NFL Week 2 Picks: Seahawks vs. Lions Shocker

Seattle Seahawks (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS) vs. Detroit Lions (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS)

Week 2 NFL

Date/Time: Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 1PM EDT

Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

TV: Fox

Point Spread: SEA +5/DET -5 (Wagerweb – Offers massive 20 point football teasers!)

Money Line: Hawks +195/Motor City -235

Over/Under Total: 49

The Seattle Seahawks take on the Detroit Lions in a key week two NFC showdown from Ford Field. Detroit served notice with a 21-20 win over Kansas City last Thursday that those who are optimistic about the Lions might be onto something. Meanwhile, those who had rose-colored glasses with the Seahawks are likely left wondering what happened with their 30-13 loss at home to a Rams team most people were sour about leading into this season. Can Seattle find answers or is a road-game against a rising Detroit team a bad spot to right the ship? Let’s break this one down and see if we can’t figure out who we want to put our faith into this week.

Seattle: Too Early to Be Alarmed?

People see a playoff team from last year and a group where there is little reason to suspect things will be different this season. They got a great showing from Geno Smith, with other facets on the team coming more around to speed. There is still something about them that is far less than iron-clad and losing a game in their division isn’t something that should produce much angst. It’s worth watching, mainly that the gains Seattle made along the O-line and their defense, in addition to a big surprise at QB, don’t melt away this season. But a week one game is not where one wants to draw any concrete evaluations, though it’s certainly tempting in light of week one’s game producing such an out-of-range result with the Seahawks playing as 4-point favorites and losing by 17.

Now playing a team that is better on offense than defense, I’d look for Seattle to get better results across all facets offensively. It not panning out at home against a Rams’ defense that is comprised of Aaron Donald and a bunch of guys is disturbing on some level. But this game on the surface seems like it will follow a more-offensive script with teams trading scores against defenses that aren’t that great. And this is where we can see Seattle do what it does best—turning loose Kenneth Walker, with some sprinkles of rookie Zach Charbonnet, along with Smith hitting DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett with more regularity and maybe getting a boost from rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They’ll also be looking for a secondary that has really come around lately to maybe curb Jared Goff and this vital Detroit aerial attack.

Matchup Edges for the Lions

On one hand, Seattle allowed 334 yards to Matthew Stafford and didn’t allow any aerial TDs, so that’s a positive. And they kept LA backs to under 100 yards, despite 40 attempts. But the sheer amount of production through the air wasn’t good and allowing the likes of WR Puka Nacua and WR Tutu Atwell to both go over 100 yards doesn’t bode well when about to take on Detroit’s receivers. And whenever in the red-zone, Seattle had no answers for either Cam Akers or Kyren Williams, who scored two touchdowns. That’s a lot of lesser-known guys putting up big numbers against this Seattle defense. At home, why would Detroit not be able to do the same?

QB Jared Goff looked pretty good in week one. We’ll have to wait and see how a revamped backfield takes hold with David Montgomery and high-end first pick Jahmyr Gibbs leading the way, but first impressions were positive, as each had their moments against KC. Amon-Ra St. Brown has developed into a terrific number-one receiver, getting help from guys like rookie TE Sam LaPorta, WR Josh Reynolds, Marvin Jones, Kalif Raymond, and a pretty deep cast of playmakers. If we see a Seattle defense playing with the form we saw in week one, Detroit has more than enough weapons to make them pay. If Seattle is leaky on the ground, especially in the red-zone. Detroit can take advantage. And if we see Seattle’ secondary remotely as leaky, Goff and his core of receivers will likely get into the end zone with some regularity.

What to Expect

I think Detroit backers should brace themselves for the possibility of a better Seattle offense surfacing this week in Ford Field. The times these teams get together, it’s usually somewhat of an offensive bonanza. I’d be looking for some pointed urgency from a Seattle offense that has more than enough tools to bring more to the surface some of the concerns surrounding the true level of worth with the Detroit defense. Whereas they succeeded in spots against a mish-mosh and compromised Chiefs’ offense, I wouldn’t necessarily forecast the same level of success paired against a more-concentrated Seattle offense that is stronger at the very top with the two number-one receivers and effective backfield. Beating the defending Super Bowl champions and seeing their defense perform well was promising, but maybe things regress more to the mean this week.

Lay the Points – Fast!

The Detroit Lions aren’t the same losing team they were for many years. This team is now really good. I don’t just say that because they rolled into Arrowhead and beat KC. They’ve drafted extremely well, those players now have experience and it’s starting to show. On the flip side, Seattle looks really bad. Their secondary is banged udp, and their offensive line is questionable. Geno Smith had a great season last year (statistically speaking), but I’m still not sold that he’s a winner. Locket left last week’s game with a head injury. I could actually see the Seahawks losing by double-digits here.