Seahawks QB Geno Smith lost 3 INTs – “Really cost us the game”

SEATTLE – Coach Mike Macdonald began his postgame press conference Sunday with a promise to Seattle Seahawks fans that the team will do everything it can to play better at home after going 2-4 at Lumen Field this season and fell behind 4-5 overall.

Geno Smith began his talk with an apology.

The veteran quarterback never hesitated to point the finger at himself and, in addition to his usual responsibilities, showed remorse after throwing three interceptions – including a pick-up – in a 26-20 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Six.

“First of all, I really want to apologize to my teammates, to the city, to the organization,” he said. “They trust me a lot in my decision-making and when they put the ball in my hands, when my teammates play like they did today and give us a chance to win the game, I have to be confident.” Things I did today, mistakes I made, they had a negative impact on us and really cost us the game today.

Smith added: “I really feel like I let everyone down today. Really.”

Smith was hardly the only reason the Seahawks lost for the fifth time in the last six games, and his first interception wasn't entirely his fault, as it bounced off Jaxon Smith-Njigba's hands after the receiver attempted to scramble in mid-air to get used to the litter.

Smith's second interception was the most unfortunate, marking a 14-point swing in the fourth quarter.

With the game tied at 13:13, he dropped his back foot on first-and-goal from the 6-yard line, was hit by outside linebacker Byron Young as he released the ball, and was intercepted by safety Kamren Kinchens, who brought it up returned it 103 yards for a touchdown.

“I tried to throw it out of bounds from the back of the end zone and a guy hit my arm,” Smith said. “But there are no excuses. I can throw this away, I can get it out sooner, be quicker in my decision making. “I tried to make a play down there, just held it a second too long and it didn't work.” will end well.

The Seahawks had a chance to tie the game after receiver Cody White blocked a Rams punt on Los Angeles' next possession, giving Seattle the ball at the 19-yard line. But Smith was intercepted again by Kinchens at the 4-yard line after his intended target, tight end AJ Barner, was stopped running across the formation toward the flat.

“When I tried to get the ball to AJ, I thought it was going to slip through there, but that didn't happen,” Smith said. “I thought he had been grabbed, but that's no excuse either. The ball is in my hands. I get a chance to make a decision and ultimately my decisions affect everyone, not just myself, and that’s why I have to get better.”

“I’m not saying this just to say it. I really know I can get better. It hurts me, man. It hurts me that I couldn’t make it today.”

Smith threw three touchdown passes, including a 30-yarder to Tyler Lockett and a 24-yarder to Smith-Njigba, 44 seconds apart late in the second quarter, giving Seattle a 13-3 halftime lead. Smith-Njigba caught another touchdown pass from 14 yards in the final minute of regulation, capping his career day (180 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches) and sending the game into overtime.

Smith finished the game 21 of 34 for 363 yards under constant pressure. The Rams sacked him seven times, recorded 11 official QB hits and pressured Smith on 17 of his dropbacks. According to ESPN Research, this was the second-highest stress Smith has faced this season.

The Seahawks had to return to fourth-string rookie right tackle Michael Jerrell after George Fant, in his first game back from injured reserve, re-injured the knee he suffered in the opening game had.

“He made some great plays for us,” Macdonald said of Smith. “It is not easy. He didn't have much time there. They had a good plan for the onslaught. We have to protect him better. I'm sure he'll take the three picks. We have this. “We have to make smarter decisions in this way and take care of the football. We have to be better if we want to win.”

On the game-winning touchdown drive late in regulation, Smith went 4 of 6 for 76 yards and had an 11-yard scramble.

“You have to have a short memory,” Smith said. “As a quarterback, a lot happens there. If you focus on what happened before, it will only have a negative impact on you. So just move on to the next play and focus on what the right decision is at that point. “I know it's extremely hard… but I've been in this league long enough so I've seen a lot and been through a lot, and I think that helps me move forward. But as long as we have a chance, I will keep fighting. That's just not who I am and it really hurts me.

The Seahawks' other mistakes included 12 penalties for 95 yards and more issues with the center quarterback substitution, which also plagued them in last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills. One of Connor Williams' shotgun shots went right through Smith's hands, while the quarterback apparently wasn't ready for another as the game clock reached zero. Seattle recovered both loose balls but lost a total of 44 yards.

“Connor is doing a great job,” Smith said. “He does a phenomenal job. Hats off to the way he plays, the way he competes. Nobody out there is perfect. Nobody is perfect. I'm not perfect. None of us are perfect, but we compete together and fight together.” And there's a lot of things we need to clean up, but the way we compete, the way Conner competes out there, I won't bat an eyelid to get it right, we'll get it right.

According to ESPN Research, the Seahawks are just the second team in the last 10 seasons to start 3-0 and fall to 4-5 or worse in nine games. They joined the Carolina Panthers in 2021, who finished 5-12 that season.

“I think there are a lot of different contributors, but if I'm honest, I could play better and fix a lot of things,” said Smith, who now has 11 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions this season. “The quarterback’s job is to win and ultimately get victories. If we are able to get wins, I have to do it.”