Had Geno Smith stayed in the game, the Seattle Seahawks still likely would not come from behind to beat the Green Bay Packers. Seattle's defense started too slowly in Week 15, but the offense was even worse. This was made worse by a poor red-zone decision by Smith in the first half and the pass became an interception.
In the third quarter, though, Smith was injured and forced to leave the game. The initial diagnosis was a knee injury but to an unknown extent. Smith limped back onto the sideline after going into the locker room to be looked at by the medical crew, but he did not come close to coming back in the game.
He was replaced by backup Sam Howell who had only played one down all season coming into the game. He didn't throw a pass then, either. His first pass came in Week 15 when the Seahawks had fallen so far behind they needed to throw the ball on nearly every down. How did Howell do? Not well.
Sam Howell completely ineffective in replacing Geno Smith in Seahawks' Week 15 loss
Part of the issue was that Howell learned quickly that coming to Seattle in a trade from the Washington Commanders did not mean he suddenly had a much better offensive line. Howell was hit or sacked often. To make matters worse, Howell showed a tendency to hold on to the ball too long and allow defenders to catch up to him. This was the same issue he had with the Commanders.
Howell was also terribly inaccurate, unless you count the beautiful pass he threw into the arms of Edgerrin Cooper of the Packers for an interception. Cooper returned the ball 22 yards and basically ended a game that had long been determined.
Should Howell have to play moving forward, depending on how badly Smith is hurt, Seattle should not be expected to score enough points to win any of its games. The playoffs would be a fleeting hope. The next step is what to do in the offseason.
Both Howell and Smith are signed through next season, but releasing Smith would save the team $25 million. Howell only costs about a million dollars next year, and he could even start some games at the beginning of next season, but Seattle must draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Smith has shown this season his red-zone mistakes are too consistent for the team to count on him being the kind of quarterback who can lead the Seahawks to many playoff victories. Howell did not show against the Packers that he could lead the Seahawks to any wins. The best option for a bright future in Seattle is to get their new long-term QB in next year's draft.