THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: We all laughed, but looks like Pete was right about Geno

Wait!

Is this a big game now?

Are we thinking that the 2022 NFL experience has turned completely upside down?

Do we have honest-to-goodness tension over a visit by the one-loss New York Giants, and wonder if the Seahawks can get on a legitimate winning streak against one of the conference powerhouses?

Hey, if you’d suggested that seven games into the season, the Giants would be just a game out of the NFC East lead, and …

Seattle …

Yes, Seattle actually might be sitting atop the NFC West, you’d have been hooted down like a deluded soul who’s positive he had a visit from aliens.

It just doesn’t make any sense, until you grasp — truly believe — that the league’s long crusade to establish some sort of parity has produced this sort of season (and done so without fans needing any reference to aliens).

Seeing is believing, though.

The Seahawks are coming off an actual thumping of a pretty decent Chargers bunch with Justin Herbert at QB, and doing it in Los Angeles, to boot.

That followed a 19-9 win over the Cardinals, who turned around and walloped New Orleans.

SO FAR, the only teams in the entire league on whom you’d wager lunch money are the Eagles, Chiefs and Bills — and please note that, in this whole blender full of flawed contenders, the NFC in particular seems to be wide open.

Now that the Seahawks appear to have applied enough bandages to what appeared early on as a bleeding defense, they are just as entitled as anyone to quote once-decent quarterback Russell Wilson …

“Why not us?”

(Whatever happened to him, anyway?)

Seriously, trading Russ to Denver for that obscene haul of draft picks — many of whom are already starring for the Hawks — should have Pete Carroll and John Schneider locked up for grand theft.

It’s one thing to be so, so right when picking Kenneth Walker III at the 41st slot in the draft as commentators hooted at such silliness.

It’s likewise amazing to grab current starters Charles Cross, Abe Lucas, Boye Mafe, Coby Bryant and Tariq Woollen all in a swoop.

But …

For this thing to work at all, for the Seahawks to win some games while giving those gifted kids plenty of snaps, Carroll had to be right about Geno Smith.

Three years ago, I asked an NFL personnel evaluator about Smith, who inherited the Jets' starting job when he came into the league but seemed to bust right out of anyone’s thoughts.

Geno had signed on as Wilson’s backup in Seattle, and I wondered just whom the Seahawks had acquired.

At that point, Russ was playing every down like an iron man, so nobody paid much attention to any QB2 holding a clipboard.

Still, Wilson had been sacked 50 times the previous season, and with Seattle in some sort of contention most of the time, you wondered about his backup.

What would the Hawks have if they needed emergency help with Russ missing some games?

THE GUY laughed at my question, but right away he followed up by saying, “This isn’t a question of talent.”

No?

“Look, Geno throws a beautiful ball,” he said. “He can spin it out there with just about anyone, and make all the throws you need — even with a pocket collapsing around him.

“He understands the game, too, and personally, I think he’s a natural leader.”

So, what’s the issue?

“I can’t explain it,” came the answer, “but somehow, I think Geno has an ‘interception gene,’ and for whatever reason, balls get tipped or receivers turn the wrong way or whatever. He throws way more picks than he should, considering his talent and his decisions.

“And remember, when people in this league hang a reputation on you, it tends to stick no matter how you play.”

That last point was the one Carroll repeated over and over about Smith, back when there were hoots about anointing him as Seattle’s No. 1 quarterback.

You have an idea about a player, Pete insisted, and it keeps you from really getting to know him — and learning what he can bring to the party.

NOW, IT appears we’re seeing it.

To use that scout’s phrase, Geno is spinning the hell out of the ball.

Smith’s overall quarterback rating (107.7) is third in the NFL, behind only Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.

You’ve heard of them, yes?

Geno’s completion percentage of 73.5 percent leads the league, and it’s not because he’s just hitting checkdowns, either.

Smith has thrown for 11 TDs against just three picks, and he has the Seahawks purring at 245 passing yards per game.

Both DK Metcalf (assuming good health) and Tyler Lockett are on pace for receiving totals above a thousand yards.

Maybe the best thing about all those numbers might be that Geno’s terrific at getting out of throws and into successful running plays — mostly at the line of scrimmage.

Perhaps no one noticed all this right away, because the Seahawks couldn’t stop anyone — so Smith’s glittery play wasn’t producing wins.

Now the defense seems to have caught up, and Seattle looks pretty doggone legit.

So, yeah …

This really is a biggie against the Giants.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press each week from Tuesday through Friday.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”