Roman Bruno, Guest Writer
Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett catches a touchdown. Photo//Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
The Detroit Lions had a hard pill to swallow after being downed by the Seattle Seahawks in overtime, losing 37-31 in their home opener at Ford Field.
Receiver Tyler Lockett was the hero for Seattle, scoring his second touchdown of the game on a six-yard strike from QB Geno Smith on the first possession of overtime. Detroit had no chance to respond.
The theme of this game: defense is optional. Maybe it is just Seattle that gives the Lions fits, as that is now six consecutive losses to the Seahawks (including playoffs) - the third loss in three years under head coach Dan Campbell.
Detroit was certainly looking for revenge, and it looked like they had it.... until they didn't.
Seattle jumped out to an early lead to open the contest. After a 12-play drive that took up nearly half of the first quarter, sophomore running back Kenneth Walker III, a former MSU Spartan, punched it in for six.
The Lions offense was poised to respond. QB Jared Goff found receiver Josh Reynolds twice for big gains on consecutive plays - the first for 20 yards, and another for a 22-yard touchdown to knot the game 7-7.
Detroit's ultra aggressiveness on fourth down seemed to catch up with them in this game. After forcing a Seattle punt, the Lions drove to Seattle's 31-yard line. On fourth-and-four, the Lions went for it, but a Goff pass to rookie tight end Sam LaPorta was knocked away by Seahawks first-round selection Devon Witherspoon.
Seattle then made a couple mistakes of their own. Two drives that stalled in Lions territory both resulted in missed field goals, one from 45 yards and the other from 56 yards, both shanked left.
The Lions were able to take a lead into halftime, however, as the Lions scored on an ensuing drive with a trick play. Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs took the handoff but pitched it back to Goff, and Goff connected with Kalif Raymond deep for a 36-yard touchdown. Detroit lead 14-7 heading into the break.
WR Kalif Raymond hauls in a touchdown throw from Jared Goff. Photo//Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions
Detroit had the ball to start the second half, but running back David Montgomery fumbled on the first play of the drive. Seattle recovered at the Lions own 23-yard line.
Seattle capitalized on just two plays with another rushing touchdown from Walker III. The Lions had plenty of chances to seal the game or extend their lead, but they left the door open for the Seahawks to stay in it.
Goff and Co. did not back down. They put together a solid drive, including three plays for 10+ yards, to take the lead right back. Montgomery drove in the score from four yards out to give the Lions the 21-14 advantage. Montgomery later left the game with a high bruise and did not return.
After holding Seattle to a field goal, the Lions got the ball right back. However, they squandered another drive, failing to convert another fourth down, this time from their own 45-yard line. Goff threw an incomplete pass to Reynolds, who was falling down after getting his feet tangled with the defender. No pass interference was called, and Seattle had great field position to respond.
Despite facing a second-and-20 and a third-and-10 on the drive, Seattle made quick work of the Lions defense, finding the endzone again. Smith found Lockett in the corner of the endzone to take the 24-21 lead.
Detroit's offense was starting to face some pressure, but just five plays into their ensuing possession, Goff threw an interception to cornerback Tre Brown that was returned 40 yards for a touchdown. Until then, Goff had the longest active streak of pass attempts without an interception (383) and was nearing the NFL record (402). A brutal way to end the streak.
Goff has thrown a pick-six in each of his last three home openers at Ford Field, which all resulted in losses.
Down 10 with eight minutes left in the game, the Lions had to buckle down. The drive began with a 10-yard pass to Raymond, with an additional 15 yards from a dirty roughing the passer penalty on Seattle's Darrell Taylor.
LaPorta came up big on this drive, catching two passes for a combined 35 yards. With the clock winding down, Goff found Reynolds for a four-yard score, their second hook up of the day.
The Lions just needed a stop on defense, and they got it. Thanks to the help of an offensive pass interference on Seattle, plus a key sack from linebacker Alex Anzalone for negative 17 yards, the Lions got the ball back with all three timeouts and great field position.
Detroit wanted to leave no time on the clock left for Seattle. The Lions started the drive well, but stalled near the redzone. Kicker Riley Patterson came up clutch for Detroit with a 38-yard field goal which sent the game to overtime tied 31-31.
Seattle won the coin toss and the rest is history. Fans were left stunned in Ford Field after the massive high they felt after beating the reigning champs in the Kansas City Chiefs last week.
Goff was fantastic despite the interception, completing 28 of 35 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns. Montgomery was the leading rusher with 67 yards and a score on 16 attempts. Three receivers tallied five or more catches for 60+ yards: LaPorta (5-63), Reynolds (5-66-2), and Amon-Ra St. Brown (6-102).
Smith looked better this week, completing 32 of 41 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns. Nine different players had a reception for Seattle, which may have been too overwhelming for the Lions defense to stop.
Detroit also faced a myriad of injuries in this game: S Kerby Joseph (Hip - Returned to Game), S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (Shoulder - Returned to Game), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (Cramps - Returned to Game), DE Aidan Hutchinson (Unknown - Returned to Game), DT Alim McNeill (Unknown - Returned to Game) G Halapoulivaati Vaitai (Knee - Out), RB David Montgomery (Thigh - Out), WR Antoine Green (Concussion - Out)
LB Justin Houston also left the game with an ankle injury, which is now being reported as a fractured ankle. Houston, who had eight sacks last season, is expected to miss at least 6-8 weeks.
Hopefully the rest of these injuries are not serious, although many may miss some time.
The Lions fall to 1-1 on the season, and the Seahawks pick up their first win of the season after losing to the Rams in Week 1. Luckily for Detroit, the rest of their NFC North rivals also lost this week, so call it a wash. The Lions will host the Atlanta Falcons (2-0) on Sunday, looking to rebound to stay atop the division.