The Seattle Seahawks will face their first heavyweight contender of the 2024 NFL season this evening as they visit the Detroit Lions. Heading into this matchup, both teams are among The Sporting News' top-10 ranked teams. However, Detroit is a bit higher, coming in at number three in Vinnie Iyer's Week 5 power rankings compared to number nine for Seattle. Needless to say it's an important matchup and one that we will learn a lot from no matter how the final score turns out.
Let's break down everything you need to know about this clash of NFC powers, beginning with the latest odds for tonight's game.
Seahawks-Lions latest odds for MNF
According to the oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook, the Seahawks are considered four-point underdogs against the Lions even though Seattle has dominated Detroit in the all-time series between these teams, winning 13 of 18 matchups overall and nine of the last 10. However, it makes sense that the Lions are favored in this one.
On paper, this Detroit team is currently the toughest team in the conference, at least as long as the San Francisco 49ers are dealing with a Christian McCaffrey injury that's kept him out all season so far. The Lions had the Niners on the ropes in last year's NFC Championship game but couldn't close the deal - but it's a game they should have won, which means this is arguably the best team in the conference even with Santa Clara is healthy. Until the Seahawks prove otherwise, this is probably the team to beat in the NFC.
Seahawks injuries
Bad luck is usually Detroit's thing, but right now it seems to be against Seattle. Four of the team's top five defenders up front have been ruled out for this week, including starting outside linebackers Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe, interior star Leonard Williams and highly-regarded rookie Byron Murphy II. The Seahawks are also down to their third-string right tackle in Stone Forsythe as Abe Lucas is still on the PUP list and George Fant was recently placed on injured reserve. On the bright side, starting running back Ken Walker is returning to the lineup tonight after missing a couple of games with an oblique injury. Walker is special enough to make a difference.
Lions injuries
Detroit is also missing a couple of big pieces. At the line of scrimmage they will not have their starting center Frank Ragnow available, as he has been ruled out with a pectoral tear. All-purpose defensive back Brian Branch was a very late addition to Detroits injury report. Branch has been downgraded to doubtful due to an illness. Rookie corner Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is also listed as questionable with a hamstring injury but looks on track to play, as does tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle). Overall, it's clear the Lions have the edge in the injury luck department.
What to watch for
The Lions secondary isn't what it used to be, and with Branch on the sidelines they'll be even more vulnerable against one of the league's most-potent wide receiver corps in Seattle. Assuming that Aidan Hutchinson does not totally wreck the game-plan, look for another strong showing from starting quarterback Geno Smith, who has balled out in trips to Detroit in each of the last two seasons.
On the other side Jared Goff is playing behind what might be the best offensive line in the NFL right now. With the Seahawks' top four pass rushers being ruled out, odds are Goff will have plenty of time to get through his reads in the pocket. Detroit's offense may be better than Seattle's, but their defense is nowhere near Mike Macdonald's. Another reason why we should probably expect another shootout between these two teams, as was the case in 2022 and 2023.
Prediction for Seahawks-Lions
When the odds came out for this matchup last week, our initial pick was for the Seahawks to come out on top, 27-24 - mostly leaning on their historic success against the Lions and on Monday nights in general, where they hold the league's best record.
However, that was before we learned that Nwosu, Williams, Murphy and Mafe would all be ruled out for this game. Macdonald may be a defensive genius, but there's only so much you can do when your personnel is hit that hard. We reserve the right to change our prediction based on new facts on the ground. We'll be thrilled to be wrong, but our new pick is Lions 30, Seahawks 27.
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