If you were hoping that the Seattle Seahawks — a team averaging just over 17 points per game — would be a nice setback game for the Detroit Lions’ offense, I have terrible news.
Geno Smith and the Seahawks offense did pretty much anything they wanted against the Lions all day, and despite a furious effort from a shorthanded offense, the Lions quickly fell back to Seattle and never caught up.
The defense didn’t force a single punt throughout the game, they didn’t force a turnover (special teams got one). The Lions defense had only real “stops” as they held Seattle to three instead of six.
Given that the Lions came into this game with the worst defense, there are some serious questions about Aaron Glenn’s work despite dealing with a thin defensive list.
In the end, the Lions lost the game 48-45. Here’s your full recap and highlights.
first quarter
The Lions won the toss and resigned, giving the Seahawks the first opportunity to strike. Detroit made a surprise defensive lineup change, starting rookie Kerby Joseph to safety and replacing Tracy Walker, who tore her Achilles tendon last week. Prior to Sunday, Joseph hadn’t made a single snap on defense.
The Seahawks dived and dived their way into Lions territory on the inaugural drive. Geno Smith earned a crucial third and seventh with a 17-yard scramble that pushed Seattle into field goal territory. A few games later, Smith attacked the Joseph, who was in close cover against tight end Will Dissly, but didn’t raise his hands, and Dissly scored from 17 yards out. 7-0 Seahawks.
The Lions offense didn’t respond well with a quick three-and-out, but the Seahawks fumbled with the ensuing punt after Malcolm Rodriguez ripped the ball loose.
Goff wasted no time in conceding, finding a wide-open TJ Hockenson for a 32-yard touchdown strike. However, new kicker Dominik Eberle missed the extra point. 7-6 Seahawks.
However, the defense of the lions continued their fights. Smith found Tyler Lockett for 13 yards, then DK Metcalf for gains of 23 and 21 yards, plus a rough pass penalty that put Seattle on the drive inside the 10-yard line in just three games. Two plays later, a designed quarterback draw worked perfectly and came in untouched for an 8-yard touchdown. 14-6 Seahawks.
Detroit’s offense wanted to counter with another three-and-out, but Dan Campbell picked an early fake punt and it worked:
second quarter
Craig Reynolds started the second quarter with a big 21-yard run. But from then on the drive faltered. Detroit opted for a 49-yard field goal attempt and Eberle made amends with a make. 14-9 Seahawks.
Eberle kicked the ensuing push wide, giving Seattle what the Lions didn’t need – good field position. But Rodriguez put the Seahawks behind the sticks with a penalty kick and a nice inflated screen, and they eventually had to settle for a 56-yard field goal attempt that Jason Myers hit. 17-9 Seahawks.
Detroit turned the ball over on the next drive after Jared Goff found Kalif Raymond for a big win over the middle, but rookie cornerback Coby Bryant chipped it and the Seahawks recovered at their own 48-yard line.
The Seahawks struck quickly, and Smith found Metcalf through Jeff Okudah for 55 yards to the Lions 1-yard line.
On the next play, Smith had a wide-open Noah Fant for one of the easiest touchdowns you’ll see. 24-9 Seahawks.
Goff pulled the Lions out of a hole and found Tom Kennedy for a 28-yard gain after Detroit committed two holding penalties. As the half wound down, Josh Reynolds fitted a Goff pass well and got it down 26 yards to the 1-yard line.
Detroit ran three games but gained no yards. That left her with a fourth and goal inside the 1-yard line with just three seconds left. Campbell went for it, and Jamaal Williams eventually batted down in fourth, but Eberle missed out on the extra point. 24-15 Seahawks.
Third quarter
Literally, the second half couldn’t have started worse as Goff threw in a pick-six to rookie Tariq Woolen on the first offensive play of the half. 31-15 Seahawks.
Goff and company were unable to make amends on the next ride. Though they were able to get a single first down, Goff took a sack on the next few downs in third and eighth, and Detroit stomped him away – two possessions in the first four minutes of the second half at -7 points for it to show.
Smith attacked those secondary Lions right back and connected with Metcalf for 26 yards. Then Penny took a draw for another 22 yards and invaded deep into Lions territory after just two games. From there, however, the Lions stiffened as Seattle finally settled for a 39-yard field goal, but Myers shot it wide to the left.
The Lions suffered another hit for their receiving corps when Quintez Cephus was announced as questionable about returning with a foot injury. Regardless, the Lions went back to the ground and Williams broke out for a 50-yard touchdown after a vicious stiff arm. Detroit went two and a Jared Goff goalie brought the game back to a point. 31-23 Seahawks.
Despite the crowd getting back into play, the Lions defense still couldn’t stop the Seahawks defense. The Seahawks scored a touchdown in a bizarre series from the officials.
It appeared the Lions had a third down stop, forcing Seattle to attempt a 54-yard attempt. However, prior to this third-down game, the officials did not separately reset the game clock and attempted to blow the game dead before it happened. Therefore, the third downplay had to be repeated. The Seahawks, knowing the Lions would send the house — as they did at the first stop in the third period — called a tie, and it caught the Lions defense completely off guard. Penny got 34 yards to the house. 38-23 Seahawks.
The Lions tried to answer quickly. Goff hit Hockenson for a short pass and the Pro Bowl tight end broke multiple tackles for a huge 81-yard gain. That was the last game of the third quarter.
fourth quarter
Two games later, Josh Reynolds made a nice 4-yard touchdown catch.
Again the Lions went to two and Hockenson converted to make it a seven point game. 38-31 Seahawks.
Detroit’s defense couldn’t get the stop the team so desperately needed after Smith found Tyler Lockett for a huge 34-yard gain and defeated a Lions blitz that left Lockett one-on-one with Amani Oruwariye. Lockett won that fight cleanly, quickly putting the Seahawks in the red zone. However, Smith narrowly missed catching up with Lockett at a third deficit, and Seattle opted for a field goal. 41-31 Seahawks.
Detroit’s offense was able to move down a bit quickly thanks to a big fourth down conversion from Kennedy on a fourth-and-10. Finally, Detroit moved to the Seahawks’ 10 yard line with a fresh set of downs. A few games later, Goff found Hockenson for her second touchdown of the day. This time the Lions went for the extra point, and Eberle made it with 5:26 to go. 41-38 Seahawks.
However, Detroit’s defense just couldn’t get the stop it needed. With another opportunity to give the ball to the offense and take the lead, the Lions were absolutely fooled in a third-and-5 run game that went for 41 yards and a touchdown. 48-38 Seahawks.
Detroit had just over two minutes to somehow score two unanswered points. In short, they didn’t. They were able to add another touchdown, but they couldn’t recover the onside kick and a Seahawks first down ended it 48-45 Seahawks.
To make matters worse, Oruwariye and Evan Brown suffered injuries late in the fourth quarter.
Unfortunately, the Lions are 1-3 with the Patriots on the way.