Week 17 Grades: Lions' Defense Flops in Seattle
Detroit didn’t stand a chance in Week 17.
Heading into a road matchup with Seattle with a depleted roster, the Lions faced long odds of coming out victorious.
The Seahawks made this nightmare a reality, imposing their will on the way to 497 total yards of offense and 51 points. Seattle scored on nine straight drives and forced three turnovers, sending Detroit back home with a 51-29 loss Sunday.
With the loss, Detroit falls to 2-13-1. Only the season finale, set for Jan. 9 against Green Bay, remains in Dan Campbell’s first season as head coach.
Here are SI All Lions’ postgame grades following Week 17.
Quarterback: D-
It was once again Tim Boyle behind center for Detroit, as Jared Goff missed a second consecutive game. With the starter battling a knee injury, it was the backup’s time to shine. However, shine he did not.
Boyle threw three interceptions, two of which came on consecutive passing attempts in the fourth quarter. He missed several times on important throws, including on a toss to KhaDarel Hodge on the team’s second possession.
There were bright spots sprinkled in throughout, including a superb throw to Hodge that went for 42 yards in the third quarter. However, the mistakes outweighed the strengths in a performance that further hurt Boyle’s stock with the Lions.
Running backs: D
D’Andre Swift returned to the active lineup but was not a factor, getting just four carries for 32 yards. Jamaal Williams and Craig Reynolds were both quiet, as well. Williams scored a touchdown, but logged just 22 yards on 11 carries.
Reynolds, meanwhile, finished with four yards on four attempts. Granted, Detroit was playing from behind for most of the game, but it could’ve gotten more from its backfield. Swift had the lone big play, going for 31 yards near the end of the first half.
Wide receivers/tight ends: C+
Amon-Ra St. Brown kept his mojo alive with another 100-plus-yard performance. The rookie became the first player in NFL history to record five straight games with at least eight catches, hauling in eight passes for 111 yards and a score.
The rookie from USC also ran for a touchdown, going 26 yards to put the Lions on the board in the second quarter.
Hodge had a career day, hauling in five passes for 76 yards. His snag on Boyle’s longest pass finished with a dive, as he slid to the turf at the 1-yard line.
Detroit was depleted at tight end, as Brock Wright landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list during the week. Because of this, the Lions rolled with Jared Pinkney and Ross Travis at tight end. Two tackles, Matt Nelson and Taylor Decker, were targeted with passes. It was Decker who hauled in Boyle’s second touchdown pass of the game.
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Offensive line: C-
Rookie offensive tackle Penei Sewell was penalized for holding twice on the same third-quarter possession, one of which negated a 16-yard connection between Boyle and Hodge. It was a difficult day for the entire unit, as it was unable to get anything going on the ground against the Seahawks' defensive line.
Without starting guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Tommy Kraemer filled in. Nelson and Parker Ehinger were used as extra blockers in certain run sets, and struggled to gain ground.
On the bright side, the unit did not allow a sack for a second consecutive week.
Defensive line: F
Seattle dominated the trenches on both sides, but it was its performance on offense that set the tone for the game. Seahawks running back Rashad Penny finished with 175 rushing yards, as the Lions' defense was pushed around, creating multiple large running lanes.
When the defense could get to Penny, it struggled to bring him down. On his first touchdown run, Penny broke three tackles. Backup running back Travis Homer also averaged 4.5 yards per carry on his six attempts.
Austin Bryant was a bright spot on an otherwise sour day, notching a sack in his second straight game. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson had plenty of time to throw for the rest of the afternoon, and even scrambled six times for 24 yards.
Linebackers: F
The second level of Detroit’s defense was not much better, as Penny dashed into the secondary multiple times. Jalen Reeves-Maybin took a step back after weeks of building his stock, missing a tackle on tight end Gerald Everett and he struggled in coverage.
Too often the backers were caught in the wash of Seattle blockers, getting caught up as Penny and company moved the ball down the field at will.
Reeves-Maybin did finish with two tackles for loss, while rookie Derrick Barnes had five tackles total.
Secondary: F
Wilson gave Detroit’s depleted secondary plenty of problems through the air. DK Metcalf caught three touchdowns, including one when cornerback Will Harris slipped and another over the top of rookie Ifeatu Melifonwu.
Rookie A.J. Parker was also beaten on a long pass when Tyler Lockett gained leverage on him. The safeties took bad angles on runs throughout the game, including Tracy Walker III on Penny’s first touchdown run.
Wilson finished with 236 yards passing and four touchdowns, with 63 of those yards going to Metcalf. Speedster Freddie Swain caught two passes for 65 yards.
Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports
Special teams: C-
Jack Fox had a subpar day punting, with his first two punts traveling 38 and 37 yards, respectively. On the field-goal side, Riley Patterson’s perfect streak came to an end when he missed well short on a 55-yard attempt.
Godwin Igwebuike had a 47-yard return, his first big one in several weeks. The Lions did recover an onside kick in the third quarter, when Bobby Price dove in front of a Seahawks returner to secure the loose ball.
Coaching: D
The Lions never quit, this much is for certain. After trailing 38-7, Detroit put together consecutive scoring drives to cut into the lead. Campbell made a good call on a two-point conversion, continuing to show creativity as he develops as a play-caller.
The issue lies deeper within. Detroit looked uninspired early, which led to the hefty deficit. Campbell made a bad decision to challenge a fourth-down spot that was well short of the marker, on the team’s first series.
Granted, the roster is extremely shorthanded heading into the team’s season finale. However, whatever plan the Lions had going into their Week 17 matchup didn’t work.
The odds of Detroit winning this contest were indeed slim given the situation, but there’s no excuse for the team allowing 51 points.
