On the Seahawks' very first drive of Sunday's game against the New England Patriots, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was targeted three times and made two catches for 11 yards. And that first drive set the tone for how Smith-Njigba would be utilized for the rest of the game. He finished the game with 12 receptions, for 117 yards, trailing only DK Metcalf who had a 56-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter on his way to 129 receiving yards.
Both Smith-Njigba's 117 yards and 12 receptions are career highs and Sunday'sshowing was a great example of what exactly the second-year receiver is capable of.
"He was unbelievable," DK Metcalf said. "I mean every time they seemed to be throwing the ball, he was catching it. But he's also a hard worker, a special player, a special young player that's about to take over the league in my opinion."
During the offseason Smith-Njigba said that his rookie year was a good foundation, but knew that he could grow a lot from what he showed last year. And through 12 drives in Sunday's game, including overtime, Smith-Njigba caught a pass or was targeted on 8 of those 12 drives. Quarterback Geno Smith was consistently finding Smith-Njigba throughout the entire game.
"JSN is a great player," Smith said. "We have to get the ball in his hands as many chances as we can. I thought he did a great job throughout the game and just making those clutch catches and finding windows when it was zone, beating man when it was man, and I thought he did a great job today."
Head coach Mike Macdonald said that the team is going to continue to count on Smith-Njigba and that it was "pretty awesome" that he was able to have such an impressive game.
"He's a great player," Macdonald said. "He's got incredible hands. All the underneath stuff. I think he is an underrated deep threat. There's a play, I think it was in overtime, where he held on to that ball. The guy had a pretty good hand on the ball in transition to be able to secure that ball in a critical moment. That's the one that stuck out with me, so he's a guy that we're going to be relying on moving forward."
While Smith-Njigba had a career day, Metcalf also had a great day, finishing with 129 yards, which included his 56-yard touchdown reception where he flew past the Patriots defense. After the game, Smith recognized all the talent the offense holds.
"Super versatile," he said. "We have so many great players, even guys some that weren't on the field that can make some plays. I believe in the work. I believe in us just playing together and finding ways to win. It's going to be a different guy each time. We have a bunch of selfless guys. I think that's what matters the most. Guys who believe in one another. We want to see the next guy shine. I want to see the run game lead us just as much as I want to go out there and throw a bunch of touchdowns. However we can get a win, whatever we got to do, I'm just reading the defense and trying to make the right plays."
The Seahawks duo of Metcalf and Smith-Njigba also made Seahawks history as the first pair of receivers to both have 10+ receptions and 100+ receiving yards in one game.
And although he had more of a quieter game, Tyler Lockett showed why the team trusts him in crucial moments, when he came up with a 16-yard reception during overtime to get the Seahawks further down the field into field goal range. Lockett also drew a pair of key pass-interference calls, one in the end zone to set up a Zach Charbonnet touchdown run, and another on the winning drive in overtime.
To Macdonald, that is simply just who Lockett is.
"That's him," he said. "I mean, you knew it coming in. You knew his reputation. Learning who he is as a person, who we absolutely love, but there's something special about him where he comes alive in those clutch moments, man. Again, it's just, we love him, but just a great job by Tyler."
Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 2 game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) and Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) and Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Seahawks players at Gillette Stadium for the Week 2 game at the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
