Ladies and gentlemen...big game alert! After a fast start to the season, going 3-0, the Seattle Seahawks have a chance to really prove something against a formidable foe in the Detroit Lions.
National news reporters aren't giving the Hawks much of a chance, despite having the better record in this matchup. As if that wasn't enough motivation, the Seahawks will most likely want to stymie and stick it to a coach who was in serious consideration to succeed Pete Carroll this offseason.
That would be Lions offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson, before he tucked out of the running for both the Seahawks and the Commanders head jobs. Mike Macdonald could be motivated to prove that he was the right man for the job.
All the more, Geno Should feel motivated. He did not get any of the long-term security that he was looking for in the offseason with a new contract after two consecutive pro bowls. What Seattle did instead was trade for another quarterback, Sam Howell.
Smith has continued to be written off from a national perspective, and Johnson decided he’d chill in Detroit for another year and wait for a better head coaching opportunity rather than work with Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks. Did y’all forget that the man can play ball?
Not only is the competition worthy, but the NFC West is wide open. Foregone conclusions are usually ripe for narrative-buster-type games, and Smith would need to be at the dials if that were to be the case this week. Get ya popcorn ready!
Prediction 1: Geno Smith avoids a sack and throws for a touchdown on the run
Geno Smith will either break a sack or sidestep one, then toss a touchdown on the move on the very same play. I know this sounds like a remote scenario, but we are going bold here! There's also the fact that Smith is criminally underrated at this sort of thing. Sadly, he may have no choice but to tap into that side of his game, performing behind a banged-up and beleaguered line.
Prediction 2: Geno will have a better QB rating than Jared Goff
When Geno Smith has time, he can dissect a defense with the best of them (especially in neutral situations). It’s easy to see a scenario in which Seattle’s Mike Macdonald revival defense (number two in Fox Sports' total defense stats) will do more to inhibit Goff than Detroit’s defense
(number 10 in Fox Sports' total defense stats) do to Smith.
The Lions could shift to the run if that’s the case. This may not even be so bold, as Geno Smith is currently 13th in QB Rating, while Goff is 23rd. Smith is also 9th in QBR, while Goff is 26th. The level of competition won't be a talking point after Monday.
Prediction 3: Smith will play well enough under duress that he will gain new fans and win people over
If you are still one of those who see Geno Smith as nothing more than a stopgap, league-average placeholder, then it’s time to wake up! Did you see the numbers above? We could talk stats all day about how efficient he is. Look at some of the ridicule that came with Dan Orlovsky putting Smith in his top five quarterbacks right now. This is a primetime game, one of those that is on the national stage and sticks in people’s minds. If the Seahawks can get more consistency on offense, there should be a lot to remember.
Prediction 4: G-Money will move to 2nd in the league in total passing yards
Smith is sitting at third after Week 3, so he is in striking distance. It's a good bet that QB 7 will keep throwing, especially with an offensive line that has sprung leaks in pass protection early in the season. If Kenneth Walker III can suit up, that will help open up more explosive opportunities through the air as the game progresses.
The guy who is currently in the second spot for passing yardage is Brock Purdy, who is shorthanded and injured against New England. Dak Prescott is at the top, but he played on Thursday, leaving 286 yards necessary for Smith to overtake him. Let's not forget that Geno owns the NFL’s third-highest completion percentage for 2024 thus far. There’s also the fact that this is an impeccable matchup for G-man *chefs kiss*.
