The Seahawks have needed every bit of Geno Smith’s unlikely success – Seattle Seahawks Blog

DETROIT — Standing at the podium inside Ford Field after his Seattle Seahawks had just escaped with a win in a shootout against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Pete Carroll offered a smile and an indirect answer when asked if Geno Smith’s hot start to the season has exceeded his expectations.

It was seemingly a tacit acknowledgement that the quarterback has been better than even the NFL’s most optimistic head coach anticipated.

“He’s playing pretty good football, man,” said Carroll, shaking his head.

Over in the visitor’s locker room, receiver Tyler Lockett broke into a brief chant when asked about one of the many big plays Smith made during Seattle’s 555-yard offensive outburst. Up by seven early in the fourth quarter, Smith hung in the pocket against an all-out blitz just long enough to float a throw over the middle to Lockett for a 34-yard gain, taking a big shot from a Lions rusher in the process.

“Hey man,” a smiling Lockett said, “GE-NO, GE-NO.”

But before the locker room opened to reporters, veteran defensive tackle and co-captain Al Woods addressed the team with a message that acknowledged the sobering reality of the Seahawks’ 48-45 win — their offense bailed out a defense that continues to struggle badly.

Smith, who’s played well during Seattle’s first three games, was brilliant on Sunday while accounting for three touchdowns and 369 yards of offense. The run game, a non-factor during Seattle’s 1-2 start, came alive against the Lions as Rashaad Penny delivered 151 yards and a pair of long touchdown runs to close out a narrow victory that should‘ve been a blowout.

With their defense putting up its worst performance of what had already been another poor start — against a Lions offense that was missing three of its…