Seahawks vs. Lions: Final Grades and Analysis for Seattle

Final Score: Detroit 28, Seattle 24

The Detroit Lions found a way to overcome early mistakes and orchestrated a last-minute touchdown drive to beat the visiting Seattle Seahawks.

In what was supposed to be a defensive struggle, the offenses showed up in the Motor City.

The story early in the game was the self-destruction by the Lions. They committed several costly penalties in the first half. Their offense settled down and picked up yards almost at will in the second half.

Calvin Johnson was quiet, but Titus Young and Ryan Broyles did an admirable job finding room in the secondary. Young caught the winning touchdown pass with 0:20 remaining in the game.

Seattle used a fairly balanced attack, but the Seahawks found little room on the ground on most of their attempts.

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Darin Pike is a writer for Bleacher Report's Breaking News Team and a Featured Columnist covering the NFL and Seattle Seahawks.

Quarterback

Final Grade: B+

Wilson did what he could to help his team win but it wasn't quite enough.

"

#Seahawks QB Russell Wilson finished the game with 25-35 for 217 yards 2 TDs, an INT and a rating of 94.6.

— Liz Mathews 710 ESPN (@Liz_Mathews) October 28, 2012"

The blame will fall on the defense for this loss but this offense needs to step up and win a few more games this season.

Fourth Quarter: B

Wilson is starting to look for, and find, Sidney Rice with regularity. These two need to develop further cohesion to help this offense succeed.

Wilson made two bad passes in this game and the second cost the Seahawks an important gain with nine seconds remaining on the clock.

3rd Quarter: C-

Wilson had been making good reads and decisions on the day. Unfortunately his eyes got a bit too big when Sidney Rice was wide-open down the sidelines. He aired out the pass too much instead of rifling the ball down the field.

It resulted in an interception and spoiled what could have been a great drive.

2nd Quarter: A

Seattle continues to keep an open attack through the air and they are making the Lions pay.

I’d like to see Wilson avoid the rainbow fade-pass. He doesn’t have the personnel to make it happen today.

Overall, Wilson has been on the mark and making good decisions with the ball. He’s still having issues getting the ball to Lynch, though.

Wilson has been better with giving the pocket a chance to protect him, but he did bail out prematurely on a pair of plays.

This is the type of play the coaches expect of their rookie signal caller.

1st Quarter: B+

Seattle wanted to go with their passing game early. Wilson’s accuracy was a little off on a few passes, costing the team a big gain to Zach Miller.

The bigger issue with Wilson is recognizing defensive fronts. Detroit was in press coverage, playing a yard off the line of scrimmage, but he still opted to throw a bubble screen to Sidney Rice for a loss of two yards.

The Lions opted to bail Seattle out early with penalties, though.

Pregame

Russell Wilson wasn't able to carry his strong performance against the New England Patriots into Week 7. The inability of his receivers to catch the ball, combined with a stout defensive effort from San Francisco 49ers, led to a disappointing outing. 

The Lions will create issues for the Seattle's passing game. They generate a solid pass rush and hold their opponents to 211 yards per game through the air.

If Wilson has another low-production outing, the discussion about Wilson vs. Matt Flynn will most certainly spark up again.

Running Backs

Final Grade: B+

Most of Marshawn Lynch's 105 yards came on one play.

"

Marshawn Lynch's 77-yard touchdown run is #Seahawks longest run from scrimmage since Shaun Alexander's 88-yard TD run at AZ, Nov. 6, 2005.

— Danny O'Neil (@dannyoneil) October 28, 2012"

The Lions defense was stacked to shut down the run and force Seattle to beat them through the air. The plan almost backfired.

Seattle ended the day with 133 yards on the ground, including a 7.0 yards per attempt, which is a good performance against this defense.

Fourth Quarter: B

Seattle really had just one possession in the final stanza. They were primarily in throwing-mode instead of looking to Beast Mode.

3rd Quarter: B

Seattle isn't using the backs as much in this game but Robert Turbin and Michael Robinson both had nice receptions in the quarter.

2nd Quarter: B+

Boom! Seattle opened the second quarter with a huge gain from Marshawn Lynch. His 77-yard touchdown run will keep Detroit’s defense off-balance.

Seattle hasn’t had many positive plays on the ground, though. Look for them to continue to push in the second half, though.

1st Quarter: C-

It was a rough opening drive for Marshawn Lynch. While the passing game was finding openings, the Lions were stuffing Lynch at the line of scrimmage.

The best way to open the ground game is for receivers to catch passes. They were doing just that and the Lions will need to soften their stance on the ground game or pay the price.

Expect Seattle to capitalize on the ground at some point this game.

The biggest concern was Lynch dropping another pass. Seattle needs to be able to rely on the position to be involved in that air attack.

Pregame

Marshawn Lynch took a back seat in Week 6, as the team opted to test the Patriot secondary. It allowed Lynch to face the 49ers with fresh legs, and he hung a century on the stout San Francisco defense.

The Lions have a decent run defense but nowhere on par with the 49ers. They allow 4.1 yards per carry and 109 yards per game, both good for 16th in the NFL.

Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore all had good performances against the Lions.

Lynch and the Seahawks are working on 10 days rest and are fresh for this game. They should be able to enforce their will on the ground.

Receivers/Tight Ends

Final Grade: B+

A week after Seattle erased their chances of upsetting the San Francisco 49ers due to dropped passes, the Seahawk receivers played very well. They found separation in the Lion secondary and didn't have any drops.

The loss is certainly difficult, but the offense showed good progress.

Fourth Quarter: B+

Rice bailed the Seahawks out early in the fourth quarter. After it appeared Golden Tate had a first-down, Seattle turned a second-and-one into a third-and-long.

Rice got open over the middle and moved the chains on Seattle’s go-ahead scoring drive.

The unit as a whole were making plays and none were bigger than the athletic touchdown reception by Zach Miller, his first as a Seahawk.

In the end they made a mental mistake. Golden Tate had the opportunity to take a knee and give the team one more shot down the field. 

Instead, he began the lateral parade with two seconds remaining on the clock.

3rd Quarter: B

Sidney Rice almost had a pair of huge gains in the quarter. The first just fell off his fingertips and the second resulted in a deep interception.

2nd Quarter: A

In what is becoming an offensive game, the receivers continue to make plays.

Golden Tate added a big gain via penalty and Sidney Rice made a nice cut to pick up a touchdown pass. The drops today haven't come from this group.

To be fair, it should read "drop" as Seattle has had just one catchable ball hit the turf.

1st Quarter: A

The improvements along the offensive line have allowed the tight ends to spend more time in passing routes and less time helping the tackles block. The result was a few targets for Zach Miller and a big gain my Anthony McCoy.

Golden Tate was given two opportunities to convert a third-down play with some yards after the catch but he came up short twice. At some point Wilson needs to throw beyond the sticks.

Pregame

Questions have circled Seattle's receiving corps throughout the season. I've been supportive of the unit as a whole, as Wilson has failed to find open receivers.

It was pretty difficult to defend the pass catchers in San Francisco.

The team had six dropped passes, and the failure to execute certainly impacted the outcome of the game.

Seattle can't afford to let scoring opportunities pass them up in Detroit if they hope to move to 5-3.

Offensive Line

Final Grade:A-

Despite all the comments from fans to the contrary, Seattle's offensive line has been playing well. They were a non-issue today on almost every play.

There were no costly holding penalties or head-scratching false starts or unnecessary roughness flags.

Russell Okung and Breno Giacomini are doing so well with opposing defensive ends that the Seahawks are beginning to send their tight ends out in passing routes instead of keeping them near the line of scrimmage with blocking responsibilities.

Fourth Quarter: A-

See the note below. 

3rd Quarter: A-

More of the same from the offensive line. They are giving Wilson time to throw and the ground game had adequate blocking. 

Seattle would like the play of the line to be a non-story. Later in the year that could change, as at some point they need to be known for pushing defenders off the line of scrimmage. 

2nd Quarter: A

There simply isn’t much to say about the offensive line, but that is a good thing. They aren’t being flagged and Wilson has had time to set and throw on most plays.

Wilson has been hit three times in the first half but hasn't surrendered a sack.

1st Quarter: A

This unit continues to progress quite well. As long as they limit penalties they will be a rapidly improving group and a strength for the Seahawks.

Pregame

The Seahawks have done much better mitigating penalties the last two weeks. They've still been responsible for a few penalties but not the drive-killers from the first five weeks of play.

The line was getting very good push against the 49ers, and pass blocking has been adequate. They surrendered just two sacks and three quarterback hits last Thursday and two sacks against the Patriots.

The trenches should be a good battle on Sunday.

Defense: Front Seven

Final Grade: D+

This is supposed to be the strength of the Seahawks...or at least a big part of it. There was almost no pressure applied on Stafford with  four or five rushers.

Seattle managed two sacks and seven QB hits but the pressure was inconsistent and a non-factor in the game.

The linebackers had one of the sacks but were absent with underneath coverage.

Seattle continues to surrender first-downs on third-and-long plays. They need to get opponents off the field when they have the opportunity. 

Fourth Quarter: F

Seattle needed a stop to win the game. They got one against the Patriots a few games ago but came up short on Sunday.

Allowing a team to drive the field and score a touchdown when your offense gave the defense a three-point lead is unacceptable. 

3rd Quarter: C-

The defense kept the Lions off the scoreboard int the third quarter but the defensive line and linebackers aren't doing much to change the course of the game. They need to be freed up to pressure Stafford or Detroit will steal this game.

2nd Quarter: C

Seattle is keeping the ground game in check but the linebackers are struggling in pass defense. Seattle had been very good with covering tight ends in recent weeks but that was with Kam Chancellor being paired against top threats.

The linebackers aren’t doing quite so well.

The linemen aren’t getting much pressure on Stafford, but that is due, in part, to scheme decisions. 

1st Quarter: C-

The front-seven are having issues with allowing big gains in the ground game. Teams are finding ways to run traps and seal off the linemen from their gap responsibilities.

The linebackers are also struggling in pass protection.

Look for Seattle to turn up the pressure.

 

Pregame

The difference in this game will most likely come down to Seattle's ability to rush the pass and stop the run. If their front-seven can control the line of scrimmage and pressure Matt Stafford, the Seahawks will escape Ford Field with a win.

The Lions' offensive line has been playing well. They've only surrendered 12 sacks on the season.

Seattle's edge-rushers will need to turn up the heat on Stafford. Not having Jason Jones in this game will hurt, as Detroit is more susceptible up the middle.

Secondary

Final Grade: C-

Seattle's DBs did a great job of limiting Calvin Johnson, who had just 46 yards on three catches.

The problem is he wasn't the only receiver on the field. They routinely lost Broyles in coverage and allowed Titus Young to beat them.

Fourth Quarter: D+

If ever the Seahawks needed a defender to step up and make a play it was on the Lions' final drive on Sunday.

It didn't happen and the secondary couldn't do their part in halting a final touchdown drive.

On third down at the goal line, Brandon Browner seemed to concede the inside shoulder to Titus Young. A big NFL cornerback simply can't allow a receiver to make an inside move at the goal line.

3rd Quarter: C

Seattle continues to give up yards but they avoided the big play. What that allows is more opportunities for someone to make a play.

In the third quarter that meant an interception by Earl Thomas.

That won't be enough to win this game, though. 

2nd Quarter: B-

Sherman has been begging opposing quarterbacks to throw his direction. That is great so long as you make plays.

Allowing Titus Young to get by you for a long touchdown play isn’t acceptable.

The secondary is playing tight on most snaps but it only takes a few 50-yard touchdown passes to change the course of a game.

1st Quarter: B

The Lions attempted to go after Richard Sherman on the first play of the game. This is exactly what Sherman wants.

Seattle needs to keep better track of players in the open field, though. The touchdown pass to Ryan Broyles, whom I listed as the receiver the Seahawks needed to be mindful of, was left alone on his touchdown reception.

Pregame

Megatron vs. Optimus Prime. What more needs to be said?

"

Seahawks CB Richard Sherman (@rsherman_25) changed his twitter handle to Optimus Prime as he prepares to cover Megatron twitter.com/BleacherReport…

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 25, 2012"

Richard Sherman has been getting some negative feedback from his antics, but it is hard not to respect his approach to the game. He plays tough and talks big, but he backs it up on the field.

But he did get a phone call from the actual Optimus, or the voice of Optimus to be more precise. Peter Cullen, who was the voice of the Prime left a voice mail for Sherman.

"

Richard, this is Optimus Prime. When you see Megatron, you must tell him: 'One shall stand, one shall fall.' Wish you the best. Roll out!

"

One thing is certain—he's getting the attention of opposing players. Stafford and Calvin Johnson would like to prove him wrong, which could lead to them trying to test his skills.

That is exactly what Sherman wants.

He welcomes quarterbacks challenging him. Sherman knows he can get to balls that most cornerbacks can't reach. and it allows him to force turnovers.

The player Seattle needs to keep track of is Ryan Broyles. He's a talented receiver that could be the difference maker for the Lions. Seattle needs to keep track of him on Sunday or the team will suffer.

Special Teams

Final Grade: B-

Seattle did almost everything right on special teams. But it only takes one mistake to turn the flow of the game.

The loss won't be pinned on special teams play, but the unit didn't do what it could/needed to at the end of the game to help the team mount a comeback.

Fourth Quarter: F

There were two issues with how the kickoff reception team handled Jason Hanson's squib kick. First, the players in the middle of the formation failed to get to the ball and advance it, costing the team precious yards at the end of the game.

Second, Leon Washington failed to field the ball cleanly and allowed five seconds to run off the clock during the mad scramble to recover the loose ball.

There wasn't much of a chance to mount a comeback but special teams and offense needed to be mistake-free to do so. 

Neither unit was.

3rd Quarter: B

It was a quiet quarter for this unit.

2nd Quarter: A-

Jeremy Lane, are you kidding me? It is one thing to make the over-the-shoulder catch in a passing route, but on a punt? It was a sick play that pinned the Lions inside their own five-yard-line.

Hauschka also had a pair of opportunities to kick extra points instead of field goals to cover the other half of the opening quarter comment.

He came up just short from 61 yards. The blame there goes to the offense, though. He would have been good if the unit hadn't lost yards on second down.

1st Quarter: A

Steven Hauschka keeps hitting field goals and kicking the ball into the end zone. The only way that gets better is for him to be hitting extra points and for the opposition to try to return the kicks.

One down, one to go, as the Lions returned Hauschka's second kick to the 17-yard-line.

Pregame

Seattle's secondary has been solid for most of the season. Their lone issue has been an occasional breakdown in punt coverage.

Well, that, and the fact that Leon Washington is yet to post a return touchdown on the season. He has set the team up with great field position with some frequency, though.

Seattle's kickers don't get a lot of exposure, but they are both very good. Jon Ryan could play a big role relative to field position on Sunday.

Coaching

Final Grade: C-

This is a game Seattle should have won but they let is slip through their grasp. Most of the play was decided on the field, but Seattle's defense wasn't prepared for the underneath throws.

Fourth Quarter: D+

As much as I hated the third-down call midway through the fourth quarter, the slant to Tate on the subsequent fourth-down conversion was perfect. Seattle showed faith in their offensive playmakers.

Their defense wasn't prepared for the Lions' passing attack, though. The final drive was too easy and Seattle let a win slip away. 

Seattle also needed to have their receivers prepared to take a knee on what became the final play. They began the trickeration attempts with two ticks left on the clock.

3rd Quarter: C-

I don’t understand the decision to challenge the call of a complete catch to Titus Young. Even if it is over-turned, a holding call on Brandon Browner would have still given the Lions a first down.

Pete Carroll needs to hope the loss of a challenge and time-out doesn’t hurt the team later in the game.

The Lions have figured out the defensive scheme and are taking advantage of the openings. Seattle needs to pressure Stafford in the fourth quarter or this game will slip away from the Seahawks.

2nd Quarter: C+

The coaching has been solid for the most part, right down to adjusting the defensive scheme following the long completion to Titus Young.

The collapse at the end of the half was unacceptable, though. Seattle simply had to get into position to attempt a reasonable field goal and Seattle burned two plays and lost three yards.

Robert Turbin is a nice option, but if Seattle is going to try to punch out a few yards in that situation they need to do so with Lynch in the game. If he's not available on the play then throw the ball.

1st Quarter: B+

I love Seattle's offensive game plan to attack the Lions through the air early. Detroit will have to loosen its pressure on the line to help in the passing game and it should open up running lanes.

Seattle needs to tighten up their coverage schemes on defense, though.

Pregame

Despite some complaining about Seattle's play-calling on offense, the coaching staff has been very good this season. They've made some great decisions with defensive looks and overall strategy.

The offense isn't clicking as well as they would like, but that has as much to do with execution as it does coaching decisions.