INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Seattle Seahawks had been already eradicated from playoff rivalry heading into their season finale towards the Los Angeles Rams, however with $6 million on the road, the sport was removed from meaningless for Geno Smith.
The veteran quarterback had three contract escalators price $2 million apiece inside attain, and he hit all three in Seattle’s 30-25 win at So-Fi Stadium.
“I used to be simply making an attempt to win,” Smith mentioned.
By doing so, Smith hit one in all his escalators that was tied to Seattle (10-7) both making the playoffs or profitable 10 video games. The opposite two had been tied to Smith’s season-long efficiency. He wanted 185 passing yards to complete with at the least 4,282, which he surpassed early within the fourth quarter. For the opposite, he wanted to complete at or above 69.7555% completion charge, which he did by finishing 20 of 27 makes an attempt for 223 yards.
4 of Smith’s completions had been to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who tied Tyler Lockett’s single-season franchise report with 100 catches.
Smith ends the season with 4,320 passing yards and a 70.4% completion charge to interrupt the franchise information he set in each classes in 2022. His 578 makes an attempt and 407 completions additionally topped the franchise information he set from that season. In line with the staff, he is the twentieth quarterback in NFL historical past to complete with a completion charge of 70% or higher.
Smith’s 4 landing passes Sunday had been his most in any sport in his 12 NFL seasons.
“I let you know, I hate throwing incompletions in any case,” Smith mentioned. “So these kinds of issues, I am not nervous about that. I attempt to full each cross that I throw. Normally, through the video games, if I’ve one, I am like, ‘I’ve to hit 5 in a row.’ That is how I play. I need to hit 10 in a row. I would like 20 completions in a row. I wasn’t occupied with something aside from profitable.”
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Smith’s fourth landing cross, which went to tight finish Noah Fant with 3½ minutes to play, additionally gave him his fourth game-winning drive within the fourth quarter or additional time this season.
“It was nice to get that final drive for us to go on the market and rating, Noah to get his first landing,” he mentioned. “How loopy does that sound? First landing of the season. However for that to be the sport winner, greatest landing of the yr. Simply needed to go on the market and win and I am appreciative of the blokes for battling on this sport. Clearly had nothing to play for however nonetheless had every part to play for.”
Escalators differ from incentives in that incentives are assured the second a participant hits them. In Smith’s case, the $6 million in escalator cash he hit Sunday shall be added onto the $10 million roster bonus he is set to make March 16 if he is nonetheless with the Seahawks as of that date.
Coach Mike Macdonald mentioned Smith was conscious of the escalators however was simply centered on profitable the sport.
“He was like, I simply need to go win,” Macdonald mentioned. “That is all he cared about. He was superior all week. I am going to maintain our conversations non-public however he was nice, man. He was superior. Superior. All his focus all week was simply going out the proper method and getting a tenth win.”
Smith, 34, shall be eligible for a contract extension this offseason, one thing he needed final offseason however did not get because the Seahawks have a coverage of not re-doing offers which have a couple of yr left.
He was requested postgame what shall be vital to him in negotiations.
“These are issues that I am going to speak to the folks I would like to speak to about,” he mentioned. “I admire the query, however I prefer to maintain a number of issues inside, in-house, with respects to all people concerned. I believe it is the easiest way to do it.”
Smith finishes with 21 landing passes and 15 interceptions. He referenced the interceptions whereas praising the job Macdonald did in his first yr as a head coach, saying, “I made a number of silly errors and he had my again the whole time.”
First-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has come below hearth largely due to Seattle’s underperforming run sport. Smith gave a robust endorsement of his playcaller, whose job safety has been known as into query.
“I believe Grubb is a superb, glorious coordinator,” he mentioned. “Even higher man. Our first yr, clearly there was some ups and downs, there was some issues we are able to enhance on. We’ll work exhausting to get these issues mounted, however I imagine on this system. I imagine this can be a actually good system and it’ll be actually good for a very long time.
“I believe Grubb has precisely what it takes to be a fantastic coordinator on this league and it is his first yr, you have to give the man some grace. He is figuring issues out too. I believed he did an impressive job main the group. I like the eagerness that he brings to the sport and he made me a greater quarterback.”
