Geno Smith and the Seahawks shocked the world as they beat the Broncos in an instant classic, 17-16. The Seahawks looked like the better team from the opening snap, scoring a touchdown on their first drive. Denver’s defense was on its heels for most of the night as Geno Smith made play after play… and yes, you read that right. Geno Smith hadn’t been a week one starter since he was with the New York Jets in 2014. Not only was this his first game back as a week one starter, but he was playing in front of one of the most electric crowds in the NFL and was facing a future Hall of Famer, Seahawks legend, and the man he replaced, Russell Wilson.
The emotions were palpable all night long. The crowd roared with excitement as the Seahawks took an early lead and reigned boos on Wilson as he took the field. There were costly fumbles, questionable fourth-down calls, and plenty of penalties. In the end, the Seahawks were up by one with four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, and Russell Wilson had the ball. One of the greatest fourth-quarter quarterbacks in NFL history had a chance to stick it to not only his former team but to his ex-head coach, Pete Carroll.
With the way the Seahawks played in the fourth quarter, they had every reason to lose this game. With 20 seconds left on the clock and facing a fourth down, the Broncos took their $200 million quarterback off the field and let their kicker, Brandon McManus, attempt a game-winning 64-yard field goal. The kick had the distance but faded the left, allowing the Seahawks to kneel out the clock. In typical Seahawks fashion, they won a close, ugly football game that had their fans on the edges of their seats. In no way, shape, or form was this game pretty, but at the end of the day, the win felt just as sweet.
After the game, Geno Smith gave what might be the quote of the century.
“They wrote me off, but I ain’t write back.” ?
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 13, 2022
Geno Smith feeling himself
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/VkHKtnK8l2
Enjoy This Feeling While it Lasts Seattle…
Enjoy what it feels like to win while it lasts, Seahawks faithful. I don’t see the Seahawks being nearly as competitive the rest of the season. Denver’s defense was shockingly bad for three quarters and had Geno Smith playing like a pro bowler. After playing the game of his life, I’m predicting that Geno Smith will revert to the mean in due time. Besides, if we’re being honest, had Denver’s rookie head coach, Nathaniel Hackett, given Wilson the ball on fourth down, the Seahawks would have likely lost the game.
Brandon McManus career history on 62+ yard FGs
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 13, 2022
62 yards – 2016 – MISS
62 yards – 2018 – MISS
63 yards – 2021 – MISS
64 yards – 2019 – MISS
64 yards – 2022 – MISS*
70 yards – 2021 – MISS
*tonight
THIS is what Nathaniel Hackett opted for instead of the $242M Russ on 4th & 5???
By season’s end, I see the Broncos as a wild card team, while the Seahawks will receive a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Wilson will have his eyes set on another Super Bowl, while the Seahawks will have their eyes set on, hopefully, their next franchise quarterback. It’s going to be a long, hard season for Seahawks fans, but there’s no better way the season could’ve started than by beating Russell Wilson’s new team. Pete Carroll gets to laugh first, but only time will tell who laughs last.
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