Seahawks eliminate Jets to stay in NFC playoff picture

Geno Smith threw for two first-half touchdowns, Kenneth Walker III rushed for 133 yards and the Seattle Seahawks kept their playoff hopes alive with a 23-6 win on Sunday that eliminated the New York Jets playoffs.

Seattle (8-8) snapped a three-game losing streak and made sure their Week 18 game against the Los Angeles Rams would be meaningful. The Seahawks must win and hope for a Green Bay loss or draw against Detroit to reach the playoffs.

Meanwhile, New York’s playoff hopes ended with a thud after their fifth straight loss and extended the NFL’s longest active playoff drought to a franchise-record 12 seasons. The Jets (7-9) last reached the playoffs in 2011 and will finish with a losing record for the seventh consecutive season.

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Smith’s numbers weren’t flashy, but he did enough to go 3-0 this season against his former teams. Smith finished 18 of 29 for 183 yards and added the Jets — the team he started his career with — to the list of wins over former employers that already included victories over the Chargers and Giants.

Smith was particularly good in the first half, throwing touchdowns 12 yards to Colby Parkinson on the game’s first possession and 7 yards to Tyler Mabry early in the second quarter. Mabry’s touchdown was the first catch of his career.

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Smith also had big 29-yard throws to Noah Fant and a 41-yard catch-and-run to DeeJay Dallas where Smith reversed the pass as he walked away from the pressure. The throw to Fant led to one of Jason Myers’ three field goals and the smart shot to Dallas led to the Mabry touchdown, both in the first half.

Running play helped, especially with Tyler Lockett limiting play with a broken bone in his left hand and DK Metcalf holding on for a catch for 3 yards. Walker had the second-best game of his rookie season, including a 60-yard rush on the game’s opener and Seattle’s 198 rushing yards was the third-most this season.

Zonovan Knight #27 of the New York Jets carries the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of the game at Lumen Field on January 1, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.
(Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)

Mike White returned to quarterback for the Jets after missing two games with fractured ribs, but offensive success was fleeting for the Jets. White was 23 of 46 for 240 yards. He also threw two interceptions, including a reckless throw on New York’s first possession that was caught by Seattle safety Quandre Diggs.

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New York was particularly bad in the second half collecting just six first downs – including four on their last try – and made three and three possessions in a row. White was sacked four times and the Jets failed to run an offensive play inside Seattle’s 20 the entire game.

Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with fans after a victory over the New York Jets at Lumen Field on January 1, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.
(Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)

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Greg Zuerlein scored a pair of 44-yard field goals for New York.