The Seattle Seahawks entered Monday Night Football’s Week 4 date with the Detroit Lions missing several starting defenders through injury. Defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II, outside linebackers Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe, and off-ball linebacker Jerome Baker were all sidelined. Starting safety Julian Love exited the game with a quad contusion.
The end result was a 42-29 defeat, Seattle’s first loss of the 2024 campaign. Despite being so short handed, Mike Macdonald’s defense began the contest on proper footing. The Lions went three-and-out on their first offensive possession, with defensive tackle Jarran Reed sacking Lions quarterback Jared Goff for a 14-yard loss on 3rd-and-6.
The Seahawks couldn’t muster much offense on the ensuing possession. Geno Smith and the offense also went three-and-out. A 3rd-and-11 pass to DK Metcalf gained just eight yards, prompting Michael Dickson to punt on 4th-and-3. That’s when Seattle’s missing defensive starters had an impact.
The Lions traveled 93 yards on a dominant 12-play scoring drive. Detroit’s offensive line created plenty of push and rushing lanes for David Monthomery and Jahmyr Gibbs to exploit. Mafe was missed on the edges as runs were bounced outside for chunk gains. Williams and Murphy, who typically create interior pocket push, were notably absent.
The Seahawks are very short-handed up front on defense tonight, and it looked like it on that Lions touchdown drive. They went 93 yards on 12 plays. Plenty of push and open holes, and not a strong enough edge on one running play that bounced outside for a nice gain.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) October 1, 2024
That drive began with an 11-yard Montgomery run. Goff completed a 10-yard pass to Jameson Williams on 2nd-and-6. A second explosive play arrived via a 17-yard completion to Amon-Ra St. Brown. Montgomery rushed for seven and 13 yards on consecutive plays, and the between-the-tackles back concluded the impressive drive with a one-yard touchdown.
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