Game Recap: Detroit Lions Overcome Seattle Seahawks, September 30, 2024

The Detroit Lions executed a thrilling victory, defeating the Seattle Seahawks 42-29 on Monday night at Ford Field, successfully fending off a potential Seahawks comeback. The Lions’ high-scoring game was a result of three rushing touchdowns and an equal number through the air, featuring a 70-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to receiver Jameson Williams. This marked the Seahawks’ first defeat of the season, following a strong 3-0 start.

Key Takeaways from the Game

Detroit Lions (3-1)

The Lions celebrated a historic win against the Seahawks, the first in a regular season since 2012, in front of 100 former Lions players during homecoming festivities and Calvin Johnson’s induction into the Pride of the Lions. Goff, despite earlier interceptions, had a flawless game against the Seahawks, finishing with 292 passing yards and 18 complete passes out of 18.

Surprising Performance: Offensive Line

Frank Ragnow, Lions Pro Bowl center, was unable to play due to a partially torn pectoral muscle. However, the team’s offensive line shone brightly, with veteran lineman Graham Glasgow moving to center and Kayode Awosika starting at left guard. This strong lineup facilitated running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to score three rushing TDs in the first half.

Noteworthy Statistics

Monday night was a special occasion for Detroit duos. Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown made history as the fifth duo to each have a pass and receiving TD in the same game. Gibbs and Montgomery also marked their sixth game with a rushing TD each, creating a new record for a Lions duo in franchise history, as per ESPN Research.

Seattle Seahawks (3-1)

The Seahawks faced a challenging night at Ford Field against a well-prepared Lions team and amidst a charged environment. Despite the odds, they sought to attain a 4-0 under the new coach, Mike Macdonald. The team’s potential remains to be assessed.

Transition Season Challenges for Quarterbacks

This transition season can pose quite a challenge, especially for a defense that thrived against sub-par quarterbacks in the first three weeks. The squad came up against Bo Nix, Jacoby Brissett, and Skylar Thompson before being put to the test by Goff. Despite the struggles, they held their own against Detroit, showing their resilience if nothing else. The sequence of quarterback trials is set to persist for the majority of the upcoming five weeks.

Upcoming Quarterback Challenges

Following the face-off with Daniel Jones in the ensuing week, they will encounter Brock Purdy, Kirk Cousins, Josh Allen, and Matthew Stafford before their Week 10 hiatus. To stand a chance at keeping pace, they’ll need to bolster their defense.

Geno Smith’s Performance

Geno Smith feels he’s underpaid, and his showing against Detroit did nothing to sway his opinion. He demonstrated exceptional precision, made rapid decisions, and seldom risked the ball until a last-ditch throw into the end zone with approximately 60 seconds remaining. Smith reached a career peak in completions and passing yards, completing 38 of 56 passes for 395 yards and a single touchdown. He spearheaded three additional touchdown drives. He was sacked thrice, but that was anticipated given the mismatched offensive line against a formidable Lions pass rush in one of the NFL’s most deafening stadiums.

Turning Point: DK Metcalf’s Fumble

DK Metcalf’s fumble towards the end of the first quarter was a costly error in a match where the Seahawks could afford none. He was vying for additional yards at the Detroit 34 when the Lions punched the ball out. This ended a hopeful scoring drive and set the stage for an easy Lions touchdown following their 49-yard return. Instead of a tied game, the Seahawks found themselves trailing 14-0. According to research, Metcalf has now lost seven receiving fumbles since his NFL debut in 2019, tying for the highest during this period. Despite this, he became the first player in franchise history to score three consecutive 100-yard games, with seven catches for 104 yards.

Game Summary in Two Words: As Expected

The Seahawks would have required a defensive marvel to halt Detroit, especially in the absence of Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, and Jerome Baker. The loss was exacerbated when Julian Love succumbed to a thigh injury during the first half.

Return of Kenneth Walker III

The silver lining came in the form of Kenneth Walker III’s return. The Seahawks’ RB1 was back in action after a two-game absence due to an oblique injury. His performance, marked by three touchdowns, served as a reminder of what Seattle was missing during his absence. Zach Charbonnet served as a commendable fill-in, but he lacked the burst through the line and the extra gear at the second level that Walker displayed while accumulating 80 yards on 12 carries.

Next game: versus New York Giants (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)