Charles Cross, Seattle Seahawks.
The Seattle Seahawks started off hot with an 11-play, 75-yard TD drive and never let off of the gas. A Geno Smith scramble for 17 yards on a 3rd and 7 kept the drive moving. They finished off the drive with a 17-yard pass from Smith to Will Dissly.
Tyler Lockett fumbled a punt which was recovered by the Lions. Detroit took advantage of the short field with a 32-yard pass from Jared Goff to T.J. Hockenson. They missed the extra point and didn’t score another touchdown until right before halftime.
The Lions’ offense might have struggled early, but Seattle’s offense did anything but struggle. They finished out the half with a rushing TD from Geno Smith, a 56-yard field goal, and a forced fumble that eventually led to a Noah Fant TD reception.
At this point, the Seahawks led 24-9, but Detroit wouldn’t fade away. They responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive to close the gap to 24-15 at halftime.
Seattle started the second half with a bang when rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen picked off a Jared Goff pass and returned it 40 yards for a TD. After a slight pause in scoring, the teams traded one blow after another.
Detroit got a big 51-yard rushing TD from Jamaal Williams. The Seattle Seahawks answered with a 36-yard touchdown run from Rashaad Penny.
Both teams ate up yards and put up points throughout the second half. Detroit’s big play was an 81-yard pass play from Goff to Hockenson. It shouldn’t have gone that long, but Seattle couldn’t stop the big man from barreling toward the end zone.
Goff hit Josh Reynolds with a short TD pass to bring the Lions within a touchdown to open the fourth quarter. The “ole defense” continued for both teams as Jason Myers kicked a field goal, and Detroit came back with a 75-yard drive, culminated by Hockenson’s second TD catch, to make it a three-point game.
Penny went 41 yards to score with 2:14 left in the game. Unfortunately, the Seattle Seahawks couldn’t get a stop, allowing Goff to complete his fourth touchdown pass of the day. Seattle recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
On to the Duds and Studs
In a game where the opposing offense scored easily and often, the defense had their share of duds. Despite a forced fumble and a pick-six, the Seattle Seahawks defense looked pretty pathetic.
They surrendered 45 points to a fairly weak Detroit Lions team that was missing its starting running back, two starting receivers, and a starting guard.
The Defensive line couldn’t get consistent pressure on Goff, picking up only 1 sack and 3 QB hits. That showed by what he accomplished through the air. Goff finished 26 of 39 for 387 yards with 4 touchdowns, 1 interception, and a 121.5 QB rating.
At times Jamaal Williams looked like he was running through paper. The backup RB gained 108 yards and scored 2 TDs.
Seattle’s pass coverage was brutal. This unit has to take its share of the blame for such a poor defensive showing. Lions’ receivers were open all over the field.
Maybe if Amon-Ra St. Brown and DJ Chark played, their poor performance would be somewhat understandable. Instead, the cornerbacks and safeties should buy Smith dinner for a month after he bailed them out.
The biggest dud of the week goes to Tyler Lockett as a punt returner. Once again, he fumbled a punt, and that fumble led to points almost instantly for the Lions.
For most of his career, Lockett has been a surehanded punt returner. But he struggled again with fielding punts.
Lockett had one other return opportunity, which was only returned for 7 yards. He doesn’t look like the same guy that once struck fear into opposing special team’s coverage units.
In stark contrast to their defense, the Seattle Seahawks’ offense was outstanding in almost every aspect. There are plenty of candidates for Stud of the Week.
Shoutout 1 – Tariq Woolen had a pick-six
Shoutout 2 – D.K. Metcalf caught 7 passes for 149 yards, including a 51-yard reception.
Shoutout 3 – The cart driver who got Metcalf to the bathroom and back without missing a play.
Geno Smith was on-point Sunday. It was one the best games of his career and definitely Smith’s best with Seattle.
He completed 23 of his 30 attempts for 320 yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and a 132.6 rating. Smith also ran 7 times for 49 yards and another touchdown.
He was in control throughout this whole game. Even more impressive, the Seattle Seahawks didn’t punt the ball away all day. They dominated time of possession with over 33 minutes and over 550 total yards of offense.
Let’s give some well-deserved props to the Seattle Seahawks offensive line. After looking like a liability and a serious weakness against San Francisco and Atlanta, this group turned it around in a major way.
The line did allow any sacks. They paved the way for Rashaad Penny and Geno Smith, who rushed for a combined 200 yards and 3 touchdowns.
This week’s stud of the week goes to Rashaad Penny. Sunday, he looked like the back who tore up opposing defenses over the final six games of last year.
Penny ran the ball down the Lions’ throats. He took 17 handoffs for 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Those two TD runs were from distances of 36 and 41. Additionally, it was his three carries on Seattle’s final possession that put the game away.
Who were your Seattle Seahawks Duds and Studs this week? Let us know in the comments section below.