The Seattle Seahawks, who have already been eliminated from postseason contention, have little to play for against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in their last game of the regular season.
However, it appears that Seattle and quarterback Geno Smith will get the chance to end a disappointing season on a high note, with the 'Hawks planning to play their starters and the Rams ready to rest theirs.
Also, a team record for wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba and contract incentives for Smith are on the line, which could provide the team with additional motivation when they face a divisional rival. A win for Seattle on Sunday will make it the 10th victory for the season in coach Mike Macdonald's first season with the team.
Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!
Exploring Geno Smith's availability status for Week 18
Geno Smith will play for the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. While a number of teams around the league will sit their starters in Week 18, the Seahawks do not intend to sit theirs, even though they are no longer in the running for the playoffs.
There will also be many reasons for the 34-year-old signal-caller to play this week. If he meets certain season goals for passing yards, touchdown passes, completion percentage, passer rating and team wins, he will be eligible to get bonuses of up to $6 million.
Smith will be eligible to earn a $2 million bonus if he passes for no less than 186 yards against the Rams. He might eclipse his career-high total of 4,282 yards on Sunday, which is the basis for this bonus.
The two-time Pro Bowler will receive an extra $2 million in bonuses if he completes the season with a completion rate higher than 69.755 percent. With his current completion percentage of 70.2%, that shouldn't be a tough feat.
Smith will receive an extra $2 million if the Seahawks get 10 wins for the 2024 season. To surpass their current number of wins (nine), they must beat the Rams on Sunday.
How has Geno Smith performed this season
Geno Smith has completed 70.2% of his passing attempts through 16 games this season, demonstrating his exceptional accuracy. He will become the 19th quarterback in NFL history to have a 70% completion percentage in a season if he doesn't fall below that mark after Sunday's game against the Rams.
Smith has accumulated 4,097 yards in the air, good for fifth place in the league in passing yards. Additionally, he has passed for 17 touchdowns against 15 INTs.
Seahawks Fans! Check out the latest Seattle Seahawks Schedule and dive into the Seahawks Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.