Geno Smith's early interception for Seahawks in Week 6 will fuel his doubters

Smith overthrew a covered Tyler Lockett.
Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks / Jane Gershovich/GettyImages
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Geno Smith has to be perfect, or some people will continue to dislike him. The fact is that he has been fantastic for much of 2024 and even in the two years before this one. The Seattle Seahawks quarterback leads the NFL in passing yards this season and led the league in game-winning drives last year.

Still, some will always doubt him. That has been the case this season, even though he is one of the most positive aspects of why Seattle was 3-2 entering Week 6 versus the San Francisco 49ers. In Week 2, for instance, Smith threw zero passes that were deemed not catchable by his Seattle teammates.

To be certain, though, Smith's first quarter interception against the 49ers was a terrible pass that ended a promising Seahawks drive. He overthrew a covered Tyler Lockett so much so that 49ers safety Malik Mustapha was able to come over and pick it off. It was the first interception by a San Francisco defensive back this season.

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith makes atrocious throw in first drive versus 49ers

Due to Seattle's porous defense so far this season, Smith and the offense have been forced to be highly efficient. This is one reason they have lost two straight games. Smith has played well, but the defense has been atrocious.

Still, great quarterbacks play great in big games, and the 49ers game has become extremely important for Seattle early in the season. The team had a two-game lead in the NFC West just three games ago. Now that could vanish. Seattle's defense cannot control the 49ers offense because the Seahawks haven't been able to do that in the last five games against San Francisco. Smith would once again need to be nearly flawless.

Sadly, he ended a likely scoring drive with a bad throw. The same doubters he has always had will likely point to that throw and say, "See! He cannot win." Smith can, with some help, but he cannot win games on his own.

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