The Seahawks wrapped up the preseason with a points-rich win over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, using big plays on offense and special teams to earn a 37-33 victory at Lumen Field.
Seattle’s starters on both sides of the field made brief plays, with the defense getting a quick stop before Geno Smith and the offense went for a quick touchdown, a 21-yard pass to DK Metcalf. After most of the starters had left the game, running back Kenny McIntosh, who started with Kenneth Walker III on rest, broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run. And if touchdowns of 21 and 56 yards weren’t enough, the Seahawks also got a 79-yard punt return touchdown from Dee Eskridge.
Here are six quick reactions to Saturday night’s win, which capped a 2-1 preseason for the Seahawks:
- Geno Smith and the No. 1 attack looked healthy in their first preseason action.
After sitting out the first two preseason games, the Seahawks’ starting offense was on the field for Seattle’s first offensive possession Saturday. And even though Geno Smith and co. were only on the field for that one play, it was an extremely encouraging possession.
Smith’s night started with an incomplete pass intended for DK Metcalf, but after that miss, Smith was nearly perfect for the rest of his brief appearance in the game. Smith’s pass on second down was a beautifully placed ball to Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 25-yard gain. Smith escaped pressure on the next play and hit Kenny McIntosh on a checkdown for a 9-yard gain, then returned it to Smith-Njigba for 7 yards. Smith’s final pass of the drive and game was thrown into the end zone and easily caught by a leaping Metcalf after his defender slipped and fell, giving the Seahawks a 21-yard touchdown and an early lead.
It was only a brief five-game stretch, but it was a tantalizing first look at Ryan Grubb’s offense with most of the starters on the field.
“It was good to be back home, give the fans a little taste of what we’ve been working on, and also more of what’s to come,” Smith told Seahawks legend Cliff Avril during an in-game interview on the KING 5 broadcast. “We went down the field, I got to hit DK Metcalf for a touchdown, got the crowd going. It was awesome.”
Asked what excites him about the offense, Smith added: “Just the amount of weapons we have, the continuity we’ve had playing together for three years. We’ve added guys on the offensive line, we’ve got new coaches, new strategies, new scheme, and we’ve got the right players, man, we’ve got the right guys here.”
