Three things we learned from the Seahawks’ disastrous showing in Baltimore

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

Geno Smith and the Seahawks are pretenders.

Those are the two main take-aways from Baltimore’s 37-3 smackdown of the Seahawks on Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium.

Here are a few more from one of the Seahawks’ worst losses of the Pete Carroll era:

Fall back

No protection.

No explosion.

No defense.

No chance.

The Ravens (7-2) might be the best team in the NFL. They certainly looked like the most complete team Sunday, and the Seahawks (5-3) knew they would have to play a clean game on the road to be competitive.

Clean, they were not.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Ravens took advantage of two Geno Smith turnovers to build a 17-3 halftime lead.

And it only got worse from there for the Seahawks, who couldn’t take advantage of two Ravens turnovers.

By the end of the third quarter, the Ravens had built a 30-3 lead and had a 389-98 edge in total yards, holding the Seahawks to 2.8 yards per play.

The Seahawks, at that point, had more penalties (five) than first downs (four).

Geno Smith had little time to throw, and little answers when he did.

There were too many slow-developing pass plays.

Too much pressure from the Ravens.

Too many miscues from Geno and the Seahawks offense, which finished 1 for 12 on third downs.

The Ravens, meanwhile, racked 515 yards of total offense and 298 yards rushing.

Keaton Mitchell, an undrafted rookie, ran for 138 yards and one touchdown on nine carries, Gus Edwards scored two touchdowns, and Jackson had 60 yards on 10 carries.

The Seahawks defense had no answers. And now, suddenly, a lot more questions coming their way.

On Geno’s troubles

What’s going on with Geno Smith?

It’s a fair question, and one you’ll certainly hear more of this week after a subpar performance from the Seahawks QB.

One other question you’ll hear around town: Is it time for the Seahawks to give backup Drew Lock a shot?

The hunch here is … no.

This is Geno’s team, and he hasn’t been the primary issue for the offense of late.

But he has to be better, and he especially has to be better at protecting the ball.

For the fourth straight game, Geno committed two turnovers — one interception and one lost fumble.

He was 13 for 28 for 157 yards on Sunday, and his passer rating of 49.3 is his lowest since taking over as the Seahawks QB last year.

Overall this season, he has nine touchdown passes and nine turnovers. Not good enough … but the Seahawks need more from those around him too. He needs better protection, and he needs better answers.

Spring forward

The Seahawks, after taking over first place in the NFC West last week, flew cross-country hoping to prove they belonged among the NFC’s top tier.

Clearly, they do not belong.

Not right now.

The promising news — if you’re looking for some optimism here — is the Seahawks return home next week for a manageable game against the Washington Commanders.

The Seahawks can’t look past anyone right now — not after this performance in Baltimore — but they do have a chance to bounce back, to prove this Ravens game was an aberration.

After hosting the Commanders, the Seahawks travel to L.A. to play a Rams team with a number of injury concerns.

Then the Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving night for what we’ve all had circled as Game of the Year. The Seahawks, if all goes well, should be 7-3 going into that prime-time rivalry game, and if they win that they take over control of the division.

A lot of ifs, to be sure. But for this team, the quicker they move on from Baltimore the better.