It’s a phenomenal morning as daybreak simply begins to creep up and the steam from my espresso wakes the physique. The sunshine from my laptop computer is brighter than the slowly rising solar as I write this. It’s Lions soccer day, as odd as that also appears.
For years, the Lions didn’t get primetime consideration. As somebody who sometimes goes to mattress round 9:30, that suited me fantastic. Now that the crew is profitable and, dare I say, high-profile, it’s a enjoyable new adjustment to incomes these nontraditional beginning occasions.
Right here’s what’s rattling round my Lions mind about tonight’s Monday Night time Soccer showdown with the unbeaten Seattle Seahawks as I benefit from the morning espresso.
Why I believe the Lions will win
The matchup of the Lions dashing offense towards the Seahawks dilapidated defensive entrance needs to be one Detroit can exploit. Even with Frank Ragnow out, and that positively hurts the Lions’ run offense, the mixture of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs ought to nonetheless discover some room to run. Montgomery particularly needs to be efficient due to his skill to energy by means of the primary contact; Seattle’s linebackers and safeties are strong, however they’re not the categories who can decelerate what Montgomery presents within the B-gaps and positively not with high DTs Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams out.
Aidan Hutchinson ought to have the ability to proceed his Defensive Participant of the 12 months front-runner standing and influence the Seattle offense. Charles Cross is an efficient left sort out, however the Seahawks will begin Stone Forsythe at proper sort out and previous pal Laken Tomlinson at left guard. These are each prime assault factors for Hutchinson, and DL coach Terrell Williams has proven he can differ alignments to get No. 97 in favorable matchups. This may very well be an enormous evening for Levi Onwuzurike and his power-based sport on the skin, too. Seattle has been susceptible to the “heavy” EDGEs who can reset the road towards the run.
The flexibility to win on either side of the ball on first downs ought to arrange the Lions to capitalize on third downs. Detroit has been superb on third downs on offense (45.2%–4th within the league) and protection (25.8%–third). About the one space the Seahawks offense has struggled is on third downs (36.8%–nineteenth) and that’s as a result of they’re not nice at working the ball on first downs (3.6 yards per try–twenty third). So long as LBs Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone stay sharp towards the run, the Lions protection can arrange some third-and-longs that give the go rush some possibilities to create large performs.
What worries me concerning the Seahawks
This can be a good soccer crew. I do know, I do know–they’ve performed a cakewalk schedule. They’ve additionally feasted on that schedule, which is strictly what a superb crew does in enjoying inferior opponents.
Lesser Seattle groups than this version have given the Lions matches currently, together with final yr. They play their very own method and have a tendency to dictate how the sport movement goes, and that’s been an issue for this Lions teaching employees. These are the precise varieties of video games the place Detroit OC Ben Johnson will get away from fundamentals and tries to show issues he doesn’t have to. They’re the categories the place Lions DC Aaron Glenn winds up being too reactive and doesn’t follow his weapons in man protection and inventive go rushes. Geno Smith has a method of doing that to opposing groups.
I fear very a lot that the Lions will miss security Brian Department on this one. Seattle has three harmful vast receivers, and Smith has confirmed he performs no favorites in getting the ball the place it must go. Possible Department substitute Brandon Joseph has struggled with tackling going again to varsity, and now he will get his primetime baptism with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett?! Suboptimal, to say the least.
Again to the latest success Seattle has had towards the Lions for a minute…
I’m a believer that these types of issues construct upon themselves. Success begets success. Smith particularly is a really troublesome matchup for the Lions as a result of he’s loads like Goff–good, exact, versatile of thoughts and goal–however he’s additionally able to working just a little if that door opens. He’s acquired great confidence in his teammates and their skill to beat challenges and win, and so they’ve executed it earlier than in Detroit.
Ultimate rating prediction
I anticipate a tightly performed, back-and-forth sport between two groups that appear like they may meet once more in late January. The Lions will win in the event that they’re higher within the pink zone and keep away from giving up large performs. Alas, I simply don’t really feel it enjoying out that method.
Seahawks 23, Lions 21
