks have seen this season, and with Bradley McDougald's status questionable at best, things look bleak for the Seattle secondary. The Seahawks' best defense might be rain – and lots of it. On the other side, Seattle's offense needs to continue to establish the run while avoiding costly holding penalties. Both teams need to win, but only one can do it. I'll take the Chiefs running away in the second half.

Larry Stone, **Seattle Times**: Chiefs 24, Seahawks 17

Stone: If things had worked out differently last week, one or the other – or both –of these teams could have had their playoff fate already determined. But since both lost, this game is mutually meaningful. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, they won't be at their healthiest, which means that their postseason hopes could well hinge on the final game of the year against Arizona.

Matt Calkins, **Seattle Times**: Seahawks 28, Chiefs 25

Calkins: The Chiefs have everything to play for, but the Seahawks' motivation is just as high. They don't want their playoff hopes to come down the final week of the season. If it control the clock and wins the turnover battle, Seattle can pull off a win in a stadium that provides one of the better homefield advantages in the NFL.

John Richards, KEXP 90.3 FM & **Seattle Times** Celebrity Guesser: Seahawks 34, Chiefs 31

Richards: Let's face it, last week was awful. But it was a road game! A let-down game! A game where we thought SF would roll over! Right? Right?! We have another primetime home game. most likely in the rain with 12s ready to clinch a playoff spot, so an upset is in the making. To win this week the defense has to wake back up and shut down Patrick Mahomes, the second coming of...well, Russell Wilson (He runs! He plays baseball! He can throw a no-look pass 200 yards!). We also will need to score 34 points, I base that on the fact that I think KC might score 100 ... BUT hoping they score 31. Also we should play our punter more. Look, I know the punter has only one job but let's get him more involved, he's the best player on the team.

More Picks From Around The Web

• One of 10 experts at ESPN.com sides with the Seahawks this week.
• Six of eight analysts at CBSSports.com like Seattle over Kansas City.
• Three of five writers at USA Today predict a Seahawks win.