Heading into Week 2’s matchup between the Detroit Lions and the Seattle Seahawks, the two teams had very different outcomes in Week 1. While the Lions pulled off a significant win against the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Seahawks suffered a loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the team that kept the Lions out of the playoffs last year.
Despite not playing a clean game, the Lions managed to pull everything together to secure the win, which has been their motto under Dan Campbell’s leadership. With their mini-bye, they have had time to prepare for a tough Seahawks team looking to bounce back after their loss to the Rams.
After their surprise rise last year, the Seahawks were expected to continue their hot streak into the new season. However, early in their Week 1 game, they were leading 13-7 heading into halftime, but ended up losing in the second half. Many metrics showed how ineffective the Seahawks offense was, including their low time of possession and small number of plays in the second half.
9 of those yards came on the final play with a token run to clock the game.
— Rich Hribar (@LordReebs) September 11, 2023
One of the reasons the Seahawks offense struggled was due to the loss of both of their starting tackles, Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas. Losing both starting tackles can be detrimental to any team’s performance. Their status for the upcoming game against the Lions will be closely monitored. If they are unable to play, the Seahawks may have a difficult time against the Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson, who had a stellar game against the Chiefs.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Seahawks had mixed results. Their run defense looked good, allowing only 92 yards with a 2.3 yards per carry average, but they allowed three rushing touchdowns. Their pass rush was also ineffective, registering only two quarterback hits and no sacks, allowing Matthew Stafford to carve up the secondary for 334 yards. The Lions offensive line is considered stronger than the Rams’ offensive line, so the Lions could have an advantage in this department.
It’s important to remember that a team’s first game of the season can be unpredictable. Overreactions are common, but it’s not fair to judge a team based on one game. The Lions will have the home-field advantage, so they will look to take advantage of the raucous crowd and secure their second win of the season.