Lions host Seahawks in highly anticipated home opener in the Motor City
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht celebrates after sacking Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws under pressure from Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah (97) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht celebrates after sacking Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht celebrates after sacking Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws under pressure from Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah (97) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws under pressure from Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah (97) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
SEATTLE (0-1) at DETROIT (1-0)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, Fox
OPENING LINE: Lions by 4 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Seattle 0-1; Detroit 1-0.
SERIES RECORD: Seahawks lead 12-5.
LAST MEETING: Seahawks beat Lions 48-45 on Oct. 2, 2022, in Detroit.
LAST WEEK: Seahawks lost to Rams 30-13; Lions beat Chiefs 21-20.
SEAHAWKS OFFENSE: OVERALL (30), RUSH (22), PASS (29), SCORING (27).
SEAHAWKS DEFENSE: OVERALL (30), RUSH (T-13), PASS (31), SCORING (T-26).
LIONS OFFENSE: OVERALL (7), RUSH (9), PASS (6), SCORING (T-13).
LIONS DEFENSE: OVERALL (21), RUSH (12), PASS (24), SCORING (T-14).
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Seahawks even; Lions even.
SEAHAWKS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR DK Metcalf. He looked great in the first half last week, catching a 10-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith on a terrific move. But the second half was filled with missed opportunities and growing frustration that boiled over in the fourth quarter when Metcalf made a questionable block and moments later was flagged for taunting.
LIONS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Jared Goff. He has thrown 359 passes without an interception, trailing just two streaks in NFL history. Aaron Rodgers threw a league-record 402 consecutive passes without getting picked off in 2018 with Green Bay and Tom Brady had 399 straight attempts without an interception for Tampa Bay last season.
KEY MATCHUP: Detroit’s pass rush against Seattle’s backup offensive tackles. Jake Curhan is expected to start at right tackle and Stone Forsythe at left. Curhan started five games at right tackle in 2021 as a rookie. Forsythe made one start last season, also at right tackle. Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson had at least a half sack in the final three home games of last season, and will be motivated to extend the streak after not getting a sack last week at Kansas City.
KEY INJURIES: Seattle CB Devon Witherspoon, drafted No. 5 overall, is expected to make his debut after missing the opener with a hamstring injury suffered in training camp. ... Lions OT Taylor Decker had an ankle injury early in the opener. ... DB Emmanuel Moseley, who missed the opener with a knee injury, has a hamstring ailment that is slowing down his return.
SERIES NOTES: The Seahawks and Lions combined for 93 points and 1,075 yards in Week 4 last season, the most combined points and yards by teams in a game last season. ... Seattle has beaten Detroit in each of the past two seasons, winning both games in the 2022 calendar year.
STATS AND STUFF: Seattle is trying to avoid starting 0-2 for the fourth time in Pete Carroll’s tenure, and the first time since 2018. ... Seahawks had 12 yards and one first down in the second half against the Rams, and 9 of those yards came on the final play of the game. ... Smith threw for just 116 yards in the opener, the fewest yards passing of any game he’s started for Seattle. ... The Seahawks averaged 4.7 yards per carry in Week 1, but had only 18 rushing attempts. ... RB Kenneth Walker III had 12 carries for 64 yards. ... Seattle’s defense had just two quarterback hits and no sacks of Matthew Stafford in Week 1. ... Detroit RB David Montgomery had 74 yards rushing and a TD in his debut with the team at Kansas City. ... WR Amon-Ra St. Brown had six receptions for 71 yards and a score against the Chiefs, reaching 200 catches in 34 games to trail the pace of just three players in league history. ... Lions WR Josh Reynolds had four receptions for 80 yards in the opener. ... Rookie TE Sam LaPorta had five catches in his NFL debut. ... Rookie DB Brian Branch, the No. 45 selection overall, had an INT against Patrick Mahomes last week and returned it 50 yards for a TD.
FANTASY TIP: Goff has been successful at home for the Lions. He had 23 TDs and three INTs in nine games at Ford Field last season. Among players with at least three starts last season, his 109.3 rating in home games was the best in the NFL.
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