Seattle Seahawks Week 4 vs. Detroit Lions

Detroit (2-1) only lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) in Week 2 and was largely as good as advertised after reaching the NFC Championship last season. The Lions have arguably the league's best running back tandem in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, who have combined for 438 rushing yards in three games.

Both teams have their fair share of injuries, but the Seahawks may lose a total of five starters (four confirmed) on defense and a sixth key rotation player on their defensive line in first-round pick Byron Murphy II.

Can Seattle overcome its temporary losses? Our editorial team has a few predictions and players to watch in the Seahawks' Week 4 road game against the Detroit Lions.

Down to second- and third-line players at multiple spots along the defensive line, the Seahawks may have picked the wrong week for injuries to crop up in the trenches, considering the Lions are top-six in rushing and have a dynamic The backing duo includes David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Combine that potential problem with playing in a hostile street environment in prime time, and it's easy to see why prognosticators are downplaying their chances of making a splash on Monday Night Football.

But despite the plethora of injuries Seattle is dealing with on defense, the team still has a solid starting lineup that includes veteran defensive tackles Jarran Reed and Johnathan Hankins, as well as Dre'Mont Jones and rising talent Derick Hall . Behind them, Mike Morris and Myles Adams have excelled in preseason and as a reserve, and it will be up to them to fill the roles of Williams and Murphy, respectively. This group will benefit from the absence of Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow, who will not suit up for Detroit, somewhat negating the impact of injury issues on the Seahawks' defensive line.

Defensive line concerns aside, the Seahawks have a number of potential personnel advantages in this game that should keep them throughout the contest. For one thing, they have one of the best receiver trios in the NFL and the Lions will likely be without ball-hawking safety Brian Branch, a massive loss for a secondary with three new starters at cornerback that could open the floodgates for Geno Smith to move around to hook up some downfield explosives. Ken Walker III's return also comes at a perfect time, as Detroit ranks 20th in run-stopping win percentage, doing so alongside Marcus Davenport, now lost for the season.

If the Lions get their ground attack going early, it could be a long night for the Seahawks. But Macdonald's side will be eager to showcase their strength on offense, with Morris and Adams both more than capable of stepping into the lineup and making positive contributions. On the other side of the ball, Smith should be able to maintain his winning streak at Ford Field against a secondary as long as offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb prioritizes providing additional support for Charles Cross and Stone Forsythe to deal with star rusher Aidan Hutchinson We've had more luck than good at times this season. Look for the veteran to score two touchdowns, with Walker leading the ground attack and Devon Witherspoon beating Jared Goff in a hard-fought road win.

Corbin's Pick to Click: DK Metcalf

Smith's impressive performances in Detroit were the talk of the week for Seattle, but on the flip side of those performances, Metcalf was nearly unstoppable for Detroit's secondary regardless of who was lined up at cornerback. The star wideout has played in three games against the Lions in his career, recording 19 receptions for 287 yards and three touchdowns, scoring all three in a home win in December 2021. He also recorded seven catches and 149 yards in an appearance at Ford Field two years where he lit up Detroit for 21 yards per reception. Facing two boundary corners in Carlton Davis and Terrion Arnold who have already allowed three combined touchdowns and more than 12 yards per reception each, he should make a big push for the opportunity to make another splash in the Motor City .

Corbin's prediction: Seahawks 27, Lions 23

It's hard to remember a time when Seattle was hit so hard by injuries in a game in recent seasons. The loss of Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu (who hasn't played yet this season), Leonard Williams and Murphy is brutal, and the replacements will have to step up big if the Seahawks want to win. Just looking at series history, it's still hard to bet against Seattle, which has won six straight against Detroit. But we all know that every season and every team is different.

The Seahawks shouldn't have a problem defending the pass as Seattle's secondary is one of the best in the league in coverage. Detroit's receivers are improved, but quarterback Jared Goff is off to a slow start and prone to errors. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranks sixth in the league with the highest turnover percentage (4.2 percent of his pass attempts) among quarterbacks with at least 50 dropbacks and has three touchdowns to four interceptions. Goff's adjusted completion percentage also ranks 27th among 31 qualified quarterbacks.

But Goff may have the best running game in the league to fall back on. There could be another shootout as these teams have combined to average 80 points in the last two games. Geno Smith played his best football against Detroit and the offense has only become more balanced and efficient in 2024. The return of Kenneth Walker III is a huge boost for the offense. The Lions' defense has been unstable at times this season.

In another tough battle, Detroit's rushing attack overwhelmed the Seahawks' depleted defensive front, despite Macdonald digging deep into his play. Goff is having a bad day, but there's little demand in the Lions' passing game. Smith continues to play excellently, throwing for 300 yards and three touchdowns, but the offense can barely keep up with Seattle's running backs, who are held to less than 80 yards on the ground.

Connor's Pick to Click: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Jaxon Smith-Njigba feels like he's in for a big day as Seattle leans on Smith's arm. He finds the weak spots in Detroit's defense and becomes a reliable slot target for his quarterback. Smith-Njigba rushes for more than 100 yards and a touchdown for the second time this season, becoming a hallmark of his career as he looks to make a leap as a sophomore.

Connor's prediction: Lions 38, Seahawks 35