Geno Smith Credits His Poise on Seattle Seahawks' Game-Winning Drive vs. Washington Commanders
The Seattle Seahawks rebounded from their beatdown against the Baltimore Ravens with a gritty 29-26 win over the Washington Commanders at home on Sunday, as Geno Smith led a game-winning drive.
The Seahawks were in a dog fight all day. After Sam Howell led his team down the field and tied the game, Smith and the Seattle offense got the ball back, needing points to retake the lead. Smith would lead an eight-play, 50-yard drive that set Jason Myers up for the go-ahead field goal with no time remaining. The
But what allowed Smith to orchestrate that drive under the most intense pressure of the game?
"I think, poise," Smith said. "That's a key factor in it. You've got to be calm. The guys got to feel that calmness from you. You don't want to get antsy or anything in the huddle, and guys get a little nervous. Being calm but also just being in that position so many times throughout my lifetime playing football, knowing that you're either going to make the play or you're not. I truly believe there is no failure, you just learn. Whether you win or you lose, you've got to continue to learn. I think we got it done, and that was all that mattered."
With Smith being the veteran presence in the huddle, what he was able to do against the Commanders wasn't surprising to anyone, even linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Smith had his best statistical game of the season as he finished his day going 31 of 47 passing for 369 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Wagner says what his quarterback was able to do late in the game wasn't the least bit surprising.
“We see it all week," Wagner said. "He’s always very, very composed, regardless of what’s going on in the game, regardless of what’s happened. He comes out, and he’s going to make the right read, make the right play. Especially in crunch time, he did a really, really good job of making plays. DK did a very good job, too. To come back after last week and be able to close the game out, put us in a chance to win, speaks a lot about Geno.”
The Seahawks will need all of Geno's leadership and poise over the next few weeks as the schedule gets really tough.
After the Los Angeles Rams, the Seahawks then face the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys, and the 49ers again before taking on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Smith's veteran qualities will get its ultimate test over that stretch, but if Wagner is confident in his quarterback's ability to make the right throw at the right time, then perhaps that five-game stretch isn't as daunting as it appears.