Lions helped Geno Smith earn an extra $1M on Sunday

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Here's how the Lions helped Seahawks QB Geno Smith earn an extra $1M on Sunday

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/9/23

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith can thank the Detroit Lions for helping him earn an extra $1 million on Sunday.

While securing a playoff berth was the real prize for Seattle, Detroit's win over the Green Bay was extra sweet for Geno Smith.

By playing 80% of the snaps AND making the playoffs, Smith earned an additional $1M incentive.

Smith earned all $3.5M of his incentives this season. pic.twitter.com/LASQ1rZigz
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 9, 2023

When the Seahawks re-signed Smith in April, his deal included the extra incentives based on playing time and a potential postseason berth. Smith was brought back after spending the 2020 and 2021 campaigns as Russell Wilson's backup, but Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos in March, opening the door for Smith to have a shot at the starting gig.

The former second-round pick out of West Virginia beat out Drew Lock in training camp to earn the Week 1 start and had the best season of his career. Smith not only played and started in all 17 of Seattle's games but was under center for every single snap.

He ended the regular season with career-best numbers across the board, including 4,282 passing yards, 30 touchdown passes (with just 11 interceptions) and a 100.9 quarterback rating. Smith led the NFL in completion percentage (69.8%) and added 68 rushing attempts for 366 yards and one touchdown, while earning his first Pro Bowl honor.

The Seahawks will kick off Wild Card weekend at 4:35 p.m. ET on Saturday when they take on the San Francisco 49ers on the road.

More must-reads: