The Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks are facing off in preseason Week 3.

The Chiefs lead the Seahawks 6-3 at the half. Seattle is just 2-for-5 on third down, has six first downs, and has 129 net yards of offense at the half. Kansas City has 14 first downs, 227 yards of total offense, and went 6-of-9 on third down. Overall, a solid performance on both sides of the ball, but not enough points to show for it.

What else did we learn about the team during the first half of play?

Emmett Johnson continues his strong play in the preseason

The Chiefs seem to have stolen themselves a starting-caliber running back in fifth-round rookie Emmett Johnson. He’d performed well in each of the first two preseason games, but Week 3 was icing on the cake. Johnson had seven carries for 39 yards, 2-of-2 receiving for 15 yards, and a 10-yard reception on a screen pass that was called back on a holding penalty. Given that Kenneth Walker has an extensive injury history, having a backup who you’re confident in as a lead back feels vital. Johnson is on that path and should provide the team with a nice 1-2 punch.

Steve Spagnuolo’s defense is clicking early for Kansas City Chiefs

For the second straight week, the defensive starters has looked sharp for Kansas City. They now have three consecutive series dating back to preseason Week 2 where they’ve forced a punt. This is notable because Steve Spagnuolo’s defense traditionally takes a few weeks during the regular season to gel. Right now, the physicality feels like it’s dialed up a notch. They’re attacking the football, playing physical coverage, and getting after the quarterback to force some mistakes. The defense’s speed is apparent. There’s a lot of concern about this group, given the departures of Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and Bryan Cook. I think they’ll be better prepared for Week 1 than others might expect.

Brashard Smith is explosive on returns and out of the backfield

The Chiefs haven’t seen much life out of the kick return game, but Brashard Smith changed that against the Seattle Seahawks. He got a 57-yard return that helped set up the team’s first scoring drive. His top-end speed makes him a big-time threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball. Later in the second half, Smith had five carries for 23 yards, including a long rush of eight yards. I’ve felt like he has needed to show that explosion working out of the backfield as a rusher, and he’s done that these past two weeks of preseason football.

Andrew Armstrong makes his case… again

Armstrong had a really strong first half for the Chiefs. He’s 4-of-7 for 45 yards, including a 20-yard reception. That was the long catch of the day by a Chiefs receiver at the half. He had a 15-yard toe-drag reception at the end of the half. He’s been a standout as a blocker throughout the preseason, but this was a good receiving day as well. Armstrong did have a drop, though, when he failed to look the ball in. He got his head turned around a little too quickly. Still, it feels like he does more good things than bad for this team.

Tre Watson’s got the hops and the blocks

Watson had one of the standout plays of the first half, which was a five-yard catch. The impressive part of it? He hurdled a defender to gain a few extra inches on the play. It got the attention of Travis Kelce, who raced down the sideline to congratulate Watson after the catch. Beyond his catch, Watson has been the team’s top in-line blocker, springing a number of running plays. Given what the Chiefs want their offensive identity to be in 2026, I feel like Watson’s chances to make the 53–man roster are only improving.