After taking control of first place in the NFC West in late November, the Seahawks have now fallen to second place in the division and out of the playoff picture after Seattle lost 30-13 at home to the Green Bay Packers. The loss also secured a playoff berth for the Minnesota Vikings.
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith leaving the game in the third quarter due to a leg injury impacted the Seahawks’ offense tremendously.
Packers running back Josh Jacobs started things off with a one-yard rushing touchdown to put the Packers up 7-0. That was Jacobs’ ninth touchdown in his last five games.
After that, a promising Seattle drive ended in a punt once Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper sacked Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith for a nine-yard loss. That gave Green Bay the ball on their own 20.
The Packers would go on an eight-play, 80-yard drive capped off by a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jordan Love to wide receiver Romeo Doubs, bringing the Packers lead to 14-0.
Romeo Doubs showing off the leg power on this touchdown! 💪
📺: #GBvsSEA on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/mkA4wsAXmv— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2024
Seattle got on the board in the second quarter. The Seahawks advanced the ball to Green Bay’s 24 with a 25-yard pass to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a 16-yard carry by running back Zach Charbonnet. However, Geno Smith was sacked again on third down, forcing Seattle to settle for a field goal and a 14-3 deficit.
On the ensuing drive, Jordan Love connected with wide receiver Christian Watson on a toe-tapping 35-yard catch to put Green Bay in Seattle’s territory. The drive would flare out though, leading to a field goal and a 17-3 Packers lead.
Facing a 3rd and 2 at their own 47, Seattle received a fresh set of downs due to an illegal contact penalty on Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon. On the next play, Geno Smith completed an 18-yard pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba to set them up on Green Bay’s 30. Unfortunately, Smith threw a red zone interception from the Packers’ 12 to give the ball back to Green Bay.
After a 26-yard completion on a free play, the Seahawks were flagged for defensive pass interference with four seconds left in the half to put the Packers on Seattle’s three yard line. But, Green Bay played it safe and kicked a 21-yard field goal for a 20-3 halftime lead.
Packers running back Josh Jacobs was a difference-maker in the first half. The 26-year-old registered 111 of Green Bay’s 235 first-half offensive yards.
Seattle opened the second half with the ball. After getting to Green Bay’s 36, Geno Smith took his third sack of the game, forcing Seattle into a 3rd and 19 from the Packers’ 45. A holding penalty the next play gave Seattle a 3rd and 29 from their own 45. The Seahawks gained back 12 yards but were still out of field goal range, so they punted the ball to Green Bay.
After Green Bay’s first three-and-out of the night, Seattle took over on the Packers’ side of the field thanks to a lucky Seahawks bounce on the punt.
After a 22-yard pass to open the drive, Geno Smith was injured while taking a low hit from Edgerrin Cooper. This resulted in former Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell entering the game in relief of Smith who could be seen grimacing on the sideline. Howell missed a receiver on 3rd and 12, which led to a successful 45-yard field goal by Seattle to make it 20-6 with 6:20 to go in the game.
After a scary low hit by #Packers LB Edgerrin Cooper, #Seahawks QB Geno Smith is getting his lower leg checked out. He appears to be in significant pain.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 16, 2024
While the Packers received the kickoff, Geno Smith limped back to the Seahawks’ locker room under his own power. Though he was later listed as questionable to return with a knee injury, Howell started at quarterback for the rest of the game.
After a touchback, the Seahawks were flagged for a 39-yard defensive pass interference penalty to give the Packers the ball on Seattle’s side of the field. With a 3rd and 4 from the 25, Jordan Love escaped the pocket and completed a 14-yard pass to Christian Watson for a new set of downs. The Packers eventually settled for a 23-yard field goal to take a 23-6 lead late in the third.
On his first full series of the game (a three-and-out), Sam Howell was sacked twice.
The Packers and Seahawks then combined for three consecutive punts, soon giving Green Bay the football on their own 43 yard line. Josh Jacobs fumbled the ball away after a Jordan Love incompletion, setting up Seattle with the football on Green Bay’s 45 with under 13 minutes to go in the game.
On 3rd and 5, Sam Howell connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 12-yard gain and a new set of downs. Two plays later, Zach Charbonnet scurried into the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown to make it a 23-13 game with 11:16 remaining in the fourth.
Charbonnet for 6️⃣#ProBowlVote + Zach Charbonnet pic.twitter.com/OLMXfm38hM
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 16, 2024
Following two straight punts, the Packers got the ball back on their own 16. After getting it to Seattle’s 39, the Packers decided to go for it on a 4th and 2. The Seahawks stopped Josh Jacobs at the line of scrimmage to give their offense the ball on the Seattle 39 with 5:50 left in the game.
On the next play, Sam Howell was sacked. One play later, Edgerrin Cooper picked off Howell and returned the ball to Seattle’s 27 yard line for his first career interception.
With a 3rd and 5 from the 22, Jordan Love completed a 27-yard pass to Romeo Doubs – who caught the ball just inches off the ground – to put the Packers ahead 30-13 with 4:59 left in the fourth quarter. That was Doubs’ second touchdown of the game and his third career two-touchdown game.
The matchup ended with a 30-13 Packers win.
Pass-rushing and protecting the quarterback was the big difference in this game. The Packers sacked the Seahawks seven times while Green Bay allowed zero sacks.
