Geno Smith: The Seahawks' Star Quarterback Ready for Detroit Challenge

Geno Smith's Journey in Detroit

DETROIT—In overtime, with Ford Field rocking in the Lions’ 2023 home-opener, 75 yards stood between the Seahawks and a potential victory. The noise was deafening, the Seahawks were missing both of their starting tackles, who were injured the week before, Seattle’s running game hadn’t been very productive throughout the game, and the defense had just given up two quick fourth-quarter scores that allowed Detroit to come back from a 10-point deficit and force overtime.

In other words, it was a situation where the Seahawks needed Geno Smith and the passing game to deliver, and as he has done so often in his two-plus seasons as Seattle’s starting quarterback, Smith delivered, completing six of seven attempts for 69 yards his final completion a 6-yard touchdown to Tyler Lockett for the win.

High Stakes Return to Ford Field

Now, a year after that thrilling win, the Seahawks are back in Detroit, where once again they are facing a tough Lions team and what will surely be another raucous crowd in one of the NFL’s loudest venues. And once again, the Seahawks will be counting on a big performance from their quarterback.

• Monday night at Ford Field will feature the type of setting that might rattle most quarterbacks. But Geno Smith isn’t most quarterbacks.
• He thrives under pressure, as is evident in his nine game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime since he took over the starting job in 2022.
• Smith has shown he can perform at his best in hostile environments, including spectacular performances in wins at Detroit in 2022 and 2023.

Record-Setting Performances

Two years ago, Smith went 23 for 30 for 320 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-45 shootout victory. In addition to that stat line that produced a 132.6 passer rating, Smith also rushed for 49 yards and a touchdown. In last year’s aforementioned 37-31 overtime win, Smith was 32 for 41 for 328 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, giving him a 116.3 passer rating, and he also rushed for 20 yards. That’s 717 total yards and five total touchdowns, four passing and one rushing, while not committing a single turnover, all while playing in a loud domed stadium against one of the NFC’s top teams.

“He's an elite competitor, and he is very poised, that's a pretty good combination,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “Throws the heck out of the football too. That helps.”

And as good as Smith’s two games in Detroit were, those weren’t an aberration or the case of a good matchup with one particular defense. Since taking over as Seattle’s starter in 2022, Smith has thrived on the road on the way to back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons. Smith has thrown for more than 300 yards nine times as Seattle’s starter, and six of those came on the road, with the Seahawks winning four of those games. Five of Smith’s top seven passer rating performances as a Seahawk have also come on the road, including both Lions wins, with Seattle going 3-2 in those games.

“I love it,” Smith said of playing in tough road environments. “I think it tests your will, it tests your communication. It's super loud. I feel like I'm screaming in the huddle just to get the play out and then at the line of scrimmage, voice inflection, making sure all the guys can hear me and then it's something about those environments that just kind of charge you up, just makes you want to go out there and perform and we really look forward to any opportunity, but especially those great road games in environments like Detroit.