The Detroit Lions (2-1) will host the Seattle Seahawks (3-0) on Monday Night Football in Week 5. This game, the Lions open as -3.5 point favorites. The Lions have struggled against the Seahawks in the Dan Campbell era.
Detroit Lions vs. Seattle Seahawks Matchup History and Excerpts
The Seahawks have been 3-0 against the Lions since 2021, and the Seahawks haven’t lost to the Lions since 2012. The Detroit Lions will look to break their long losing streak, while first-year head coach Mike Macdonald will look to improve on the Seahawks’ undefeated record.
Dan Campbell is well aware of his record against the Seahawks, saying, “You get tired of that. You get tired of that after one loss, much less three.”
This will not only be their fourth matchup in as many years, but it will be the third straight in Ford Field. The Lions must play their best game of the season to beat a much improved Seahawks team. Campbell also addressed Frank Ragnow’s injury, and told the media it was not as bad as it seemed. However, they are still going to take his recovery slow, and he is listed as out this week.
Lions injury report: Center Frank Ragnow (pectoral) ruled out vs. Seahawkshttps://t.co/fMpdElEUVr pic.twitter.com/4bzLrCo81N
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) September 28, 2024
For the Seahawks, head coach Mike Macdonald has his team playing well and has gotten off to a hot start as a first-year head coach. Macdonald had this to say about the team’s play this season.
“The tape’s telling us right now that we do a lot of a lot of great things and our guys are playing really hard and we should be proud of the foundation that we’re building. But the tape also tells you that we’re not even close to where we need to be as a football team. And that’s OK. But it also means we have to keep growing and keep getting better. It’s a race early in the season to get better.”
Macdonald also mentioned how dynamic the Lions offense is and how their elite playmakers make it tough to defend with their diverse playcalling.
Key Players for the Lions
Quarterback Jared Goff will be critical in this game. He got back on the right foot last week, but his rough start to the year is a concern. If Goff can have another good week, most of those concerns will be put to rest.
Guard Graham Glasgow will likely play center this week in Ragnow’s absence. This will likely cause backup left guard Colby Sorsdal, to be the starter at left guard this week. Sorsdal struggled significantly last year in limited time, so his performance in Ragnow’s absence could be a significant weakness against a good Seahawks front seven.
Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery will also have to get going early for this offense to be successful. Tight end Sam LaPorta has had a disappointing start to the year and had an ankle injury in last week’s game. Look for Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams as critical pieces of the passing offense, as LaPorta will likely have another slow week.
Sam LaPorta returned to practice today for the Detroit Lions, per @davebirkett
Positive news for this Detroit Lions offense #OnePride pic.twitter.com/rEquPBLvni
— Booner (@boonersports) September 27, 2024
Defensively, the loss of Marcus Davenport hurts this defensive line a lot. Once again, the Lions will rely on a rotation of pass rushers off the edge to support Aidan Hutchinson. While Hutchinson has had a defensive player of the year caliber season so far, he can’t do it alone.
Defensive tackles D.J. Reader, Alim McNeil, and breakout player Levi Onwuzirike will be more critical than ever. On the back end, cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Terrion Arnold had their best games of the season last week, and Arnold looks like he is becoming more comfortable after each game. Safety Kerby Joseph has been one of the best safeties in the NFL this season, sporting an 82.3 PFF grade. He and Brian Branch form one of the more formidable safety duos in the NFL.
Key Players for the Seahawks
Quarterback Geno Smith continues his career resurgence in his third year as the Seahawks starter. He will look to lead one of the more efficient passing offenses in the NFL to success.
Running back Kenneth Walker is questionable, but backup Zach Charbonnet has been solid in his absence; and has provided enough support in the run game to keep this team afloat.
However, this team shines in the wide receiver group. DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba make up one of the best wide receiver trios in the NFL.
And while the offensive line has struggled this season, left tackle Charles Cross is beginning a breakout third year.
Defensively, the Seahawks possess one of the best defenses in the NFL; led by first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, they blitz a lot and stay disciplined. The Seahawks will struggle with a big part of their defensive line likely being out for Monday’s game. Even with their heavy blitz strategy, this will significantly hamper their ability to generate a pass rush.
Luckily for them, they still possess one of the best secondaries in the NFL. Cornerbacks Devon Witherspoon, Tariq Woolen, and safety Julian Love make up a formidable group. They have one of the most efficient pass defenses in the league and will keep this team in many games.
Keys for the Lions to Win
Get the lead early
The Lions have struggled to throw the ball this season. As a result, forcing this team to throw their way back into this game is how they will lose. If the Lions can get out to a lead early, it will allow them to use their teams biggest strength – running the ball.
The Seahawks have one of the best pass defenses in the NFL, so throwing the ball will not be easy. If the Lions can get out to a lead early, it gives them more ability to run the ball against a battered front seven. Running the ball will be key for the Lions on Monday night, and the only way they can rely on this part of their offense is by taking an early lead versus an undefeated NFC team.
Aidan Hutchinson has to dominate
Mike Macdonald was the defensive coordinator at Michigan during Hutchinson’s breakout senior season; so if there is a coach who knows Hutchinson best, it is Macdonald.
With the absence of Davenport, Hutchinson will be this team’s only strong edge rusher. Because of that, Hutchinson’s performance is vital for the Lions to generate any pass rush. The Lions must be able to generate pressure off the edge, forcing Geno Smith to step up into their dynamic and explosive defensive tackles. If Hutchinson can have a dominant game right tackle Stone Forsythe, the Lions’ defense will be set up well to succeed.
Get Jameson Williams going
Jameson Williams had a quieter week last Sunday against the Cardinals, taking a step back from his dominant start to the season. He has clearly taken a step forward as a reliable target for Goff, and Williams’ breakout season has made the Lions offense even more challenging to defend.
The Lions rely heavily on shorter routes that set their receivers up for yards after the catch. If the Lions can utilize Williams’ speed over the top to stress the defense, it will make him a viable target and make the underneath routes the Lions love even tougher to defend. Williams’ pure presence as a serious threat will open up many things for the other Lions’ weapons.
