Good morning, 12s. Here's a look at what's out there today — Tuesday, January 17 — about your Seattle Seahawks.
Geno Smith & Ryan Neal Earn PFF Honors
The 2022 season began with questions about what the product would look like on the field for the Seahawks. Nine wins and a playoff berth later, both national and local media are looking forward to what the Seahawks 2023 team will do. Safety Ryan Neal earns Pro Football Focus’ highest-team grade for the season and quarterback Geno Smith earns the “Biggest Surprise” Award for their 2022 play.
After fellow safety Jamal Adams was placed on the IR in September with a quad injury, Neal stepped up in a major way for Seattle's secondary. In addition to nabbing his third-career interception, Neal posted a career-high 66 tackles, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a sack. Throughout the season, Neal remained atop PFF's safety rankings for his play, finishing the year at No.1 per PFF writer Marcus Mosher.
Highest-graded player: S Ryan Neal (85.6)
Neal was the highest-graded safety in the NFL this season by a pretty good distance. He was able to rack up six pass breakups and 25 run stops. He's a complete safety who has been an integral part of Seattle's defense this season.
It's been a magical year for quarterback Geno Smith, nearly a decade separated from his last-full season as a starter. Leading the NFL in completions percentage, setting multiple franchise records, finishing the year 3-0 against his former teams while earning a playoff berth and a Pro Bowl nod are just a handful of Smith's accomplishments in 2022. That prompted Mosher and the PFF team to make the West Virginia alum the Seahawks' biggest "surprise" of the year.
Biggest surprise: QB Geno Smith (79.8)
You can make a case that Smith should be theComeback Player of the Year for several reasons. He led the Seahawks to the playoffs and graded out as a top-10 quarterback this season by PFF. He also had the second-most big-time throws (34), behind onlyJosh Allen. After starting just five games from 2015-2021, Smith was among the biggest surprises during the 2022 season.
Left with the taste of playoff defeat following Saturday's 41-23 NFC Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Seahawks are eager for 2023. The pair of Smith and Neal were key components to Seattle's movie-like playoff run. The coming months will reveal which other pieces will be added to the puzzle to get the Seahawks past their divisional foe and back to greatness.
Re-live Each Game With The Seahawks Rewind Podcast
Re-live every Seahawks game this season with game highlights, player and coach postgame interviews, and a whole lot more. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
Social Post Of The Day
Proud. To a season year of Seahawks football.
More from Around The Web
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times: Pete Carroll says Seahawks defensive staff will return: ‘We’re staying with our guys’.
The Associated Press: Seahawks excited about future after surprising playoff berth.
Brent Stecker of Seattle Sports 710AM: Huard: Two ways Seahawks’ defense came up short vs 49ers.
Stacy Rost of Seattle Sports 710AM: Rost: How the Seahawks put a new twist on an old story.
Brandon Gustafson of Seattle Sports 710AM: Carroll: Where things stand with Seahawks, Geno Smith on a new deal.
Corbin Smith of Sports Illustrated: Seahawks S Jamal Adams: Pete Carroll Provides Rehab Update.
Here at Seahawks.com, takeaways from Pete Carroll’s end-of-season press conference.
Also at Seahawks.com, Carroll gave several injury updates on his team heading into the offseason.
Go behind the scenes with team photographer Rod Mar as he shares moments from the Seahawks' Wild Card game vs. the San Francisco 49ers on January 14, 2023 at Levi's Stadium. Eye On The Hawks is presented by Western Washington Toyota Dealers.
12s line Seahawks Way as the team buses head to the airport for the trip to Santa Clara to face the 49ers.
12s cheer as the Seahawks team buses head to the airport for the trip to Santa Clara to face the 49ers.
Seahawks defensive lineman Myles Adams boards the Delta charter with teammates.
On the flight to the Bay Area, DK Metcalf chats with Noah Fant, Drew Lock and Cade Johnson (back to camera).
Heavy rains have battered Northern California, and the Seahawks arrived at the San Jose Airport to the results of the weather.
On game day, Boye Mafe on the team bus before his teammates board.
Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, head coach Pete Carroll and team Vice-President of Coaching Operations Matt Capurro tour the field before the game.
The Seahawks gather in the visitors locker room for their "team up".
Running back Kenneth Walker III stretches on the field before the game.
Head coach Pete Carroll greets starting linebacker Tanner Muse during the team stretch period.
Linebacker A.J. Johnson gets hyped during pregame warmups.
Seahawks safety Jamal Adams, who was injured earlier in the year, was with the team for the Wild-Card playoff game.
Seahawks captain Tyler Lockett speaks to the team before they leave the locker room for kickoff.
Seahawks captains Nick Bellore, Al Woods and Quandre Diggs make their way to midfield for the coin toss.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith fires a pass from the pocket in the first quarter.
Running back Kenneth Walker III returns to the sidlines after scoring Seattle's first touchdown.
Seahawks defensive lineman Poona Ford pursues 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant leaps for more yardage on a catch in the second quarter.
Kenneth Walker III runs away from the 49ers defense.
Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf hauls in a 50-yard touchdown completion from Geno Smith in the second quarter.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith celebrates after his 50-yard touchdown strike to DK Metcalf.
Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf escapes a tackle attempt and finds running room.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers reacts after hammering home a 56-yard field goal at the end of the first half.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carolll celebrates with his kicker Jason Myers after a last-second field goal to take the lead into halftime.
At halftime, the offense meets in the locker room.
Head coach Pete Carroll fires up the team at halftime.
Safety Ryan Neal makes a tackle in the third quarter.
DK Metcalf makes juggling catch in the third quarter.
Tight ends coach Pat McPherson meets with Noah Fant and Colby Parkinson during a break in the action.
Seahawks safety Ryan Neal and linebacker Boye Mafe combine on a tackle in the third quarter.
Near the end of the game, offensive guard Gabe Jackson hugs quarterback Geno Smith as the season winds to an end.
In the postgame locker room, quarterback Geno Smith talks to his teammates and coaches.
Head coach Pete Carroll hugs linebacker Uchenna Nwosu.
Long after the rest of the team had headed for the buses, receivers DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Penny Hart talked among themselves in the empty locker room.
Quarterback Geno Smith was the last player off the Delta charter after it arrived in Seattle on Saturday night.
