Ending Jets’ playoff hopes ‘mean nothing’ special

SEATTLE — The Jets have been on the ropes for weeks and Geno Smith delivered the knockout blow on Sunday.

The former Jets quarterback started fast, throwing two touchdowns in the first half, and did just enough to knock his former team out of the playoffs in a 23-6 Seahawks win.

“Honestly, it doesn’t mean anything other than that we gave ourselves another shot at going to the playoffs,” Smith said. “I’m really grateful to have been drafted into the NFL by the Jets, and while things weren’t perfect there, there were some good times. There are still people I care about. I have a lot of good connections in New York. It was just another game for me. Good to see old friends and people we play with.

Smith was the Jets’ second-round pick in 2013. He started his first two seasons with the Jets, then was sadly kicked by a teammate and broke his jaw during training camp in 2015. He would do another start for the Jets. He returned to his career this season with the Seahawks and made the Pro Bowl.

On Sunday, he completed 18 of 29 passes for 183 yards. He also ran for 18 yards. Smith started the game with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson. He then hit Tyler Mabry for a 7-yard touchdown.

“I thought he was solid,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “I think he’s done a good, solid job of looking after business.”

Smith’s best play was the last play of the first quarter. He dodged the Jets’ pass rush, then threw a shovel pass to running back DeeJay Dallas for a 41-yard gain that led to the second touchdown.

The Jets offensive line received another blow Sunday when starting right guard Nate Herbig was unable to play against the Seahawks with an ankle injury. Herbig didn’t appear on the injury report until Friday, stating it was a training injury. The Jets started Laurent Duvernay-Tardif at right guard in place of Herbig.

Garrett Wilson ran for over 1,000 yards on his first reception of the game, an 8-yard gain in the second quarter. Wilson entered Sunday’s game with 996 yards. Wilson had just three catches for 18 yards in the game, giving him 1,014 on the season. He’s the Jets’ first wide receiver to gain 1,000 yards since 2015, when Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker both hit the net. Wilson had already broken the team’s rookie record for yards and receptions.

Safety Lamarcus Joyner returned to the starting lineup after missing the last two games with a hip injury, but he didn’t last long. Joyner left the game late in the first quarter when the hip acted.