SEATTLE – Sometimes the simplest explanation is the best.

To find out why the Seattle Seahawks are no longer in control of their playoff fate, why they lost their second straight home game late in the regular season, and why most postgame interviews were shorter than a commercial break, Geno Smith is just that Correct description of their last offensive game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

“I threw a pickaxe.”

Smith and the Seahawks have found themselves in this situation many times: trailing in the final minutes with a chance to win or tie the game. Statistically, Smith has been one of the better quarterbacks in the league in such situations since becoming the team’s starter in 2022. But that explanation was all he could muster when asked why Seattle came up short in consecutive series to solidify the team’s costly 27-24 loss to the Vikings at Lumen Field.

The loss was the Seahawks’ second straight after a four-game winning streak, dropping them to 8-7. They could have remained in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot and the NFC West title, but now they must beat the Chicago Bears 4-11 on Thursday night and ensure that the Arizona Cardinals (7-8) beat the Rams (9th). :6) beat ) next Saturday in Los Angeles.

With a win, the Rams would most likely clinch the division title regardless of the Week 18 rematch against Seattle in Los Angeles, as the win strength tiebreaker heavily favors the Rams with two weeks to go. Theoretically the Seahawks could Making up so much ground would require several games from other teams over the next two weeks that would work in their favor.

“Our fate is out of our hands right now, that’s tough,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said. “But we still have a lot of football to play. A break here or there, we’ll be right back and off we go.”

While that’s true, Macdonald was hired in part to avoid having to pay attention to the scoreboard. In the final two seasons of the Pete Carroll era, the Seahawks finished 9-8 and needed wins from other teams to secure a spot in the postseason. Their wish was granted in 2022, but not in 2023, leading to the swap of Carroll for Macdonald. But after another home loss that dropped the Seahawks to 3-6 at Lumen Field this season, they’re back in the same position.

“The only thing that matters right now is winning,” said left-back Laken Tomlinson. “We don’t control our fate, but if we win, we have a better chance of getting into the dance.”

Seattle squandered its chance to win on Sunday despite a masterful fourth-quarter performance that ended with Smith throwing a 4-yard touchdown to tight end AJ Barner on third-and-goal to make it 24-20 with 4:21 left Leadership went. Seattle picked up first downs on the ground and through the air and stayed in front of the sticks to avoid third downs until touchdown by Barner, who made a juggling grab in the back of the end zone.

It was then up to Macdonald’s defense to keep the Vikings out of the end zone. Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold moved the ball quickly down the field. He found receiver Justin Jefferson for 12 yards and struggled for another 9 yards before making an incomplete throw while being hit by defensive tackle Jarran Reed (the ball was nearly intercepted by Ernest Jones IV).

Rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy II’s sack on the next snap was negated by a penalty for grabbing the quarterback’s facemask. What would have been a third-and-18 at the Minnesota 38-yard line with four minutes left turned into a first down at the Seattle 39-yard line.

“Honestly, we stopped them,” outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu said. “We were unlucky with a penalty. Murph played a great game. The call was BS. That would have ended the game.”

Darnold stepped up and threw a 39-yard touchdown to Jefferson on the next snap. Seattle played Cover-2 on Jefferson’s side of the field with cornerback Riq Woolen underneath and safety Julian Love above. Jefferson ran a corner, and Love was unable to sprint over the ball and play it (Love did not appear to be in the locker room when made available to the media).

DARNOLD TO JETTAS. VIKINGS TAKE BACK THE LEAD.

📺: #MINvsSEA on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/67RQyrb9vP

– NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024

“Good game from them,” safety Coby Bryant said. “Correctly implemented.”

Trailing by three yards, Seattle reached the Minnesota 37-yard line on its next possession before Smith was tackled and sacked, resulting in a loss of 6 yards. Smith gave another curt answer when asked about the play.

“I was fired,” he said. “I’m pretty sure you all watched and figured that out.”

Smith was then nearly intercepted on second-and-16 by cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who undercut a break-in route by receiver DK Metcalf. Smith checked the ball on third down to running back Zach Charbonnet, who scored fourth-and-15 in the 42nd minute after the two-minute warning. With only two timeouts remaining, Seattle had three options: punt and play field position, try to get a first down, or kick a 60-yard field goal. Seattle chose the latter. Jason Myers’ kick failed.

Macdonald said that was the longest distance Seattle felt comfortable.

“We’re trying to win,” Macdonald said. “We wanted to start an aggressive game. We felt like it was the best decision at the time.”

Smith said: “We need to put ourselves in a better position than fourth-and-15. We reached the logo, didn’t make it past 50 and didn’t give ourselves a better chance.”

After Seattle’s defense forced a three-and-out, Smith was intercepted on first down to end the game. Minnesota had a safety over the top and a cornerback under Metcalf who broke out to the outside and appeared to accelerate as if he wasn’t expecting to be targeted. Safety Theo Jackson easily intercepted the ball and ended the game. Metcalf declined a postgame interview.

WHAT. A. END.

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/EFXsCwFDzM

– Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 23, 2024

“Everything you see goes wrong, incriminate me,” Smith said. “Anything that doesn’t look right, write it to me.”

Smith completed 31 of 43 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns. But that final throw was his second interception of the game, bringing his total to 15 on the season, second-most in the league behind Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins, who was subbed out this week in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. (Smith ranks among the Top 10). in interception rate, according to TruMedia.) Smith’s first interception was an ill-advised pass to tight end Noah Fant that was intercepted by Dallas Turner in the second quarter. Minnesota scored a field goal on the ensuing drive to take a 17-7 lead.

Smith isn’t entirely to blame for Seattle’s loss; However, this game was a microcosm of the Smith Experience of the last three seasons. An unbalanced play weighed heavily on his shoulders; He fell behind 46 times, compared to just 12 runs by Seattle’s three running backs. At times, Smith seemed able to handle that burden: He was 5-for-5 for 88 yards on Seattle’s touchdown drive to end the first half and then made a game-winning field goal early in the third quarter. Drive on. He was also ahead 5-5 at the start of the fourth quarter.

But against a formidable opponent — the type Seattle needed to beat to compete for a title — Smith didn’t show his best. While Metcalf may have been at fault on the final play and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb deserves blame for another pass-heavy game plan in a close contest, Smith will likely be the main topic of conversation in another season of mediocrity. That’s notable considering the 34-year-old considers himself one of the best quarterbacks in the league and would like to talk to the front office about a new contract this offseason.

“Geno is our top competitor on our soccer team,” Macdonald said. “We’re not sitting here with our lives at the end of December unless Geno has done the things he did. He’s a fighter, man. I thought he had a good game.”

This game also reflects poorly on Macdonald. Seattle has a top-10 defense in points per drive and EPA per game (per TruMedia), but despite trailing a losing record at home for the first time since 2021, its defense allowed 57 points in two competitive games against the Seattle Vikings and Packers. Seattle wanted to avoid such disappointing performances by changing coaches.

Instead, Seattle is doing no better this year than in previous seasons. Team owner Jody Allen and general manager John Schneider made many offseason changes, but as these past two games have shown, the regular season results have largely remained the same.

(Photo by Geno Smith: Steven Bisig / Imagn Images)