Seahawks 16, Cardinals 6
Q. Geno, Mike touched on it, but how good was it for you guys to go out and win at home? Been a little bit, and I know you guys talked about that during the week.
GENO SMITH: Yeah, that was a big win. Felt like a playoff atmosphere, man. I thought the crowd was amazing. Just felt like our team was locked in and focused the entire game. Hard-fought game. I thought Arizona played really tough.
You know, just overall our defense was outstanding. Leonard wrecking the game, the way 'Spoon was flying around, Coby getting the pick six. That was awesome. Really, really lit up the crowd.
And then I thought we were efficient for the most part on offense. Obviously had some mistakes that we need to clean up, but overall, whenever you win the game it's always a good thing.
Q. That last offensive drive, completed a couple passes on third down. One you had to scramble for, and Mike just told us you kind of checked to the run by Zach that got you the other one there. How big that was?
GENO SMITH: Yeah, that was a huge drive for us, especially we had driven the ball just the drive before and obviously made a terrible mistake down there; something I got to clean up.
But, yeah, it was a big drive. We wanted to put the game ahead at least two scores. Our defense was playing lights out. We wanted to get those guys a chance to pin their ears back and really get after Kyler.
I thought driving the ball in the fourth quarter, eight minute drive, mix of runs, mix of passes, just big play by everybody. I thought it was huge for our team, and really speaks volumes about who we're becoming as an offense.
Q. JSN, third straight game he's been the go-to guy for you. What has he shown you these past few games?
GENO SMITH: Yeah, I mean, he's getting open. He's catching the ball. He's doing a great job in the screen game. All around great player. I just think the way that teams are playing us coverage-wise, I feel like it's the ultimate sign of respect. Just playing a lot of zone, dropping eight. We don't really get man coverage anymore. They're not really blitzing us anymore.
He is going to be able to find those windows in there, and he does a great job finding pockets in the zone coverage. If there is a scramble situation he's always friendly and always finds me and gets in the right spot. I thought that helped us out today.
Q. When did you start to notice that shift in the way defenses were playing you guys?
GENO SMITH: Really last year, but I didn't think it was going to be as much as it is now. It's definitely been a lot.
Q. What has it been like for you as a offensive player watching the defense, not just dominate but do it against high ranked, potent offensive teams?
GENO SMITH: Man, it just shows you we're building something here. We talk about complementary football. We talk about championship level football. When you got a defense that plays the way they play when they're shutting down offenses the way they are at a high rate week after week, it's going to give you a shot to win every single game.
We go out there and play clean and we manage the time of possession, do great on third down, finish in the red zone, give those guys a lead to play with, they're going to be even better.
I think our defense is outstanding, and I think they can continue to get better and I think they will.
Q. You've been in the league long enough to know seasons can change like this. For a younger team that maybe a couple weeks ago it looked pretty bleak, how big is a turnaround tis suddenly...
GENO SMITH: That's a great question. Honestly, I don't think it was bleak, to be fair. This is what happens in the NFL. You go through some tough stretches. You said it, we're a young team, but we got a lot of the veterans. Guys who have been through this type of stuff know you got to keep plugging at it, keep working, keep believing. You're never out of it.
Again, we got a long ways to go, a six-game stretch now going down the stretch. Every game will feel like a playoff game and it's going to count. I'm still learning lessons at my age and we're all learning, so just got to take it all that stride and keep going?
Q. The pass to JSN to set up your first touchdown, looked like they were blitzing on that play. Just kind of the perfect play call?
GENO SMITH: Perfect play call. They were in the zero blitz. We were in MDM 4x1. I'm looking at it like should I check out? I'm like, Nah, if these guys engage, if I can get the ball to Jaxon, it should be a bit hit right behind him.
I thought the line did a great job bluffing and then getting up the field. Jaxon catching ball. Had to break one tackle and being explosive like he is.
Q. You said they don't blitz a lot, but they were bringing corners and safeties, linebackers, mixing sim pressures against you guys the first half. What did you see start to change a little bit once you had the first four drives out of the way, were able to take care of that a little better?
GENO SMITH: Yeah, couple of them were just a four-man rush. Yeah, they got to me maybe once or twice with the sim pressure. I think about the one backed up; they got to me on that one.
For the most part, it was just us handling the four-man rush and the twist and the stunt games. Once we got that figured out I thought we were better in protection. They did call a couple cover zeros, couple that cost them ultimately. Then they started to check out of the zero.
There is always the game of cat and mouse. That's what I love about playing quarterback, is we get the chance make the right call at the right time and help our team.
Q. What did you think of Coby Bryant's throw to Marshawn Lynch in the end zone?
GENO SMITH: Man, please don't fine him, NFL. Let him keep his money. I thought that was great. I thought he did a great job jumping that route, fourth down. As I'm watching him run down the sideline I'm jumping out of my seat. I tried to run down there and meet him.
Just how hard he's worked. He's the type of guy who loves football. He's always around the ball making plays. For him to make that play right there I know was a special moment for him.
Q. Geno, obviously there was what was at stake with first place on the line in the division. What did it mean to get this win given everything that was going on in the city and what you guys went through at your headquarters this week?
GENO SMITH: Yeah, it was huge. I know our city was hurting for a couple days without power. That's funny, because they are electric today. I felt like they really brought the juice for us. We wanted to repay our fans. We always want them to be excited and happy for our team.
The more we win, the more that builds, so we got to keep this thing going.
Q. What was the mood like in there for you guys to snap the four-game losing tweak at home?
GENO SMITH: Yeah, the guys are excited. Everyone is excited. Coby said it best: It's time to get back to work. Got another big game coming up. Got to fly out east coast and be prepared. It's the NFL. Every team will be good and will be trying to get wins. We got to come out flying next week.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports