DETROIT—In his third visit to the Motor City, Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith delivered another standout performance, but this time, it wasn’t enough to secure a win.

The Seahawks fell to the Detroit Lions 42-29 in a thrilling shootout, despite Smith passing for a career-high 396 yards.

A Record-Breaking Performance

Smith set personal bests in completions (38), attempts (56), and passing yards (396) as the Seahawks’ offense put up 516 total yards and 38 first downs, the most in franchise history. The Seahawks quickly found themselves trailing 14-0, which led to a pass-heavy game plan that leaned heavily on Smith’s arm. While the offense managed to close the gap, their final efforts came up short, with controversial calls and missed opportunities stalling their comeback attempts.

Despite the early deficit, Smith and the Seahawks remained competitive throughout the game. The turning point came late in the fourth quarter when a questionable offensive pass interference call against Tyler Lockett negated a crucial fourth-down conversion. Following that, a fourth-down incompletion in the end zone sealed the Seahawks’ fate. As the team attempted a desperate comeback, Smith’s only interception of the game occurred while forcing a pass to the end zone in the final minutes.

Praise for Smith’s Poise

“We were forced to chuck it around in the second half and I thought he was poised,” said Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. “It was a loud environment, Lions fans did a great job, but operation-wise, I thought we were clean, I thought he was poised, thought he was accurate. I thought he played a heck of a game.”

The Seahawks initially opened the game with a focus on passing before integrating running back Kenneth Walker III into the offense. However, the situation demanded more passing, and Smith delivered, showcasing his ability to lead the team in a high-pressure environment.

Spreading the Ball Around

Smith’s performance included completions to 10 different players, with nine of them catching at least two passes. DK Metcalf led the charge with 104 yards on seven receptions, marking the third straight game in which Metcalf surpassed 100 receiving yards, a first in franchise history. Rookie tight end AJ Barner also made his mark, scoring his first career touchdown on a 9-yard catch.

Macdonald noted the unselfish play of the Seahawks’ skill players: “It speaks to the protection, speaks to the unselfishness that our skill guys have, the precision that we’re playing with some of the routes. Geno just playing within the system and throwing the ball where it needs to go.”

Defense Struggles to Keep Pace

While the Seahawks’ offense thrived, their defense struggled to slow down the Lions. Detroit capitalized on key plays and maintained control throughout much of the game, limiting Seattle’s ability to fully close the gap.

“They had our back today,” said defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins. “They pretty much kept us in the game. We didn’t hold up our end, stopping their offense, but kudos to the offense for putting up the points.”

The Takeaway

Although the Seahawks left Detroit with a loss, Smith’s career day and the offense’s resilience offered a glimpse of the team’s potential to compete with the best in the NFL. Despite their defensive struggles, Seattle’s offense has the firepower to stay competitive, even in high-scoring contests.

This loss serves as a reminder that while the Seahawks have a quarterback capable of keeping the team in the game, adjustments are needed on the defensive side to complement their offensive production.