They did it on the ground. They did it through the air. They did it without throwing an incomplete pass.
The Detroit Lions’ offense feasted Monday Night in a 42-29 win over the Seahawks, handing Seattle its first loss of the season following a 3-0 start. Geno Smith and Kenneth Walker made a valiant effort to keep pace for the Seattle. But in the end, it was a fruitless effort against a Lions unit running on all cylinders against a Seahawks defense missing multiple starters to injury.
The Lions went three and out on their opening possession after a third-down sack of Goff. From there, there was little resistance from a Seahawks defense helpless to slow Detroit’s cavalcade of playmakers.
Jared Goff had a perfect night at quarterback, completing all 18 of his pass attempts. He also managed to catch a touchdown. Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Amon Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta each took turns making plays for an offense that scored touchdowns on six of its 10 possessions.
Gibbs, Montgomery get Lions offense started
After their first-possession three-and-out, the Lions responded with touchdown drives on three straight drives. Detroit’s two-headed running back monster of Gibbs and Montgomery set the early tone.
Gibbs ripped off a 20-yard run to set the Lions up in the red zone on their first possession. Montgomery finished the drive off with a one-yard touchdown run. Detroit’s next two possessions ended with touchdown runs by Gibbs as the Lions opened up a 21-7 lead.
The Seahawks opened the third quarter with a touchdown to cut Detroit’s lead to 21-14. Then the Lions really started showing off.
Montgomery set up Detroit’s next touchdown on a physical catch-and-run on a screen pass from Goff. He caught the first-and-10 pass for what looked destined for a short gain as Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon closed in for a tackle near the line of scrimmage. But it was Witherspoon who ended up on the ground after a violent collision as Montgomery remained upright and carried the ball for a 40-yard gain, breaking multiple tackles along the way.
Trick play secures TD catch for Goff
The play set up the first touchdown catch of Goff’s career. On second-and-goal at the 7-yard line, Goff handed the ball off to St. Brown then made a beeline for the left corner of the end zone. St. Brown then turned around and lofted a perfect ball that Goff corralled for a score to extend Detroit’s lead to 28-14.
The Seahawks responded again with a touchdown to cut Detroit’s lead back to one score. No matter. On Detroit’s very next play, Goff found Willams for a 70-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 35-20.
The Seahawks responded once again, this time with Walker’s third touchdown run of the night to cut the Lions lead to 35-27 early in the fourth quarter. But that was Seattle’s last gasp.
Goff’s second touchdown pass of the night — this one to St. Brown — put Detroit up 42-27 with 3:34 remaining and all but ended Seattle’s hopes of a comeback.
Goff wasn’t sure that he was perfect
In the end, Goff completed 18 of 18 pass attempts for 292 yards and two touchdowns. He wasn’t sure if he had perfect game until ESPN’s Lisa Salters told him postgame.
“You know, I wasn’t sure,” Goff said. “I was trying to remember if I had an incompletion. I couldn’t quite tell. But I knew I had a chance.”
Choose your fighter
The Lions finished 19 of 19 through the air as a team thanks to St. Brown’s 7-yard toss to Goff. Gibbs ran 14 times for 78 yards and two scores. Montgomery totaled 80 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.
St. Brown totaled six catches for 45 yards and a touchdown catch in addition to his touchdown throw. Williams totaled 80 yards on two catches, making his one big play count for a touchdown. LaPorta added 53 yards on four catches including a 30-yard gain on Detroit’s last touchdown drive of the night.
For Seattle’s defense it added up to game of pick-your-poison with no correct answer.
Seattle actually outgained Detroit in total offense, 516 yards to 389. Geno Smith threw for 395 yards, while Walker tallied 80 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
But Detroit’s offense was more precise and more efficient. The Lions averaged a whopping 7.8 yards per play and didn’t turn the ball over. Goff needed just 18 passes to reach 292 yards for an average of 16.2 yards per attempt.
Smith threw the ball 56 times as Seattle played the entire night from behind. His 7.1 yards per attempt would be exceptional on most nights. Just not on Monday.
Judging Seattle’s defense based on Monday’s effort wouldn’t be entirely fair. They played without five injured players from their front-seven rotation. Defensive linemen Byron Murphy III (hamstring) and Leonard Williams (ribs) and linebackers Jerome Baker (hamstring), Boye Mafe (knee) and Uchenna Nwosu all missed the game.
The Seahawks will hope to be healthier as they prepare for next Sunday against the New York Giants. The Lions will go into the first bye week of the season coming off a big win and a 3-1 start. Up next is a showdown with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6.