3 reasons the Seahawks will beat the Lions in week eight
By Lee Vowell
The first reason – and most obvious reason – the Seahawks can win is by running the ball
The Lions made a trade this week to acquire run-stuffing defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison. Detroit currently ranks 30th in the league in rush defense and needed someone to help. Harrison should make the Lions instantly improved.
But the Seahawks are full of confidence that they can run the ball against anyone. Seattle’s offensive line learned a lot about themselves in a loss to the Rams. Sure, Los Angeles won the game. But the Seahawks ran for 190 yards and a 5.9 yards per carry average versus the Rams.
Los Angeles, of course, has Pro Bowl tackles Ndamukong Suh and Aaron Donald and still Seattle controlled the ball on the ground. Until a questionable holding penalty late in the game, right guard D.J. Fluker dominated Suh.
The addition of Harrison makes Detroit better. But Harrison is not the player that Suh and Donald are. And even if he was, Harrison doesn’t have another player of his quality playing alongside him.
The last three weeks Seattle is second in the league in rushing. Chris Carson has two games over 100 yards in his last three games. Mike Davis also has run for over 100 yards. The line now has cohesion and communication.
Plus, forget those first two games of the year. One thing we clearly know about Brian Schottenheimer is he has a prove record of knowing how to run the ball. And Mike Solari is a better offensive line coach than Tom Cable ever could be. (To prove my point I give you the Germain Ifedi experiment. How much better is he under Solari?)
Seattle can and will run effectively against the Lions and this is just the first of three reasons they will win in Detroit.