SEATTLE (AP) — An awkward hit ended quarterback Geno Smith’s night and may have done serious damage to the Seahawks’ playoff chances.
Smith left Seattle’s 30-13 loss to Green Bay on Sunday night with a right knee injury and was replaced by Sam Howell midway through the third quarter. The injury doomed the Seahawks’ comeback attempt and put a serious chill on their hopes for an NFC West title. They dropped into a tie atop the division with the Los Angeles Rams, who beat the Seahawks earlier this season and host them to end the season.
Smith will undergo scans on Monday to determine the extent of the injury.
“It’s tough,” linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. “Geno’s the heartbeat of this offense, the heartbeat of this team and one of our leaders. So obviously, you don’t want to see him get hurt. But we’ve got confidence in Sam, confidence in the guys behind him. So, I pray everything is OK with Geno. But we’ve got to be ready to go.”
Smith went down on a low hit by linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who rolled over Smith’s leg. He tried to walk off the field, went down, then got up again and limped to the sideline, where he threw his helmet. He walked to the locker room with trainers a short time later.
Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said there did not appear to be any structural damage to Smith’s right knee. Smith returned to the sideline with an ice bag held in place by a bandage, and Macdonald said the team considered allowing him to return until a late turnover put the game out of reach.
Howell, acquired in an offseason trade with Washington, completed 5 of 14 passes for 24 yards with an interception and led one touchdown drive.
Smith entered the night ranking second in the league in attempts, completions and passing yards and was on the way to breaking all the Seahawks single-season marks he set last year.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Geno, and just watching him through his career how he’s reinvented himself,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “And he’s playing really good football — I mean, you’re not the second-ranked passing leader in this game for no reason.”
Smith, who was not available to speak to reporters, struggled before he was hurt. He threw his fourth end-zone interception this season, tying the Browns’ Jameis Winston for the NFL high, when Carrington Valentine picked him off late in the first quarter. He was 15 of 19 for 149 yards and the pick, and Seattle trailed 20-6 when he left.
Howell said he’d be ready if called upon when the Seahawks host the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday.
“I prepare every week like I’m going to start,” Howell said. “But if I am playing, just getting those reps in practice will be important, and you just getting the whole week to get ready to go will be a big thing and I’ve got to make sure I’m doing the right things to prepare myself for Sunday.”
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Seattle Seahawks' Geno Smith throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Green Bay Packers' Rashan Gary sacks Seattle Seahawks' Geno Smith during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks' Geno Smith is hurt during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks' Geno Smith is hurt during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
SEATTLE (AP) — Romeo Doubs improbably pulled in his second touchdown catch of the night from Jordan Love, sealing a decisive victory for the Packers and moving them closer to the postseason.
Love threw for 229 yards and the two TDs to Doubs, and Green Bay ended the Seattle Seahawks' four-game winning streak with a 30-13 victory Sunday night.
It was the second touchdown, which Doubs caught as he was falling to the turf while tightly covered by Seattle's Devon Witherspoon with 4:59 left, that had opposing fans at Lumen Field loudly chanting “Go Pack Go!”
“The couple drives before that, we just felt like we weren’t getting much out of it, you know, we weren’t executing at that high level and making those plays we were making,” Love said. “To kind of have some of those drives stall out and then to put a drive down the field and finish with that touchdown out there — Romeo making a great catch — definitely helps you be able to breathe a little bit better.”
Josh Jacobs ran for 94 yards and a touchdown for the Packers (10-4), who have won eight of 10. Brandon McManus kicked three field goals.
The Seahawks (8-6) lost quarterback Geno Smith to a knee injury in the third quarter.
Smith was hit low by Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and threw his helmet to the ground after he limped off the field. He was replaced by Sam Howell, who had just one previous snap for Seattle.
Smith completed 15 of 19 passes for 149 yards with an interception, and Howell went 5 of 14 for 24 yards and a pick.
The Packers' two losses over their last 10 have come to NFC North-leading Detroit, including a 34-31 defeat on Dec. 5, meaning the division title is likely out of reach. Green Bay has yet to clinch a playoff spot, but the team is getting close to where it wants to be.
“I like where we’re at,” Love said. “We’ve just got to keep figuring out ways to get better, to keep pushing each other and find ways to get these wins to end the season off. But I like where we’re at.”
The Seahawks fell into a first-place tie with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West, and Smith's injury could impact their chances of winning the division. He will undergo scans on Monday, but coach Mike Macdonald said the knee appeared structurally sound.
“We know what type of team we are. We know what the goal is, what we’re trying to accomplish. Playoff ball is just putting the emphasis on what we said early in the year that we wanted to get done,” Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. “That’s win the division, go into the playoffs, get a home playoff game, one or two, or whatever the case may be.”
Love finished 20 of 27, and Doubs, who missed the last two games in the concussion protocol, had three catches for 40 yards.
Smith was intercepted in the end zone in the first half and the Seahawks trailed 20-3 at the break. Green Bay scored on all four of its first-half possessions.
An unnecessary roughness penalty on Seattle's Riq Woolen put the Packers on the Seattle 28 on their initial possession. Jacobs' 1-yard TD run capped the drive.
The Packers went up 14-0 on Love's 13-yard pass to Doubs, who dragged two defenders with him into the end zone before waving at a television camera.
The Seahawks closed the gap on Jason Myers' 48-yard field goal, but McManus answered with a 38-yarder for the Packers.
The Seahawks drove to the Green Bay 12, but Smith's pass intended for Noah Fant was intercepted by in the end zone by Carrington Valentine, the first career pick for the second-year defensive back.
It was Smith's 13th interception this season and fourth in the end zone.
Woolen was flagged for pass interference on Doubs on Green Bay's final series of the half, but the Packers settled for McManus' 21-yard field goal.
The Seahawks showed life early in the fourth quarter on Zach Charbonnet's 24-yard touchdown run that made it 23-13. Three plays later, Doubs put it away with his pretty 22-yard throw to Doubs, who got his elbow down in the back of the end zone.
Green Bay, making its first trip to Lumen Field since 2018, had not won at Seattle since 2008. Coach Matt LaFleur and Love said they were surprised by the number of Packers fans — and how loud they were.
“This is a tough place to play, it’s extremely loud, and I was shocked when our defense was on the field and I could hear our Packer fans. I definitely think that made a difference for us,” LaFleur said.
Packers: LB Quay Walker (ankle) left in the first half and did not return. All-Pro CB Jaire Alexander (knee) was inactive for a fourth straight game.
Seahawks: RB Kenneth Walker III did not play. C Olu Oluwatimi injured his right knee in the first half.
Packers: Host New Orleans on Monday, Dec. 23.
Seahawks: Host Minnesota next Sunday. The Vikings, who host Chicago Monday night, clinched a playoff spot with Seattle's loss.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Green Bay Packers' Romeo Doubs catches a touchdown pass in front of Seattle Seahawks' Devon Witherspoon during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Green Bay Packers' Kingsley Enagbare reacts to a sack during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks' Sam Howell is pressured by Green Bay Packers' Kenny Clark during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Green Bay Packers' Edgerrin Cooper intercepts a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Green Bay Packers fans cheer during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Green Bay Packers' Edgerrin Cooper celebrates after an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Green Bay Packers' Romeo Doubs catches a touchdown pass in front of Seattle Seahawks' Devon Witherspoon during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Green Bay Packers' Josh Jacobs runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Green Bay Packers' Josh Jacobs runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks' Geno Smith throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love celebrates a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks' Geno Smith is hurt during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
