After a big day for Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle couldn't finish off the Rams in overtime in a 26-20 loss.
Smith-Njigba finished the day with 180 yards and two touchdowns, both career highs, but for Smith-Njigba, despite the accomplishment, the sting of the loss hurt more than the way the personal performance felt good.
"I hate losing. (It's) whatever," Smith-Njigba said on his performance today. "I'd rather win, one hundred percent. My confidence level, it's always been the same. I've known that I could break out and have an amazing game whenever, but it's the wins that counts."
And he's not wrong. This season, as well as last year during his rookie season, Smith-Njigba has shown flashes of what exactly he's capable of as a receiver. In Week 2 against the Patriots, he had 12 receptions for 117 yards – which was a career day for him then. And going back to last season he showed just how clutch he could be, with two game-winning touchdowns – once against the Philadelphia Eagles and another against the Cleveland Browns.
"This one's tough," Smith-Njigba said. "I hate losing. We all hate losing when we feel like we had it in our hands, and we had the opportunity to win multiple times and for us not to get it done. It sucks, man. Honestly."
Smith-Njigba came up in big ways during Sunday's game – one of them being his second touchdown, which forced the game into overtime within the final minute of the game.
"I think JSN [Jaxon Smith-Njigba] did a heck of a job today," receiver Tyler Lockett said. "Being able to make plays, keeping us in it, a big time fourth-down catch, to even give us a chance to be able to go to overtime. And then being able to catch that [touchdown] ball like that, Geno [Smith] threw a great ball in that window between two defenders and JSN was not only able to catch it but also keep his feet in bounds."
Although Geno Smith threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, he also threw three interceptions, the first time he's thrown that many in one game since 2014. Smith-Njigba has full confidence that Smith will bounce back from this performance.
"He's done it again, and again, and again, honestly," he said. "Every time we take the field, get in the huddle, I know we're going to give our best effort. I know (if) we give him time, we run the right routes, we do what we're supposed to do, he's going to put the ball where it's supposed to be, and that's all we can do. But yeah, we have total confidence when we go out there, we've just got to stop beating ourselves, honestly."
On Smith-Njigba's day as a whole, Smith said, "I thought he was lights out. He had about 200 yards today. He was all over the place. He played with extreme fire shoot man. He was just doing his thing. That's who he is and we got to continue to build on that. He's a guy who's only going to get better and really appreciate playing with him."
Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks tackle George Fant (74) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Dee Williams (33) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Dee Williams (33) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Jerrick Reed II (32), Seahawks cornerback Dee Williams (33), and Seahawks linebacker Josh Ross (18) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris (98) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38) and Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38) and Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Dre'Mont Jones (55) and Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris (98) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) and Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) and Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Coby Bryant (8) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) and Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
