For the vast majority of Sunday's loss to the Vikings, Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith played at a very high level.
Smith completed 72.1 percent of his pass attempts (31 for 43), he threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns, and he did so while playing at less than 100 percent thanks to the knee injury that knocked him out of last week's game.
Even better, Smith was a preposterous 15 for 15 for 219 yards and three touchdowns on Seattle's three touchdown drives, throwing in a key 8-yard scramble on the last touchdown drive for good measure. One of those drives came in the final minutes of the second half to cut into a two-score lead, while the other gave the Seahawks a fourth-quarter lead they would not be able to hold onto thanks to a Vikings touchdown that proved to be the winner in a 27-24 victory for Minnesota.
But in addition to all of those highlights, there were also a pair of interceptions. The first pick, which came while Smith was under pressure and targeting tight end Noah Fant, gave the Vikings a short interception that they turned into a second-quarter field goal. The second interception, which sealed the victory for the Vikings, came inside the final minute when Smith was trying to find DK Metcalf down field, again under pressure, with Smith and Metcalf appearing to not be on the same page on the play.
In other words, Smith was really good for almost the entire game, but there were also a couple of mistakes, and on a day the Seahawks rushed for only 59 yards, a really good, but not quite perfect Smith performance wasn't good enough to win a football game.
Smith, as always, was hard on himself after the game, but as Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald noted, the Seahawks wouldn't have been in position to potentially win the game in the fourth quarter, nor would they be in the playoff contention after 15 games, if not for the play of their quarterback.
"Geno is probably our top competitor on our football team. We're not sitting here with life at the end of December unless Geno has done the things that he's done. He's a fighter, man. I thought he played a good game.
As for the knee injury that knocked him out of last week's game, Smith said, "I was good enough to play, so I felt okay."
And if there was additional blame to go around for the interceptions, be it protection issues or the routes being run—both of which have been factors on past interceptions this season—Smith wasn't interested in sharing that blame.
"Anything you see that goes wrong, put it on me," he said. "Anything that don't look right, put it on me."
Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) and Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20), Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22), Seahawks free safety Coby Bryant (8), and Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Coby Bryant (8) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Pharaoh Brown (86) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Pharaoh Brown (86) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Pharaoh Brown (86) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14), Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11), and Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) and Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
