Pro Picks: Defending Super Bowl
champion Seahawks will hand the Chiefs their first loss
[October 22, 2026]
By ROB MAADDI
Kenneth Walker III is going back to Seattle with the undefeated
Kansas City Chiefs to face the team he helped lead to the Super Bowl
last season.
Walker, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs visit the Seahawks (3-3) on
Sunday night.
Walker leads the NFL in rushing with 665 yards despite already
taking a bye week while the Seattle has missed the Super Bowl MVP.
The Seahawks are 18th in rushing and have averaged 3.9 yards per
attempt.
Sam Darnold has seven interceptions in slightly more than four games
and the Seahawks haven’t made up for Walker’s absence. But they have
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the NFL with 717 receiving yards and
seven touchdowns.
Walker has provided the Chiefs a balanced attack. They haven’t had a
1,000-yard rusher since Mahomes became the starter in 2018. Walker
is on pace for 2,261 yards, which would set a single-season record.
Despite their struggles, the Seahawks are 2 ½-point favorites. Pro
Picks likes the home team.
SEAHAWKS: 23-20
NEW ENGLAND (4-2) at CHICAGO (4-2)
Line: Bears minus 3
Drake Maye has led the banged-up Patriots to three straight wins.
A.J. Brown returned last week but dropped three passes. Caleb
Williams was nearly flawless in his first game back, leading the
Bears to 31 points. Chicago plays consecutive primetime games
against last season's Super Bowl opponents, starting with the
Thursday night matchup.
BEARS: 24-20
PITTSBURGH (4-2) vs. NEW ORLEANS (2-4), in Paris
Line: Steelers minus 3
Aaron Rodgers led the Steelers back from a 13-point deficit in Tampa
Bay, relying on DK Metcalf and rookie Germie Bernard. The Saints got
their run game going in a win over the Giants. Both teams are
spending the week in Paris before playing the NFL’s first
regular-season game there. The Steelers have covered the spread four
of the past five games.
STEELERS: 23-18
CINCINNATI (3-2) at BALTIMORE (4-2)
Line: Ravens minus 2 ½
Joe Burrow and the Bengals are coming off a bye. Their defense had a
great start but has struggled against the run in the past three
games. The Ravens still might not have Lamar Jackson so Tyler
Huntley would start his third straight game. Baltimore is eighth in
rushing and relying on Derrick Henry is a smart move if Jackson is
out.
BENGALS: 22-17
CLEVELAND (4-2) at TENNESSEE (1-5)
Line: Browns minus 1 ½
Deshaun Watson led another fourth-quarter game-winning drive for the
Browns, but the offense has struggled despite the team’s winning
record. Tennessee’s offense is last in the NFL. The Titans beat the
Colts for their first win, but Cam Ward had another rough outing.
UPSET SPECIAL: TITANS: 20-17
INDIANAPOLIS (2-4) at MINNESOTA (5-0)
Line: Vikings minus 6 1/2
The Colts’ struggles cost general manager Chris Ballard his job.
Coach Shane Steichen is clearly on the hottest of seats and the team
has to find ways to win. The undefeated Vikings are coming off a
bye. They’ve been winning on defense and special teams and need
Kyler Murray to get the offense going.
VIKINGS: 23-18
MIAMI (0-5) at NEW YORK JETS (2-4)
Line: Jets minus 4 ½
The Jets haven’t won an AFC East game under coach Aaron Glenn, going
0-7. They have their best chance this week vs. Miami. The winless
Dolphins are coming off a bye. QB Malik Willis has the worst passer
rating (68.4) among starters.
JETS: 20-17
NEW YORK GIANTS (3-2-1) at HOUSTON (2-4)
Line: Texans minus 10 ½
J.J. McCarthy is replacing Jameis Winston, who had a winning record
after taking over for Jaxson Dart. McCarthy will face an
underachieving defense stacked with talent. C.J. Stroud is playing
great football for the Texans, who’ve won two in a row.
TEXANS: 26-17
[to top of second column] |
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and Kenneth
Walker III (9) celebrate a touchdown scored on a rushing play by
Walker III during the first half of an NFL football game against the
Los Angeles Chargers in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP
Photo/Ed Zurga)
SAN FRANCISCO (6-0) at ATLANTA (2-4)
Line: 49ers minus 3 ½
Christian McCaffrey vs. Bijan Robinson in a matchup of All-Pro backs
who are close friends and train together. The undefeated 49ers keep
winning despite losing key players because they have Brock Purdy.
The Falcons lost two games to start the season, won two in a row and
have now lost two straight. Atlanta is 3-2 ATS in past five games
against San Francisco.
49ERS: 22-20
TAMPA BAY (1-5) at CAROLINA (3-2)
Line: Panthers minus 3 ½
Baker Mayfield is aiming to return for the Buccaneers, who have lost
12 of their past 15 games. The Bucs have played tough defense but
their offense is among the bottom third. Bryce Young is playing his
best football for the Panthers. He has 11 TDs and only two picks.
PANTHERS: 23-20
DENVER (4-2) at ARIZONA (2-4)
Line: Broncos minus 4 ½
Bo Nix is taking plenty of heat despite Denver’s winning record. Nix
and the offense have to get on track. The Broncos have faced a tough
schedule that doesn’t get easier after Arizona. The Cardinals beat
the Rams on the road last week and have to carry that momentum into
a difficult matchup.
BRONCOS: 24-16
GREEN BAY (4-2) at DETROIT (3-2)
Line: Lions minus 3
The Packers have won three in a row, the defense has been stout and
Josh Jacobs is coming back to boost the offense with Micah Parsons
working toward his return. The Lions have the league’s worst defense
that’s sometimes offset by a prolific offense. This one should be a
shootout.
LIONS: 30-26
LOS ANGELES RAMS (2-4) at LAS VEGAS (3-3)
Line: Rams minus 4 ½
The Rams haven’t played close to Super Bowl favorites. And, injuries
are piling up with Davante Adams now going down for several weeks.
But they still have Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua and
Aaron Donald. The Raiders have lost three in a row but Kirk Cousins
is playing well so hold off on Fernando Mendoza. A defense that’s
allowed 30-plus points three straight games has been the problem.
BEST BET: RAMS: 31-20
DALLAS (2-4) at PHILADELPHIA (2-4)
Line: Cowboys minus 4 ½
The Cowboys have an opportunity in a wide-open NFC East, but have
had issues on defense and now a dynamic offense has sputtered. The
Eagles are reeling and won’t have Jalen Hurts likely for the rest of
the season. Tanner McKee makes his second straight start for
Philadelphia.
COWBOYS: 24-23
___
Last week: Straight up: 8-6. Against spread: 7-7.
Overall: Straight up: 55-37-1. Against spread: 45-45-2.
Best Bet: Straight up: 3-3. Against spread: 2-4.
Upset Special: Straight up: 2-4. Against spread: 2-4.
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