DETROIT—In his previous two starts in Detroit, Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith led his team to victory with standout performances that contributed to high-school victories.
Back in the Motor City for the third time in as many seasons, Smith again found himself in a shootout with the Lions, and once again he was masterful. This time, however, Smith's standout performance wasn't quite enough, with the Seahawks falling 42-29 despite a big day for Smith and the offense.
The Seahawks' gameplan, as well as an early 14-0 deficit, meant a busy day for the passing game, with Smith setting career highs in attempts (56), completions (38), and passing yards (395). And with Smith and the offense moving the ball up and down the field, the Seahawks had 516 yards and 38 first downs, the most first down in a game in franchise history.
Despite the defense' struggles to slow down the Lions, the Seahawks were in it until the end, though their final drives came up short, first due to a debatable offensive pass interference call on Tyler Lockett that erased a fourth-down conversion, then with a fourth-down incompletion in the end zone. Finally, with the Seahawks having to try to make something happen in a hurry down two scores in the final minutes, Smith threw his only interception of the game while trying to force a ball to the end zone for the quick score the Seahawks needed to have any comeback hope.
"We were forced to chuck it around in the second half and I thought he was poised," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. "It was a loud environment, Lions fans did a great job, but operation-wise, I thought we were clean, I thought he was poised, thought he was accurate. I thought he played a heck of a game. I don't know what the stats are, but I thought he played really well."
The Seahawks started the game throwing frequently, then later worked in Kenneth Walker III and the running game, but the gameplan and the situation both called for a lot of passing, and Smith delivered.
"I think that's just how the game unfolded," Smith said. "Obviously, we want to be aggressive, that's something that we always want to do. When you're behind in a game, (offensive coordinator Ryan) Grubb, he has tremendous confidence in us and myself. I have no problem with him putting the game in my hand. I'm actually hoping for that every time I go out there, and so, whenever that's the situation, I just got to do what I got to do to make the right plays. Hat's off to the O-Line, that's a lot of pass protection out there against a really good defensive line, and I thought they played tremendous, and it really gave us a shot."
On his way to a big game, Smith completed passes to 10 different players, including two or more receptions for nine players. DK Metcalf led the way 104 yards on seven catches, making him the first player in franchise history with 100 receiving yards in three straight games. Smith also completed eight passes to Jaxon Smith-Njigba for 51 yards, and five to Tyler Lockett for 61, while rookie tight end AJ Barner scored his first career touchdown on a 9-yard catch in the second quarter.
"I think it speaks to everybody," Macdonald said of Smith connecting with 10 different pass catchers. "It speaks to the protection, speaks to the unselfishness that our skill guys have, the precision that we're playing with some of the routes. Geno just playing within the system and throwing the ball where it needs to go, and we've got to continue to do that, and if everybody is a threat at the same time, it's hard to take away one guy and have success. So that's what we expect. You need to be able to do that, you can't just throw it to one guy every snap. They'll take that away."
The most productive day of the season for Seattle's offense and for Smith wasn't quite enough for a win, but it did serve as a reminder that the Seahawks have the quarterback and the offense to keep pace with just about anybody in the NFL.
"They had our back today," defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins said of the offense. "They pretty much kept us in the game. We didn't hold up our end, stopping their offense, but kudos to the offense for putting up the points."
Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) and Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks guard Laken Tomlinson (70) and Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) and Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Dee Williams (33) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) and Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Dee Williams (33) at the Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday, September 30, 2024.
