Geno Smith hears chants, relishes Seahawks opening victory September 13 SEATTLE (AP) Hearing his name chanted as he left the field as a winner for the Seattle Seahawks wasnt validation for Geno Smith. It was gratification that eight years after he last was a starting quarterback on the opening weekend of Gale Sayers Jersey the NFL season he again had the opportunity. As far as worrying about naysayers, anything like that, I dont get into that type of stuff, Smith said. People can write you off, but life is about what you make it and so Ive just been ble sed enough to be in the NFL for 10 years, and been working my butt off, and its a team game and we got to win tonight as a team.With most of the attention on Ru sell Wilson's return to Seattle on the other side of the field, it was Smith and the Seahawks celebrating a 17-16 win on Monday night.Wilson had the more memorable evening, from the boos that cascaded down on him from Seattle fans, to Denvers decision not to go for it on fourth-and-5 and instead attempt a 64-yard field goal in the closing seconds. But it was Smith that was in the celebratory locker room afterward, the one that Wilson called home for a decade. Hes had it in his whole time. He just hasnt had the perfect opportunity for him to go out there and showcase what he really is able to do when hes in full control of a football team or of an offense, Seattle wide receiver DK Metcalf said. Smith was spectacular in the first half and perhaps more of what was expected in the second half as Seattle was shut out. He finished 23 of 28 for 195 yards, but was 17 of Nick Kwiatkoski Jersey 18 for 164 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. Smith threw a 38-yard touchdown to Will Di sly on Seattles first po se sion of the season. He added a 25-yard strike to Colby Parkinson in the second quarter that gave Seattle a 17-7 lead at the time. He jogged off the field at halftime to chants of Geno, Geno.That big half proved to be enough, but barely. He was Bobby Massie Jersey so poised and so calm in this game. It was just fun playing with him, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. And were talking as the game is going on, hes having fun and laughing and enjoying it. The moment came to him and he was ready for it.Smiths second season in the NFL, in 2014, was the last time he started on the opening weekend of the season. It was the first time since 1971 there had been that large of a time gap for a quarterback between opening week starts. Smith appeared to relish his opportunity. He played fearle s and the Seattle crowd already amped by Wilsons return roared its approval. When Smith lowered his shoulder on a 14-yard scramble late in the third quarter rather than sliding, the Seahawks fans followed with more chants of his name.For all Smith did right, Seattles offense was inefficient in the second half. The Seahawks had just 34 total yards and five first downs after halftime. Seattle had le s than 10 minutes time of po se sion in the third and fourth quarters. It made for a nervy final few moments for Smith as he watched Denver try to rally. It created flashbacks to the past three seasons serving as Wilsons backup and watching him lead the Seahawks in Dick Butkus Jersey games and practices down the field in those late-game situations. For so long, I watched Ru s go down and win those games, Smith said. It was a surreal moment seeing him on the other side, up against our defense, going for one of his vintage comeback wins, and we stood up tonight and I was happy about that.___More AP NFL: hub/nfl and AP_NFL in this topic Seattle Seahawks Geno Smith National Football League Colby Parkinson Will Di sly DK Metcalf Geno Smith Ru sell Wilson Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Jersey Denver Broncos Seattle Seahawks Spain or Morocco? World Cup pa sions blur in Spanish exclave The World Cup knockout game between Spain and Morocco will bring millions of fans on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar together around screens in bars and living rooms to see w... 1 HOUR AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Believe the hype, Bellingham is lighting up the World Cup Jordan Henderson knew exactly who to thank after opening the scoring in Englands 3-0 win against Senegal 2 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Mbapp is bringing soccer to a new dimension at World Cup Cristiano Ronaldos precision 2 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Poland finds its true level at World Cup, beaten by the best Poland heads home from the World Cup as the latest team unable to resist an inspired Kylian Mbapp 2 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS World Cup fans find booze at hotels, Qatar's 1 liquor store Qatar's strict rules regarding alcohol have drawn attention as it hosts the World Cup 4 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS
