The Seattle Seahawks return to action following their Week 7 bye against the Detroit Lions in the Motor City. Considering how strong the Seahawks have looked these past few weeks, it stands to reason they could win this game. However, they shouldn’t expect the Lions to roll over.
At 3-3 as well, the Lions are nearly an identical team to the Seahawks this season. Both teams started 0-2 with a three-point loss on the road and an embarrassing loss during Monday Night Football. Since then, both teams have won three out of four, with their only losses being by two points each.
Just like the Seahawks, a major reason for the Lions’ recent success has been their resurgent ground attack. Rookie running back Kerryon Johnson is simply trampling over opposing defenses, including rushing for 158 yards last week in Detroit’s 32-21 victory over the Dolphins.
Johnson’s dominance on the ground has taken pressure away from quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is playing much more efficiently. Since his disastrous four-interception performance in Week 1, Stafford has only turned the ball over twice in the last five games.
The Seahawks lead the Lions 8-5 in the all-time series record and have won the last two straight – including a 26-6 playoff victory – but both of those games were in Seattle. Now the Seahawks travel to Detroit for the first time since 2012, which resulted in a 28-24 loss.
Prediction: Seahawks over Lions 29-26
Seattle may be trending up, but the Lions appear to be right there with them and will give the Seahawks all they can handle.
Seattle and Detroit are on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs, but they are both dangerously close to being right back in the mix. There is one critical difference – Seattle will be fighting for a Wild Card at best, but the Lions still have a shot to win the wide-open NFC North.
Matthew Stafford has always played well against the Seahawks and now he has a legitimate ground attack. Containing Detroit’s offense may prove difficult.
On the other hand, the Seahawks have a quarterback and a pair of running backs on their side that are hard to stop as well. The offensive line has looked great, the offense is back to its run-first ways, and Russell Wilson has never looked more comfortable in Brian Schottenheimer’s system.
A win in Detroit is absolutely required to keep playoff hopes alive for Seattle but the Seahawks typically perform their best when their backs are against the wall.
