The Detroit Lions are in the big show. They take their act to Seattle Saturday night to face the NFC West champion Seahawks.
Lions fans might remember the last time Detroit played in Seattle. It was last year on Monday Night Football. Detroit lost in controversial fashion, 13-10, when Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright was allowed to bat a Calvin Johnson fumble at the goal line late in the game out of the end zone for a touchback, which is against the rules.
Detroit and Seattle will kick things off at 8:15 ET Saturday night.
Here are three quick three things to know about Seattle as Detroit begins their preparations for them:
1. This is not the same ground and pound Seattle offense we've been accustomed to seeing over the years. Seattle enters the game 25th in rushing, averaging less than 100 yards per contest (99.4).
According to ESPN Stats, from 2012 to 2015, the Seahawks had nine games in which they failed to rush for 100 yards. That's happened in 10 of their 16 ball games this season.
Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said Monday that philosophically Seattle hasn't changed, and they'll run on Detroit if the Lions let them.
Seattle's passing offense ranks 10th in the NFL, and receiver Doug Baldwin (1,128 yards) and tight end Jimmy Graham (923) are now the two big playmakers on that side of the ball for the Seahawks, outside of quarterback Russell Wilson.
2. Speaking of Wilson.
He's dealt with injuries all season that have limited his mobility some. His 259 rushing yards this season are a career low, but given what Packers dual-threat quarterback Aaron Rodgers was able to accomplish against Detroit's defense last week, containing Wilson has to be priority No. 1.
He's very good at extending plays with his feet, and set a career high with 4,219 passing yards this season.
3. Seattle's defense ranks in the Top 8 in every major statistic category – points allowed (18.2; 3rd), total yards allowed (318.7; 5th), passing yards (225.8; 8th) and rushing yards (92.9; 7th).
However, they've missed All-Pro safety Earl Thomas, who suffered a broken leg in Week 12.
Since Thomas went down, opposing quarterbacks are averaging 7.73 yards per attempt, which ranks Seattle 29th in that category, and passers have posted a rating of 96.1, which ranks 25th.
Seattle is very good upfront, and linebacker Bobby Wagner is all over the field. Wagner finished the season with 167 tackles, tops in the NFL.
