The 2022 offseason marked the end of an era. The Seattle Seahawks traded away their longtime quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos and released linebacker Bobby Wagner. Both were the last remaining players from their Super Bowl XLVIII title campaign. While most people thought Seattle would be at the bottom of the rankings, this ended up being far from the truth.
Fast forward to November, the Seahawks are 6-3 and at the top of the NFC West. They are currently on a four-game winning streak, beating playoff hopefuls such as the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Giants.
After missing the playoffs last season, it seems Seattle is on pace to return to the postseason. While head coach Pete Carroll and the rest of the team deserve some praise, one player stands out for the Seahawks. Not only he is having a breakout year, but he is putting Seattle back on the map.
With that being said, here is the Seahawks' biggest surprise in the first half of the 2022 NFL season.
Seahawks' Biggest Surprise of 2022: Geno Smith
Prior to Week 1, there were many questions surrounding the quarterback position in Seattle. Geno Smith and Drew Lock battled for the starting spot throughout the preseason, with Smith eventually winning it. After Carroll made the decision, many fans labeled Smith as one of the worst starting quarterbacks in 2022. Fortunately for Seattle fans, he is proving all doubters wrong.
So far, Smith has completed 73.1% of his pass attempts for 2,199 yards and 15 touchdowns against just four interceptions. He has also rushed 41 times for a total of 196 yards and one score.
His best game came in Week 4 versus the Detroit Lions. Smith went 23-for-30 for 320 yards and two touchdowns, plus 49 rushing yards and a score on the ground. He led the team to a 48-45 victory. For his outstanding performance, he ended up earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Not only that, but Smith continued his elite games throughout October. Because of that, he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month. He is even receiving some Most Valuable Player award buzz. According to FanDuel, Smith has the seventh-best odds of winning the trophy at +2500. He is ahead of veterans such as Tom Brady and even Russell Wilson.
NFC Offensive Player of the Month: @GenoSmith3 pic.twitter.com/sSrvs6Migz
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 4, 2022
The rise of Smith is becoming one of the most pleasant surprises in 2022. Before this season, the last time he was a full-time starting quarterback was in 2014 with the New York Jets. The team finished 3-10 with Smith as the starter, with him completing less than 60% of his passes and throwing for 13 touchdowns and 13 picks.
Since then, Smith had stints with the Giants and Chargers before joining Seattle in 2019. In his first year with the Seahawks, he was just the third-string quarterback and failed to see any action that season. In the next two seasons, he totaled five appearances with three starts.
If it was not for him, it is unlikely Seattle would be 6-3 and fighting for the top spots in the NFC. His emergence is turning the Seahawks into a contender once again. His display is showing that, especially with how Denver is doing with Wilson, Seattle made a good decision in trusting him.
All of those things make Geno Smith such a big surprise not only for the Seahawks but for the entire league. Once seen as a backup at best, he is playing as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, leading his team to a potential postseason run and his first Pro Bowl selection.
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