The Seattle Seahawks face a very talented Lions offense on Monday Night Football. The best way to beat them is to keep them off the field. That means a lot of Kenneth Walker and his running mates, too.
Much of the nation will be watching Monday night as the Seahawks try to run their record to 4-0 against their toughest opponent of the season so far. The Detroit Lions are 2-1 but are a far more complete team than any of the first three teams the Hawks have faced. Detroit features a tough defense and an explosive offense. Sounds a lot like a team we know, doesn't it, 12s?
Detroit is only ranked 19th in points scored after three games, but that doesn't mean Seattle can relax against this unit. They're fourth in yardage and have dangerous weapons at every skill position. Again, that sounds a lot like the Hawks. Speaking to Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said, "We’re just too talented a group to not have more production and more points than what we’ve had..." With four key Hawks defenders out, there's no reason to think Johnson isn't about to hit on his prediction.
The Seattle Seahawks need a great game on offense to keep the Lions off the field
Through three games this season, the Seahawks have only controlled the clock in one of those, that being the relatively easy win over the Dolphins. Against the Broncos, the Hawks held the ball for 28:46. Versus the Patriots, the Seahawks controlled possession for 29:41. Remember, though, that was an overtime game. In regulation, Seattle only had the ball 26:10. Even against a Miami team that couldn't move the ball without their star quarterback, Seattle barely had the advantage, with 31:28.
When I say the Seahawks need a great game on offense, I mean they need to make sustained drives throughout the contest. Yes, quick strikes like the 71-yard bomb to DK Metcalf are a thing of beauty. I wouldn't exactly cry if we saw another of those at Ford Field. But with all the defenders the Hawks will be missing, they need long drives to give their defense the best chance to stay fresh and turn the Lions away.
Leonard Williams, Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, and Byron Murphy III are all out for this game. While the Seahawks did get some good news on the injury front, it's going to be very difficult to overcome the absences of those four guys. Derick Hall and Dre'Mont Jones will have to really step up their game.
That good news, of course, is that Kenneth Walker will be back in the lineup. Yes, Zach Charbonnet came though with a big performance against the Dolphins. But Walker is the more explosive player, and the more dependable player as well. Against a Lions defensive unit that ranks fourth in the NFL against the run, the Hawks will need all of their weapons on the offensive side of the ball to keep the clock turning.
Every play Seattle runs on offense is one less play that Detroit has. With two key pass rushers and two key run defenders out, the Seahawks' best defense against playmakers like David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Amon-Ra St. Brown is to keep it out of their hands. Jared Goff has been reborn in Detroit, putting 45 and 31 points on the board the two times he led the Lions against the Hawks.
The Hawks need their best offensive effort of the year in this one to come out on top. That means lots of Walker and Charbonnet and some Kenny McIntosh, too. And yes, a few deep strikes to Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Tyler Lockett would be much appreciated as well.