One of the more underrated games on the Week 8 NFL schedule features the Detroit Lions hosting the Seattle Seahawks. Game time is at 1:00 EST on Sunday, October 28, at Ford Field in Detroit. Fans in certain markets will be able to watch the game on Fox.
According to the Week 8 NFL odds, the Lions are 3-point favorites at home. That line has increased slightly after the Lions began the week favored by 2.5 points. The over/under for the game is set at 49.5 points.
Rather quietly, the Lions have become one of the hotter teams in the NFL. Starting with their stunning win over the Patriots, Detroit has won three of their last four games, including last week’s win over the Dolphins. With the recent emergence of rookie running back Kerryon Johnson, the Lions have found a viable rushing attack and given their offense some much-needed balance.
Of course, there’s still a lot of work to do in the crowded NFC North. The Lions are still just 3-3, although only a game behind the Vikings at the top of the division. After this week’s game against the Seahawks, the Lions play three of their next four games inside the NFC North. If they can continue to build upon their momentum heading into those games, the Lions shouldn’t be counted out in such a wide-open division.
The Seahawks have followed a similar path this season. Much like the Lions, Seattle lost their first two games of the season but have responded with three wins in their last four games. The Seahawks have also started to establish a better rushing attack in recent weeks, making things a little easier for Russell Wilson to lead the offense to more sustained success.
The caveat with the Seahawks is that they’re already out of contention in their division, as they trail the undefeated Rams by four games. That means Seattle’s only path to the playoffs is via the wild-card race, which is bound to be crowded. The Seahawks are also in line to play all four of their games in November against teams that currently have a winning record. It’s crucial that they win this week in order to keep their head above water heading into the second half of the season.
Picking this game means deciding what team’s hot streak is more believable. With that in mind, I’ll lean toward the Lions to cover the three points at home. Detroit’s three wins this season have all come against teams that currently have a winning record, which isn’t the case with the Seahawks. Seattle is also a west coast team playing an early game in the eastern time zone just two weeks after traveling to London. A lot of the little things are working in Detroit’s favor, so I’ll take my chances with the Lions in this game.
The most important factor in this game will be running the ball, and I have no doubt that Detroit’s recent success on the ground is real. Johnson has run for at least 70 yards in three of the last four weeks. He’s also averaging 6.4 yards per carry on the season. At the same time, the Lions also have a power back in LeGarrette Blount to help in the red zone and goal-line situations.
That backfield tandem has been the perfect complement for Matthew Stafford. With the emergence of that running game over the last four weeks, Stafford has thrown eight touchdowns to just one interception. It’s no coincidence that Stafford is playing well and avoiding turnovers now that the Lions have a stable rushing attack.
Meanwhile, I’m a little skeptical of Seattle’s recent success on defense. Their three wins this year have come against the Cowboys, Cardinals, and Raiders, teams that are a combined 5-15. Those three teams are also a little one-dimensional offensively. I’m not sure if the Seattle defense will have the same kind of success against a Detroit offense that has found plenty of balance over the past month. Keep in mind that the Seahawks are giving up 120 yards and 4.7 yards per carry on the ground this year, so they should have their hands full against the Lions.
Even though the Seattle running game has started to get it going in recent weeks, there’s still a fair amount of pressure on Wilson to carry the Seattle offense. At times, the Seahawks have struggled to protect Wilson, which could be a concern again this week. The Lions are fourth in the NFL with 21 sacks, boasting the best pass rush the Seahawks have faced since their Week 1 loss to the Broncos. Even with a vulnerable run defense, the Lions find ways to get after opposing quarterbacks, which is a concern for the Seattle offense.
All things considered, I believe in Detroit’s recent hot streak more than Seattle’s. The Lions have also won their last two home games by more than a touchdown while Seattle’s only road win came against the Cardinals. Even if this game is close in the 4th quarter, I have faith in the Lions pulling out the win and covering the 3-point spread.