Tag: Detroit Lions vs. Seattle Seahawks

4 things I learned from Lions-Seahawks film study

4 things I learned from studying the game film of the Detroit Lions’ Week 2 loss to Seattle

Some weeks, the film review of the most recent Detroit Lions game can be a lot of fun. Other times, it’s an agonizingly painful recall of a brutal loss.

For the Week 2 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, the Lions film review was somewhere in between. The loss certainly hurt, but the film review put some things into a better perspective of where the Lions got beat and how they came up just short in the overtime loss.

Here are some of the primary takeaways from watching the coach’s tape as well as the broadcast feed for a second time.

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Dan Campbell’s 4th down gambles become costly in Lions loss to Seahawks

“Dan Campbell got in Dan Campbell’s way,” writes Russell Brown. Is he right?

I’ll be the first to say that I love Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell. I love the way he’s turned this Lions team around and has every player buying into what he’s preaching. Regardless of the outcome for the Lions games, they’re going to play tough and make life difficult for the opposition.

Playing tough and being aggressive has its perks. We see it weekly with this Lions team. However, being overly aggressive is costly and in Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks, Dan Campbell proved just how costly it can be.

Some fans will blame the referees and the penalties. News flash: the Seahawks had more penalties called on them than the Lions. The Seahawks had 9 penalties called on them for 80 yards. Meanwhile, the Lions only had 4 penalties called on them for 24 yards. Sure, there were missed calls in some key spots, but the Lions had chances to put points on the board and they didn’t.

For example, the second drive of the game for the Lions offense. They ran 12 plays and gained 57 yards while eating up over six minutes of the game clock. But the drive stalled on 3rd and 1 with David Montgomery losing 3 yards due to a missed block from Sam LaPorta and it set up a long 4th-and-4 on the 31-yard line.

Most teams would have taken the points and attempted the field goal. That wasn’t the case for Dan Campbell. Rather than potentially going up 10-to-7 against a Seattle team that has won 5 straight games against them, they went for it and didn’t convert.

In hindsight, Campbell looks like a legend if the Lions convert on 4th down but instead, he looks like a fool. We know he’s not a fool but the aggressiveness is foolish when you need to win these types of games. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only 4th down attempt that occurred for Detroit.

Near the end of the 3rd quarter, the Lions were at their own 45-yard line and went for it on 4th-and-2. Sure, we can drool over another gutsy call but this one put the defense in a tough spot. It’s a spot that they shouldn’t have to be in as they showed all game that they were struggling in stopping the Geno Smith led passing attack.

At that point, there was a chance to pin the Seahawks near their own end zone with a ruckus crowd at Ford Field behind them. Instead, it felt like the wind was taken out of the Lions sail after not converting another 4th down despite being up 21-17 at this point in the game.

To make matters worse, the aggressiveness started to wear off at the end of the game. During the Lions final possession of the game, they had 1:44 on the clock with their timeouts in their back pocket and the ball at midfield.

But all of that aggressiveness we’ve seen from Dan Campbell over the years went astray. He got conservative, ran five offensive plays and stalled their own drive by not taking a timeout until there were 26 seconds left on the clock. There were no shots to the end zone despite Josh Reynolds already hauling in two touchdowns.

Sure, injuries started to catch up to the Lions. The team went into the game down Taylor Decker, and they lost David Montgomery and James Houston during it. Despite Amon-Ra St. Brown getting dinged up, he made his way back onto the field and was on the field for the Lions final offensive possession.

None of that should matter though.

The offense was still making plays with contributions from Reynolds, Raymond, LaPorta and Gibbs. They were driving and headed toward the end zone. But the aggressive head coach that we’ve known since his arrival in Detroit suddenly got conservative. Penalty flags and challenge flags didn’t get in Dan Campbell’s way.

Dan Campbell got in Dan Campbell’s way.

We can eat humble pie and move on to the Atlanta Falcons. That’s fine. But this feels like a loss that we’ll be talking about again at some point this winter. Certainly, I hope I’m wrong, but this type of loss feels all too familiar here in Detroit.

The question that will linger from this loss to the Seahawks won’t be about what happens if the Lions don’t turn the football over. Instead, it’ll be about why is it acceptable for Dan Campbell to be aggressive on the 2nd and 7th drive of the game but not the last one?

If Campbell wants to be known as the guy who puts it all out on the table and is always swinging for the fences, that’s fine. However, his team and we fans are owed the consistency of him being that guy. Not the one that sits on the fence of being aggressive and conservative.

Jared Goff and Dan Campbell offer different views of the costly pick-six

Campbell put some of the initial blame on RB Jahmyr Gibbs, but Goff took ownership of the costly miscue

Jared Goff’s marvelous string of passes without throwing an interception came to an abrupt end on Sunday. With the Lions trailing 24-21 in the third quarter to visiting Seattle, Goff fired a pass behind rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs.

Seahawks DB Tre Brown picked it off and ran it back for a critical touchdown, one that played a huge role in Seattle’s 37-31 overtime win.

After the game, Goff and Lions head coach Dan Campbell offered up different causes for the costly miscue.

Campbell pointed his finger at Gibbs, at least partially. It sounded like Campbell intended it as more of a coaching exoneration of Goff,

“Yeah, I need to look at it again, but to me that was more on the route than it was Goff,” Campbell told reporters. “This is why we work them over and over. You’ve got to be decisive. You can’t do that to your Q. But I’ll know more tomorrow, I need to watch it in real time.”

Goff pointed the finger right back at himself. He did note the pressure he was under from the Seahawks defense, but Goff did own the mistake.

“I thought he ran a fine route,” Goff said after the game. “I was getting hit or was about to get hit and threw it before he broke. The guy (Seahawks CB Tre Brown) made a good catch. Sometimes, it doesn’t go your way. I would’ve liked to throw it a little more inside and be able to give him a chance to catch it, and I didn’t.”

Goff was being pressured from the right side of the offense on the play and was hit almost immediately after throwing the ball to his left.

No matter who is to blame, the pick-six ended Goff’s team record for most pass attempts without an interception at 383. It’s the third-longest streak in NFL history. Unfortunately it ended at a very inopportune time.

Quick takeaways from the Lions overtime loss to the Seahawks

Some quick takeaways from the Lions overtime loss to the Seahawks in Week 2

One of the most anticipated games in Ford Field turned into bonus football between the host Detroit Lions and the Seattle Seahawks. Unfortunately, the home team came up on the short end of a 37-31 overtime outcome.

It was a tough, frustrating, mistake-plagued loss for Detroit in front of a fired-up crowd in the home opener. The Lions did a good job in overcoming several bouts of adversity in the game but couldn’t stop creating more adversity for themselves either. A good Seattle team won the game in a playoff-like atmosphere.

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Here are some of he quick takeaways from watching the game in real time.

Lions fall in overtime to Seahawks in playoff-like game

The Detroit Lions lost in overtime to the visiting Seattle Seahawks in what felt like a playoff game in Ford Field in Week 2

The game between the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks was so close that the two teams couldn’t decide a winner in regulation. The Lions and Seahawks played what sure felt like a playoff game in Ford Field in Week 2, one that went into overtime.

The team with the playoff experience won the game. Seattle prevailed 37-31 when Geno Smith found Tyler Lockett for the game-winning touchdown pass. It was a deflating loss for the Lions and a raucous Ford Field, which sold out standing-room-only tickets and brought the decibel level of a Metallica concert.

The playoff atmosphere was obvious despite the game being played before autumn even arrives. Both teams were pretty sharp in the passing game, with Jared Goff and Geno Smith combining to complete 28 of their 35 pass attempts in the first half. Both defenses laid out some huge licks, too. The fan intensity, the extra physicality, the very tangible tension throughout the game — that’s what the playoffs are all about.

Detroit stumbled in its quest to win in the playoff-like atmosphere. This is a learning experience for the young Lions as they effort to get where the Seahawks are–a playoff contender that can win in multiple ways. Being able to string together wins over playoff teams from a year ago was just a bit too much for Dan Campbell and his Lions team.

The Lions did do a whole lot right in the game. Unfortunately, they also made some critical mistakes. A bad pick-six ruined an otherwise stellar outing from Goff: 28-of-35, 323 yards, 3 TDs and the one INT. David Montgomery lost a fumble on the very first play of the second half. There were missed assignments in coverage on a few Seattle passing successes. It’s tough to win when you give the ball back five times. Detroit committed three turnovers but also failed twice on fourth downs, giving Seattle too many short fields to work with.

Now it’s time to see how the Lions respond to the tough loss at home. The 2-0 Atlanta Falcons bring in playoff aspirations and intensity of their own next week.

Lions vs. Seahawks: How to watch, listen, stream the Week 2 matchup

Lions vs. Seahawks: How to watch, listen, stream the Week 2 matchup

Football is back in Detroit! The Lions celebrate their home opener by welcoming the Seattle Seahawks to Ford Field in a rematch of one of 2022’s most exciting games.

Seattle Seahawks (0-1) at Detroit Lions (1-0)

Sunday, September 17th, 1:00 p.m. ET

Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Line: Lions -4.5 (as of 9 a.m. on 9/17)

Here’s how you can watch, listen or stream the Lions home opener.

Watch

This game will be on FOX. Detroit draws the broadcast tandem of Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen. Markets in the red on the map below (courtesy 506 Sports) will get the game on their local FOX affiliates.

Listen

The game will be broadcast over the Detroit Lions radio affiliate network. Dan Miller handles the play-by-play, with Lomas Brown as the color analyst and T.J. Lang reporting from the sidelines.

The flagship station is 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit. The full list of affiliates can be found here.

Stream

The NFL+ app (subscription required) is the league’s own network to view the game via a streaming device.

FUBO TV (subscription required) is another option.

 

 

Biggest key matchup for the Lions vs. Seahawks

Identifying the biggest key matchup for the Lions vs. Seahawks in Week 2 at Ford Field

Going into Week 1 for the Lions matchup with the Chiefs, I had said that Aidan Hutchinson against the Chiefs offensive tackles was the key matchup. Not much will be changing this week for the my biggest key matchup against the Seahawks.

Even though I’m going to be paying close attention to the usage of running back Jahmyr Gibbs and who plays left tackle for Taylor Decker, I’m still intrigued with the Lions defensive line. Most of this is due to the knee injury that occurred with defensive lineman Josh Paschal on Thursday. Not only will Paschal be out against the Seahawks, he could be out for a couple of weeks due to the injury.

That opens the door for players such as John Cominsky and Charles Harris to earn more snaps. However, both players had over 40% each of the defensive snaps last week against the Chiefs. For Cominsky, he played 27 defensive snaps (42%) and Harris played 52 defensive snaps (80%).

Despite Paschal playing the least amount of snaps with 17 defensive snaps (26%), I think the Lions can get creative and get James Houston on the field more. So with that, James Houston is my key player to watch for the Lions defense. Much of that is due to the versatility that the Lions defensive line has at all times.

The Lions should have no issues plugging Cominsky or Hutchinson inside to pass-rush as a 3-technique. That opens the door for Houston to standup off the edge and try to pressure Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.

Houston potentially getting extended playing time is extremely relevant because of the injuries the Seahawks havre sustained with their offensive line. Not only did the team put their starting right tackle Abraham Lucas on the IR with a knee injury, they’ve also listed their starting left tackle Charles Cross out for the game.

This all bodes well for James Houston and the Lions defensive line. It should be expected for the Lions defense to pressure Smith early and often. With that, I’d expect an increase in playing time for Houston. While he didn’t record a defensive statistic last week against the Chiefs other than a quarterback hit on Patrick Mahomes, he should find success against Seattle.

Week 2 Lions preview: Film review on the Seattle Seahawks offense

Week 2 Lions preview: Film review on the Seattle Seahawks offense from Lions Wire’s Russell Brown

When watching the Seattle Seahawks from their week one matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, you’ll notice a lackluster performance. The Seahawks only managed 20:37 for time of possession and they only had 13 total first downs. Not ideal for an offense that features wide receivers D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Kenneth Walker.

Even though the Seahawks had a slow start to the season, it doesn’t mean they should be taken lightly. As we know, the Lions have lost 5 straight games to Seattle. That includes last season where the Lions lost 48-45 in a game that determined later on who was going to the playoffs. Let’s jump into the film room and take a look at what the Lions defense could expect against the Seahawks offense!

Variations of the Go-Go Offense 

One thing that immediately stood out when watching the Seahawks offense this week was the variations of the Go-Go offense they run. Now it’s not the traditional, uptempo offense that is primarily focused on the run. They sprinkle in passes to the flats and don’t strictly run it out of 20 (two running backs and no tight ends) or 21 personnel (two running backs and one tight end) either.

Instead, the Seahawks will put two tight ends in the backfield and try to run outside zone or split-zone from it. But there are times that they try to run two plays within 15 to 20 seconds so I’d expect a much faster pace than what most teams run for when they play the Lions.

As you look at the play above, the Seahawks are in a pistol formation with 12 personnel (one running back and two tight ends). Prior to the snap, they shift the tight ends to the right side of the formation and it forces the inside linebackers to shift over a gap.

Once the ball is snapped, both tight ends run down the line-of-scrimmage towards the left side and the running back follows behind. Had Kenneth Walker (RB 9) not tripped up on the turf, there’s a chance that he would have gained a few extra yards.

Seeing this type of play keeps defenses honest as the pre-snap formation looks like a potential run to the outside. However, the actual play-call is for an inside run. With both offensive tackles for Seattle out for this game against Detroit, I’d expect to see the Seahawks tight ends (Noah Fant and Colby Parkinson) help the backup offensive tackles on the edge for both run and pass plays.

In addition to the 12 personnel (one running back and two tight ends) that we just saw from the Seahawks, we should get some looks like the one above. Both tight ends will be aligned to the right of quarterback Geno Smith while the running back will either be aligned behind Smith or they’ll motion the running back to him.

On the play above, that’s exactly what the Seahawks do. Both tight ends are aligned to the right of the quarterback and there’s a jet-motion for Kenneth Walker to get a designed touch pass to the perimeter.

With two lead blockers (tight ends) paving the way and a wide receiver getting up to the safety, this could lead to a massive gain for Seattle. It’s noteworthy because the Lions did show a lot of Cover 1 looks on defense against the Chiefs in week one. With a single-high safety, the play side receiver could have a much easier time picking that block up.

Lastly, the Seahawks can and will pass out of this Go-Go offense. The play above is full-house formation but they’re in 21 personnel (two running backs and one tight end.). Once the ball is snapped, you’ll see Smith fake to the running back behind him and off that play-action, he slowly rolls to his right before finding the other running back (Kennth Walker RB 9) in the flats. This completion leads to a first down and could be something the Seahawks turn to when they’re in 3rd and < 4 with their down and distance.

The Playmakers on Offense

It’s no secret that the Seahawks have some of the best playmakers in the NFL. In fact, they have one of the most consistent ones over the 7 or 8 years with Tyler Lockett. Even though Lockett only recorded two receptions for 10 yards against the Rams, the Lions will have to honor him, especially on the deep ball. In addition to Lockett, I’d say the two best offensive players the Seahawks have are D.K. Metcalf and Kenneth Walker.

Starting with the play above, it’s a completed pass off a fade route to Metcalf that goes for a touchdown. Despite facing man coverage, Metcalf gives the corner a head fake to the inside while exploding off an inside jab step that allows him to separate. This leads to him being wide open in the back corner for the touchdown. If the Lions aren’t careful, Metcalf could be a big time playmaker for Seattle in week two.

Lastly, I want to talk about running back Kenneth Walker and what he provides for the Seahawks offense. Despite the loss in week one, Walker did record 64 yards rushing and he averaged 5.3 yards per carry. Even though last season the Lions limited Walker to only 29 yards rushing, he could easily break off a big run at anytime.

Looking at the play above, it’s a perfect example of the type of back that Walker is for the Seattle. He has terrific flexibility with his lower half and he can bounce runs at the snap of a finger. Despite the Rams looking like they have him stuffed in the backfield, he shows the vision and the patience to get outside and make a big run happen. If the Lions can find some way to contain that, they should be able to slow Walker and the Seahawks rushing attack down.