It has been a tale of two seasons for the Detroit Lions and the Seattle Seahawks. Both teams have appeared to be genuine NFC contenders during stretches of the 2016 regular season, but both have failed to maintain that same level of play throughout the 16 week season. Luckily for both teams, it’s a whole new season where regular season records mean nothing, and it’s either win or go home.
With neither team entering today’s matchup with an overabundance of confidence based on their lackluster week 17 performances, scoring first will be key to coming away with a win. This especially holds true for the visiting Lions who don’t have the playoff acumen of the savvy Seahawks.
Keys to a Lions victory:
It’s hard to put a game squarely on the shoulders of one player, but Matthew Stafford’s performance will likely be the deciding factor in today’s contest. If Stafford can generate some momentum early on with a solid opening drive, it could provide the spark the Lions need to silence the raucous crowd and come out of CenturyLink Field victorious.
If Stafford does his part, it will be up to his receivers like Golden Tate, Anquan Boldin and Marvin Jones to make the big plays when their number is dialed up. The Lions will not win this game if the skill-position players don’t step up in big-time spots. Opportunities for big plays against the Seahawks defense on the road in the playoffs are a rarity, often making them the difference between winning and losing when it’s all said and done.
Keys to a Seahawks victory:
With the Lions offensive line in disarray due to injury, the Seahawks ever-dangerous defensive line is likely licking their chops in anticipation for this afternoon’s matchup. Veteran defensive-end Michael Bennett and company look to disrupt and dismantle the Lions high-powered offense by pressuring Stafford early and often. It would be hard to envision a scenario of the Lions coming out on top if Stafford is under duress for all four quarters of today’s game.
The responsibility of the Seahawks defensive line is even greater due to Earl Thomas’ absence in the secondary. A stalwart of their defense, Thomas has made the Seahawks secondary a “no-fly zone” for the better part of the last six seasons. His inability to play in today’s game provides the Lions with a much easier task of trying to beat the Seahawks through the air. If the Seahawks fail to put pressure on Stafford, the Seahawks could be in for a long day given Stafford’s innate ability to buy time in the pocket.
Final Prediction:
When the final seconds tick off the clock, I am confident that the Seahawks will be walking off winners in today’s game. Though they will be without their star safety in Earl Thomas, the Seahawks still boast one of the premier defenses in the NFL that can give even the best of offenses fits trying to move the ball. More importantly they have the playoff experience that the Lions lack. In the end, the hostile environment of CenturyLink Field combined with the smothering defense of the Seahawks will prove to be too much for Stafford and the Lions.
Final Score: Seahawks 24, Lions 14
Follow us on Twitter @PlayerInsiders and @Jake_Przytarski
