No ‘sunshine and rainbows’: What happened with Geno Smith and Seahawks’ offense in Chicago
Geno Smith strode down the sideline and off of Soldier Field with his head high. It was as if he was looking for someone, or something.
His team’s offense, perhaps?
His Seahawks didn’t have it, couldn’t find it on that field against the bad Bears Thursday night. Smith and Seattle’s offense didn’t have consistency. They didn’t have a single touchdown.
All they had was a win.
The quarterback threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns four days earlier against 13-2 Minnesota. He needs one more 300-yard passing game for his sixth this season; that would break Russell Wilson’s team record from 2016. He is on the cusp of breaking his franchise record for yards, completions and attempts in a season.
Yet playing on an injured knee Smith passed for just 160 yards with zero TDs against 4-12 Chicago. He had only one pass over 19 yards, for 23 to DK Metcalf.
But the Seahawks won. The final score: 6-3, tied for the lowest-scoring game in Seattle history.
“Again, man, it’s a week-to-week league. It’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbows,” Smith said. “Gutting out a 6 to 3 win feels just as good as winning the game 44 to 41. It’s all good getting wins.”
Well, not all good.
The Seahawks’ offense looked every bit like it had flown a couple thousand miles on Christmas Day and played on three days’ rest.
Seahawks’ fast start, to nowhere
Top running back Kenneth Walker went on injured reserve Thursday. General manager John Schneider said on the team’s pregame radio show Walker got a “nasty” high-ankle sprain four days earlier in the 27-24 loss to the Vikings.
Yet without their leading rusher, Seattle came out running against the Bears. Chicago put seven and as few as six defenders “in the box” close to the line of scrimmage to begin the game. The Bears’ plan was obvious: Don’t let Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett beat their pass coverage deep on throws from Smith.
So offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb began by running replacement lead back Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh. They rushed for 53 yards combined, of the 71 total yards on the game’s opening possession. Smith got away with throwing between two defenders on third down on a pass to Lockett over the middle that almost turned into Smith’s sixth red-zone interception of the season.
The Seahawks got an early field goal from Jason Myers, and seemed on their way offensively.
“I thought he started strong,” coach Mike Macdonald said of Smith.
“Put the ball in harm’s way in the red zone, which we would like to do a better job of that.”
Then, the Seahawks stopped. And stopped themselves.
On the first play of Seattle’s next possession, Smith tripped over Charbonnet’s foot dropping back to throw. That became an unforced, 8-yard sack. It ruined the three-and-out drive, all on pass calls.
McIntosh ran for 6 and 2 yards to start the Seahawks’ third drive, off their own goal line. Then on third and 2 Smith misfired about 4 yards wide left of Smith-Njigba for another three and out.
Early in the second quarter Charbonnet ran three times for 16 yards within the first five plays of a possession. Smith threw for 15 yards to Lockett. Then Smith got sacked on second down, and harrassed into an incomplete pass by Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards on third down to end that promising drive near midfield. Michael Dickson punted yet again.
So it went, almost all night. Seattle’s only other drive that produced points was a 2-minute drill at the end of the first half.
In that, Smith and the offense overcame Metcalf’s personal foul on the first play, the end of Charbonnet’ 9-yard run. Two tunnel-screen passes for 15 and 13 yards to tight end Noah Fant moved the ball to midfield. Smith’s 14-yard completion to Metcalf over the middle set up Myers’ 50-yard field goal with 30 seconds left in the second quarter.
It was the only time all night Smith was in rhythm throwing the ball. He is 22 passes, 13 completions and 186 yards from breaking his records from 2022 for a single Seahawks season.
Though he didn’t look like that against Chicago, the league’s 26th-ranked run defense and team that lost for the 10th consecutive time.
“When you score six points, you’re going to come away thinking you can do a lot of things better,” Smith said on his way out of Illinois late Thursday. “I really want to say I think we could have been better, but also think we moved the ball well. Very proud of the way we ran the ball. I thought we were effective, efficient in the passing game. Could have used a few more explosive (plays).
“But they did a good job. Hats off the Bears. They got a talented group on defense, and they made it tough on us.
“It was raining, inclement weather. But we found a way, and I think that’s what matters the most.”
Was his right knee he injured two games ago, Seattle’s home loss to Green Bay, a factor against the Bears?
Playing four days after his previous game sure didn’t help Smith’s knee, put it that way.
“It’s tough to get ready for a game with seven days rest. Just think about just having three days and coming off the injury that I had and then playing a tough game and then coming right back,” Smith said.
“We knew it was going to be something that we had to it gut out. I’m not the only guy who’s out there feeling something. There are other guys pushing through some things. That’s why we have the team that we have. We got a bunch of tough guys on our side, guys who love to play and love to play for their teammates.
“I think that’s something that’s just -- you got to fight through it. It was good to get it done today.
The Seahawks took a 6-3 lead on that 2-minute drill to end the first half. Their defense dominated quarterback Caleb Williams and the Bears from there. Seattle sacked the rookie first-overall draft choice seven times to win the lowest-scoring game in the NFL this season.
“I think we took a step in the right direction in terms of run game and moving the ball, especially early in the game,” coach Mike Macdonald said. “It was good to get the first drive going.
“But I think we’re going we have to still focus on, hey, let’s close the drives out. Once we get this thing moving, let’s finish in the end zone. Seven points is such a big difference, especially to start the game.
“We’ve just got to keep chasing and trying to get to multiple-score leads. That is good for our team. That’s what we’re chasing. Guys battled. Fought hard. Didn’t go our way in the second half.
“But, you know, we’ll get better from this.”
They only have one week to do that. And it still may not get them into the playoffs.
Seattle’s playoff chances
The Seahawks (9-7) stayed in contention to win the NFC West next week at the Los Angeles Rams. That’s pending the Rams’ home game against Arizona Saturday.
A loss for L.A. would mean Seahawks-Rams next week in Inglewood, California, will be the division-title game. A win for Los Angeles (9-6) Saturday night over the eliminated Cardinals (7-8) would mean Seattle’s chances to stay in contention in week 18 rests on the results of six other games this weekend that will affect a strength-of-victory tiebreaker the Seahawks need.
“I’ll tell you what, like, Geno is battling his tail off right now keeping us together. So we follow his lead,” Macdonald said.
“Our expectation is obviously higher than six points. But let’s go to work this week and do the best we can to go win.
“Thursday night games are funky. It’s a short week. It’s just feels like there is some weird outcomes.
“We’ll look at the tape and go to work. And Geno will be right there leading us.”
This story was originally published December 27, 2024 at 7:46 AM.
