Seahawks storylines for Week 4 game versus Lions on Monday Night Football
By Luke Allen
Seahawks offensive line must contain Aidan Hutchinson and the Detroit pass rush
Detroit pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson leads the NFL with 6.5 sacks through three games, including a 4.5-sack game against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team with a bad offensive line. Unfortunately, the Seahawks have a really bad offensive line. Starting right tackle Abraham Lucas likely remains out, while his backup George Fant was placed on injured reserve. That leaves Stone Forsythe, the third-string right tackle, potentially on an island with Hutchinson.
Seattle did bring in 42-year-old Jason Peters, who played multiple games for Seattle last season, for a visit. But I have serious doubts a tackle over 40 can do much to slow down a pass rush. The only consistently reliable pass protector this season for Seattle has been left tackle Charles Cross, but one would think Detroit would scheme for Hutchinson to rush on the opposite side of Seattle's best pass protector.
The reality is Seattle, whether it's Forsythe or Peters, will not completely stop Hutchinson. The hope is to merely contain him. Fortunately for Seattle, Geno Smith has been excellent in his pocket presence this season and has a knack for evading sacks while still keeping his eyes downfield.
However, in a game against one of the NFC's finest, this game could come down to one possession -- and a sack or holding call could derail a possession very quickly, as we've seen over the past three weeks.