One theory stood out among the numerous that are circulating before the Seahawks visit Detroit for the third consecutive season on Monday: Could Mike Macdonald’s team utilize the game to establish its legitimacy?
However, that storyline is suddenly accompanied by a disclaimer, as many believe was the case with Seattle’s first three victories.
The Seahawks’ defence, which ranks second in yards allowed (248.7) and fourth in points allowed (14.3 per game) has been the team’s main factor in their success, as they have opened 3-0 against just five other NFL teams.
Tim Boyle and Skylar Thompson of Miami were the backups in Week 3 in addition to England’s Jacoby Brissett.
The three teams and quarterbacks that Seattle has defeated are indicated by the asterisks next to that statistic: Denver’s Bo Nix, a rookie, New England’s Jacoby Brissett, a journeyman and primarily career backup, and Miami’s Skylar Thompson and Tim Boyle, two backups.
There won’t be any “yeah buts” if the Seahawks defeat a Detroit team that just made an appearance in the NFC Conference Title Game and has one of the best offences in the NFL, even though they haven’t quite lived up to expectations through three games. The team’s scoring average of 20.7 points per game, which is 16th in the league, is tied for fourth in yards gained per game with 373. Kickoff airs on ABC at 5:15 p.m.
particularly if they can manage to accomplish so without the services of four of their defensive front seven’s best players: outside linebackers/edge rushers Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu, defensive lineman Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II. Everybody is marked as out owing to injury.
That only includes Murphy, Seattle’s 2024 first-round selection, Williams, the defensive player with the highest annual salary in team history, and Nwosu and Mafe, two players who were regarded as their best pass rushers before to the season. Jerome Baker, a weakside linebacker, is the fifth player with a dubious status.
The Seahawks’ unexpected drop in strength is the new warning sign attached to this one.
However, if that offers a possible justification, it also presents a chance.
Just consider whether Macdonald can come up with a defensive plan to win this one.
Perhaps Geno Smith can just work a little more magic at Ford Field, as he did the previous two seasons, winning 48-45 in 2022 and 37-31 in overtime in 2023.
In Smith’s career, the 2022 match proved to be particularly significant. In Smith’s first season as Russell Wilson’s replacement, Seattle was 1-2 going to Detroit and there were growing doubts about the team’s future.
Smith then scored 49 more runs and passed for 320 yards to help win.
Last season, after the Seahawks suffered a devastating season-opening loss at home against the Rams, he provided evidence of that by throwing for 328 yards and two touchdowns, one of which went to Tyler Lockett to help the team win in overtime.
Regarding the 2023 victory, Smith remarked, “It was obviously great for our season to start that way, but it’s a new season this year.” “We need to play this game because our new staff is doing some new stuff. Those other games are actually not that important. It’s all about this one, and I believe we have a fantastic chance.
If history is something that Smith and the Seahawks want to repeat, head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions want to alter it.
Seattle and Detroit have met in four consecutive seasons: in 2022 and 2023, due to Seattle and Detroit finishing in the same position in their respective divisions, and this season because every club in the NFC West plays the NFC North.
Before the 2021 season, Campbell took over as Detroit’s head coach, and Seattle has won the previous three.
Detroit is 14-5 in its last 19 home games, including postseason games, but 0-2 versus the Seahawks.
These Seattle victories are a part of the Seahawks’ six-game winning streak over Detroit that dates back to 2012.
Campbell stated this week, “I would be lying, though, if I told you that I don’t know that we’ve lost to them three years in a row.” “Yes, I am aware of that. You grow weary of that, then. Even after one defeat, let alone three, you grow weary of that. However, you should take each game as it comes; I don’t think that way. It just creeps into our heads. It’s a fresh year and game, so you have to play clean football.
In addition, the Lions may seek retribution on Macdonald, who last season served as the defensive coordinator for the Ravens, defeating Detroit 38–6 in Week 7.
Macdonald declared, “We’re definitely not anticipating anything along those lines.” “Our guys are aware that this battle could last up to an hour.”
According to Campbell, the game was such an aberration that he doubts the Lions would benefit from analyzing it at this time.
“It was really awful,” Campbell remarked. “You could burn our game plan by the time the game is four minutes old in all three phases. A week was wasted on it. We have no strategy left if you just throw it out the window.
“There are things you can see that (Macdonald) accomplished while he was in Baltimore, and he’s really doing a great job at it, by the way.” He performed admirably there, and he continues to do so now. It contributes to their 3-0 record.
“…the scheme and the theory are very much intact, however there are a few things that are played a little differently. Their intention is to put you in third down and then cause problems. They can exploit you there by getting you into third down, at which point they can start to cause issues and undermine your defences.
In an attempt to counter that strategy, Detroit will use its two-headed running-back tandem of David Montgomery (231 yards) and Jahmyr Gibbs (210), along with quarterback Jared Goff and top receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
With a win that would ensure they stay two games ahead of the pack in the NFC West, the Seahawks will attempt to demonstrate that, injury concerns or not, they are worthy of their 3-0 record and the limelight.
Regarding what will be Seattle’s lone Monday night game this season, safety Rayshawn Jenkins of the Seahawks remarked, “I like those types of games just being kind of the focal point of the night.” “I know I’m on the couch watching whoever is on primetime, even if we’re not on primetime. Thus, I would say It is significant”.
