Seattle Seahawks report card: Grades from Week 17 defeat of Lions

In what could be the final home game is a Seattle Seahawks uniform for Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson, Seattle demolished Detroit. And Seattle got to see what a world without Wagner might look like.

The final was 51-29 and it felt so nice to have another blowout in favor of Seattle this season, especially since it was the final home game. Detroit is 2-13-1 now but had been playing better so they didn’t simply rollover. Seattle was the better team. Shockingly, Seattle dominated time of possession too. Seattle had the ball for 33:33 to Detroit’s 26:27.

Seattle now has one game left before facing its most important offseason is maybe a decade. But on Sunday, at least, 12s got to see their Seahawks win handily in a feel-good victory.

Seattle Seahawks grades from Week 17’s destruction of the Lions

Quarterback

Russell Wilson threw the ball better overall. Yes, there were still some throws that were short (like an easy out-route to Tyler Lockett) and some overthrows but Wilson also had more perfect throws than he had in weeks, like the first touchdown pass to D.K. Metcalf. Wilson finished 20 of 29 for 236 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Grade: A-

Running back

Another special week for Rashaad Penny. If I had said 6 weeks ago that Penny might be a must-sign for Seattle this offseason (he’s a free-agent-to-be) even I might have wondered if I should see a psychiatrist. But now? Penny has rushed for 481 yards in the last four weeks on 69 carries. That’s 7.0 yards a carry. He has also scored 5 rushing TDs. Against Detroit he ran 25 times (yes!) for 170 yards and 2 TDs.

Grade: A+

Receivers/tight ends

D.K. Metcalf didn’t put up tons of yards but it didn’t matter because half of his receptions – Metcalf had 6 catches – went for touchdowns. Tyler Lockett was only targeted 3 times but caught all of them, including one for a touchdown. And Gerald Everett had a drop but looks like a player the Seahawks need to re-sign as he is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Colby Parkinson looked really good on his one catch where he turned and ran for enough yards to pick up the first down.

Grade: A

Offensive line

There isn’t a lot to complain about here, especially as Seattle was starting two backups. Russell Wilson got sacked once and hit 3 times but the Seahawks ran for 265 yards (averaging 6.5 yards carry) and averaged 7.0 yards per play overall. Plus, you know…Seattle scored 51 points.

Grade: A

Defensive line

A little bit of a mixed bag here. While the game was hardly ever in doubt, Seattle did still give up 29 points with 22 of those coming in the second half. Seattle limited the run but got zero sacks against Detroit when they were obviously having to throw a lot late.

Grade: B-

Linebackers

What’s a Seahawks world without Bobby Wagner like? Seattle got a glimpse of that in Week 17 as Wagner left the game in the first quarter with what Pete Carroll later called a “sprained knee.” Cody Barton replaced Wagner and did pretty well overall. Except for the Lions 26 yard touchdown run in the second quarter that featured at least three missed tackles by Seattle, there were no glaring errors. Barton also had a tackle-for-loss and a quarterback hit. Jordyn Brooks looks more like a Pro Bowler every day and finished with 10 tackles (again).

Grade: B

Secondary

With little pass rush by Seattle, the Lions could have put up tons of passing yards. Maybe they would have with a healthy Jared Goff, but instead, the Lions had Tim Boyle who threw for just 262 yards (193 came in the second half, however) on 37 pass attempts. He was also picked off 3 times, each by a Seahawks cornerback. Those were the first 3 interceptions by a Seahawk CB all season. D.J. Reed had 8 tackles as well. And Michael Jackson, Sr., recently elevated from the practice squad, had 2 passes defended.

Grade: B+

Special teams

Punter Michael Dickson’s leg finally got a rest as he only had to punt once during the game. This means the offense was doing good things and part of that was Jason Myers making all three of his field goal attempts and each one was right down the middle, just like they were for him in 2020. Seattle’s kickoff coverage was spotty, though, and they allowed a 47-yard return on one.

Grade: B+