Geno Smith passed for a career-high 369 yards, including a 27-yard completion to wide receiver DK Metcalf to set up a walk-off field goal to lift the Seattle Seahawks to a 29-26 win over the Washington Commanders.
Smith found Metcalf with a beautiful zip pass over the middle. Metcalf cut up the field despite time waning. Finally, Commanders defenders Benjamin St-Juste and Percy Butler dragged Metcalf down to the middle of the field.
The Seahawks offense lined up in the nick of time, allowing Smith to spike the football with three seconds remaining in the game. Seahawks placekicker Jason Myers drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired.
Geno Smith spoils Sam Howell’s efforts
Smith’s heroics negated a gallant comeback effort by Commanders’ young quarterback Sam Howell, who orchestrated a game-tying touchdown drive on the previous possession.
Howell threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, including a 35-yard connection with former college teammate Dyami Brown with 52 seconds remaining that tied the score at 26-26.
Howell converted a fourth-down pass to Terry McLaurin, keeping Washington’s hopes alive on their final possession. The QB also overcame bad clock management as Washington called two questionable timeouts. But all was forgiven when Howell found Brown on 3rd-and-10 on a curl route before Brown turned it upfield, knifing through the Seahawks defense to the end zone.
However, the Commanders’ late-game efforts were for naught. Smith led the Seahawks on a seven-play, 50-yard game-winning drive. Smith completed 31-of-47 passes with two touchdowns to add to his career passing day.
Seahawks overcame Commanders’ hot start
Seattle overcame an early deficit, as Washington started hot with an opening-drive touchdown. Howell found an open running back, Brian Robinson, on a check-down that evolved into a 51-yard touchdown. Commanders kicker Joey Slye missed the extra point, but Washington led 6-0.
Three field goals by Myers kept the Seahawks in the game. The Seahawks overcame a critical blunder by Geno Smith, getting called for intentional grounding in field goal range with seven seconds remaining in the first half. The penalty included a 10-second run-off, sending the game into halftime tied at 9-9.
Despite the Commanders scoring a field to break the tie in the third quarter, Seattle gained control when running back Kenneth Walker III turned a checkdown from Smith into a 64-yard touchdown for the Seahawks’ first lead at 16-12.
Myers added the fourth of his five field goals to extend Seattle’s lead to 19-12. But Howell responded with a 19-yard touchdown pass to running back Antonio Gibson that tied the game at 19-19 and sparked a series of exchanging scores.
Ultimately, the Seahawks offense had possession of the football last and pulled off the win. Smith had a clean pocket for much of the game as the Commanders struggled to pressure the quarterback for the second straight game. Coincidentally, Sunday was the second game since Washington traded defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young to the Chicago Bears and Saen Francisco 49ers, respectively.
What’s next?
Seattle remains on pace with the 49ers for first place in the NFC West with a 6-3 record. Meanwhile, the Commanders drop to a 4-6 record and 2-5 in the NFC. The loss to Seattle is yet another game that got away from Washington. The Commanders have dropped four games by a touchdown or less this season.
The Seahawks will take their show on the road to face division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams beat the Seahawks in Week 1. Washington opens a 10.5-point favorite at home over the New York Giants. The Commanders will seek to avenge a Week 7 loss to the Giants.
