Yeah it’s part of the reason I don’t think the Lions win, as much of their offensive success was gashing the Seahawks with big plays, sure they can easily follow the Patriots blueprint with a better Oline and Skill Players and be successful but that comes with sacrificing opportunities for more drives and more points running the clock out on themselves. So, if they have to settle for FGs or turn the ball over in the RZ they are playing right into the belly of MacDonald’s beast.
But more importantly the Lion’s scheme and success hasn’t changed much over the last 2 seasons and they mostly have kept intact the same core talent and core coaches.
While the Seahawks have a new offense that not only can adjust and adapt to defensive weaknesses but one that has attacked differently each game, an offense that is flirting with being elite in spite of its pass-blocking failures leading to a circus of comic and tragic mishaps, missed opportunities, and drive killing penalties. Lions are going to have to put in the work to decipher everything Grubb has shown and could show.
Seahawks also have a new look defensive scheme with a lot of new players their offense isn’t used to seeing from the last 2 seasons. A defense that pairs sticky AF coverage on the borders with an insane pass rushing attack that has more or less rattled every QB they’ve faced thus far especially in crucial moments. A defense that’ll make any OC and QB cringe with anxiety.
Seahawks very well could lose this game especially if the refs get too involved because I’m sure the Lions and the fans circled this date on their Calendar with intent. As well as being fueled by the narrativ that they couldn’t beat Seattle the last two seasons and that ironically cost them a play-off spot in ‘22. While beating GB in the last game gifted Seattle a berth. And not beating Seattle last year and/or Seattle not being able to take a game from the 49ers or finish off the Cowboys cost them HFA in the Post Season where they were just a few plays away of going to the SB. And they still can’t get over KJ Wright batting a ball out the end zone somehow costing them a chance of winning their only Play-Off game in the Stafford era.
But yeah it feels like despite the narrative that the Seahawks are some Big Bad, the Lions have to solve and that they possibly can’t lose at home yet again to the Seahawks for a 3rd straight season. I don’t think it happens because I think the Seahawks do have a bigger advantage of information where Lions are great but they are known and the Seahawks are good but they are unknown. So, Lions are stuck with solving a mystery while the Seahawks know who the culprit is and just have to execute accordingly.
But the biggest reason why I don’t think they lose this game is not because MacDonald winning the chess match over Ben Johnson. And the fact the Lions don’t have a TE at the moment, even if they did, LaPorta is not Hockenson. Also, they no longer employ Josh Reynolds who as become low key a Seahawks killer over the years, showing out and being clutch in crucial moments vs the Seahawks.
It’s because Geno the Lion Tamer. For whatever reasons vs the Lions, Geno flips his elite switch to full go and cooks. Could be he has imprinted Jared Goff as part of the moment when he re-arrived. As part of the moment when Russ hurt his hand vs the Rams circa 2021 and Geno finally got his opportunity to lead an offense again. As part of the moment that sparked and ignited Geno’s flame that has fueled his warpath over the last three years. You know whatever reasons.
