Geno Smith broke out the Steph Curry "night-night" celebration after his late-game touchdown scamper silenced the home crowd Sunday, giving the Seattle Seahawks a much-needed 20-17 road win over the San Francisco 49ers.
"In the Bay, got to do it," Smith said of the Curry homage, via the team's official website.
Following a third-quarter interception, Smith steadied the ship, and with a loss on the horizon, the QB tipped the scales, leading an 11-play, 80-yard drive, capped off with a 13-yard TD run.
"We won the game. We know how much was at stake, we're trying to turn our season around," Smith said. "We had a bye week, and we've got eight games ahead of us to put ourselves in the position that we want to be in. This is just a step in the right direction for us, so I was very ecstatic and happy for that."
On the game-winning drive, Smith completed seven of eight passes for 54 yards and added 29 rush yards, including the 13-yard score. It marked Smith's seventh game-winning drive since 2023, the most in the NFL. The QB's sixth fourth-quarter comeback is also the most in the league since 2023.
"He was dynamite," coach Mike Macdonald said of Smith. "We talked about, after the pick, just sticking with it, we talk about clearing the next room, just go clear the next room and rock and roll. After he threw the pick, we got the stop on defense, forced a field goal, and we went right back down and scored the touchdown."
Smith entered the game 0-5 against the 49ers since joining Seattle, including the playoffs. With one drive to keep their postseason hopes alive, the QB calmly marched the Seahawks to pay dirt.
"I just think perspective," Smith said when asked about staying calm on the final possession. "I was out there smiling on that last drive. I walked on the field, it kind of felt like Angels in the Outfield, like somebody was just rubbing my shoulders the whole time. I just felt like there was no pressure. I think the perspective that I have, that I've gained over my career has allowed me to play that way. Whenever there is a mistake that's made, I never really get too down on myself, and also don't get too high when good things happen. As long as you stay even-keeled throughout the process, I think things work out better that way."
The victory pushed Seattle to 5-5, into third place in the NFC West, one game behind the first-place Cardinals. Facing Arizona in Week 12, Smith and the Seahawks are still very much alive in 2024.