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Lions vs. Seahawks prediction, odds: Detroit has one key advantage over Seattle
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- Lions vs. Seahawks prediction, odds: Detroit has one key advantage over Seattle
The Detroit Lions got back on track Sunday with a 20-13 road win over the Arizona Cardinals to move to 2-1. They will have a full week off before a test on Monday Night Football against one of the early surprises in the NFC.
The Lions host the undefeated Seattle Seahawks in primetime in Week 4 of the NFL season on Monday night. We'll make our game prediction below, but the Lions are up to a 4½-point favorite (they opened at 3½) per BetMGM's Monday afternoon betting lines . This is the fourth straight season the Lions and Seahawks will meet, with Seattle holding a 3-0 record over coach Dan Campbell's squads in high-scoring affairs, including wins at Ford Field in back-to-back seasons, each in Week 2.
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The Lions avoided falling below .500 on Sunday for the first time since 2022 by shutting down the Cardinals defensively and establishing the run . The offense set the tone with two opening drive touchdowns powered by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs and found the end zone later with a hook-and-ladder, while the defense held a Cardinals offense in check after they among the NFL's best through two weeks.
More: Lions rediscover themselves in gritty, gutty, and perhaps even ugly win vs. Cardinals
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery runs the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona.
The Seahawks are 3-0 under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, the former Michigan defensive coordinator , with an offense led by Geno Smith averaging 24.3 points per game, and a defense holding teams to 14.3 points per game. Seattle has faced teams with middling quarterback play — the Denver Broncos ( Bo Nix ), New England Patriots ( Jacoby Brissett ) and the Tua Tagovailoa-less Miami Dolphins ( Skylar Thompson ) — while the offense has been powered by an efficient passing game that ranks third in yards (740).
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One of the biggest questions to watch on the Seattle side is the availability of ex-Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III , who missed the past two games with an oblique injury. Macdonald told reporters he was "very optimistic" about a potential return against the Lions. His backup, second-year man Zach Charbonnet who spent two seasons at Michigan, ran for 91 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns in Sunday's 24-3 rout of the Dolphins.
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs against Detroit Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (2) during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.
Last year, the Lions turned a Week 3 win into a four-game winning streak to jump out to a 5-1 record. But Detroit suffered a rash of injuries against Arizona, mainly on the defensive side , and will have one extra day of rest and a bye week after to recover.
Lions vs. Seahawks prediction, odds
Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press:The Lions' offense is still figuring out how to put together a full 60 minutes of sustained success, but the defense has been markedly improved , holding teams to 17.7 points per game. The secondary held up against Kyler Murray and will have another test against Smith and a talented group of pass catchers led by DK Metcalf . And, the defensive line will face another offensive line battling injuries with tackle George Fant on injured reserve.
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Seattle's defense looks improved under Macdonald and coordinator Aden Durde, but hasn't exactly faced a murderer's row of offenses. They have recorded 11 sacks in three games, with edge rushers Boye Mafe and Derick Hall combining for six, with a secondary led by second-year corner Devon Witherspoon . The Lions' offense is a noticeable step up in competition and should find success on the ground again with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs , after going back to a formula that works . The pick: Lions 26, Seahawks 21.
Detroit Lions game balls: Kerby Joseph the stopper, Jack Fox unsung hero in win vs Cards
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Spread: Lions by 4½.
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Moneyline: Lions -225, Seahawks +180.
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Point total over/under: 47.
Odds according to BetMGM as of Monday afternoon.
Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press covering the city's professional teams, the state's two flagship universities and more. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22 , and email him at jramsey@freepress.com.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Seahawks vs Lions prediction: Detroit has key advantage over Seattle
