The Seahawks' final game of the season meant a lot to head coach Mike Macdonald, in making sure the team went out, played good football and got a win, despite this being a game that had no playoff implications. Macdonald wanted the team to "finish the year the right way."
And even though this game had no playoff implications for the Seahawks, there were some franchise records within reach for quarterback Geno Smith, who said the only thing on his mind was to go out and win a football game. Heading into the game, Smith needed 22 attempts, 13 completions and 186 yards to break his own single-season franchise records with 573, 400, and 4,283, respectively. And, as has been widely reported, he had some significant contract incentives tied to completion percentage, yardage total, and a 10th win.
With all of that in mind, Smith just had his sights set on winning.
"I was just trying to win," Smith said. "I'll tell you, I hate throwing incompletions anyway, so those types of things aren't...I'm not worried about that. I try to complete every pass that I throw and usually during the games if I have one, I'm like, all right, I have to hit five in a row. That's just how I play. I want to hit 10 in a row. I want 20 completions in a row. I wasn't thinking about anything other than winning."
Yes, Smith just wanted to win, but in the win, Smith notched all of his incentives and broke three of his franchise records in yards, attempts and completions – finishing the season with 4,320, 578 and 407, respectively.
"Personal stats aren't a big deal for me. I'm not out here chasing accolades. I want to win, and I want to win for the guys in that locker room. I want to win for our coaching staff. I want win for our front office and all the people that work, our kitchen staff, our strength staff, all the people that work so hard, man. They deserve to have the best of the best. For me personally, I expect to do well, but again, it's a team game and I just want to want to be there for my teammates."
Smith added, "I think winning was always going to be the most important thing. For us as a team, we wanted to close out on the right note and finish the right way. I'm a guy with a lot of integrity. I love this game, I love my teammates, I love the organization and I just feel like that's what leaders do, man. You got to go out there and you got to give it your all, no matter the circumstance, no matter what the record says, no matter the situation. For me, it was another opportunity to go out there with my teammates and grind out a win."
Smith finished Sunday's game with a career-high four touchdowns, and completed 20 of 27 pass attempts for 223 passing yards. "I think Geno left it all out there on the field," receiver Tyler Lockett said. "I think he was just incredible with just being able to lead us back to victory and just being able to seal the win. Hopefully he was able to reach his incentives and stuff like that. Even besides all of that, it's just the fact that everyone on this team wanted to play for each other. They wanted to go out there and they wanted to win and it makes football so much easier when you know the next man cares just as much as you care."
And in Sunday's 30-25 win, Smith helped lead the Seahawks to another fourth-quarter comeback win.
"Talk about one of the guys that fought all the way to the very end for us," Macdonald said. "Putting a drive…par for the course for Geno coming after another fourth quarter comeback. I'm not sure what number that is but great drive that they strung together at the end."
The Seahawks closed out the 2024 season with a 30-25 victory over the division rival L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium in Week 18. Check out some of the best moments from the postgame celebration.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks guard Laken Tomlinson (70) and guard Sataoa Laumea (63) celebrate the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and coach Jake Peetz celebrate the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) and Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) celebrate the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
The Seahawks tight end room celebrate the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
The Seahawks tight end room celebrate the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and coach Leslie Frazier celebrate the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and coach Leslie Frazier celebrate the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks cornerback Artie Burns (23) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
The Seahawks celebrate the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
The Seahawks celebrate the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) and nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) celebrate the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks cornerback Artie Burns (23) celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald celebrates the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) and guard Sataoa Laumea (63) celebrate the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and guard Laken Tomlinson (70) celebrate the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and guard Laken Tomlinson (70) celebrate the Week 18 win over the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
