Seahawks Week 5 MVP: The unexpected Jedi Master, Geno Smith

The Seahawks lost another shootout that featured another masterful performance by their quarterback. No, it isn’t 2018, 12s. We aren’t watching Russell Wilson in his prime, but Geno Smith.

I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who’s detected a pattern in the 2022 edition of the Seattle Seahawks. The offense puts up enough points to win, and the defense lets the team down. That’s been the recipe for the team for the last three games, including the wild win over the Lions.

Remember the offense “only” put up 41 points. It was certified freak Tariq Woolen‘s pick-six that ultimately provided the margin of victory. The offense is clicking and that’s due to one person: the former backup, now Jedi Master, Geno Smith.

I’ve written about Geno quite a bit already. He earned my week three MVP and could have easily been the winner for week four. He was the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the win over the Lions, after all.

Seahawks needed more than Geno Smith to win

Smith has a legitimate case as the Seahawks MVP in four of the Hawks games this year. But it isn’t just me singing his praises. Our own Jake Luppino wrote an excellent analysis of the brilliance of the Hawks veteran QB in week four. Smith picked up where he left off in week five.

How crazy is it to read that, 12s? Yet, here we are in week five, and Geno Smith is clearly the most effective player on the team. Who woulda thunk it? I’ll crow just a bit, as I previously wrote that Smith would be better than many of his doubters expected.

I can’t say I expected he’d lead the NFL in completion percentage and passer rating. But that’s exactly what he’s doing. His outstanding performance against the Saints did little to change that.

Smith completed 16 of 25 passes for 268 yards and three scores. It could easily have been a five-touchdown performance if not for a dropped pass by DK Metcalf and a holding call that wiped out another touchdown pass. To be sure, Smith wasn’t the only Seahawks player that stood out Sunday. You’re right, for the most part, they were on offense.

Ken Walker III stepped in for Rashaad Penny and showed that Seattle will still have a savage running game. He’ll have to, as Penny is out for the year. Tyler Lockett scored on a pair of beautiful deep passes that had most 12s thinking, “Russell Who”? As for that defense, I can’t say it any better than Matthew Holm put it: Tariq Woolen is a beast. But for this week, my MVP remains the man who was forced to hide in the shadows for years, Jedi Master Geno Smith.