The Detroit Lions were riding a season-ending three-game losing streak as they prepared to meet the Seattle Seahawks in the wild card playoffs.
The Seattle Seahawks host the Detroit Lions on Saturday afternoon looking to win at least one playoff game for the fifth consecutive year.
Mission accomplished. Pete Carroll’s sluggish team was far from dominant in a 26-6 victory. Now the reigning NFC West champions head to Atlanta next Saturday for a rematch with the Falcons. Back in Week 6 at Seattle, Russell Wilson and company outlasted their guests by a 26-24 score.
Meanwhile, the Lions dropped their ninth consecutive playoff game dating back to 1991. That’s the longest-such streak in league history. Jim Caldwell’s club was limited to a pair of field goals and a mere 231 total yards.
Highlights
samechols: Zach Zenner up the gut. NBC NFL Playoff: Lions at Seahawks https://t.co/mm9DtiHpLL pic.twitter.com/Oo6nPsZaac
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) January 8, 2017
samechols: Thomas Rawls busts a huge run NBC NFL Playoff: Lions at Seahawks https://t.co/z39u0tFW3w pic.twitter.com/NqEKn7tUMb
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) January 8, 2017
samechols: Jimmy Graham got ROCKED! What a hit! NBC NFL Playoff: Lions at Seahawks https://t.co/xDGHnyIeTk pic.twitter.com/rJP5QR4v5B
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) January 8, 2017
samechols: Muffed it NBC NFL Playoff: Lions at Seahawks https://t.co/jsIYwffKqy pic.twitter.com/KUbjiuZ0Fz
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) January 8, 2017
Is @prich10 for real?!
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2017
No regard for the defender.
And STILL makes the insane one-handed TD catch.
WHAT?! #DETvsSEA https://t.co/xhfiNHlvOB
.@Prich10 is out here making it look easy.
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2017
Awesome. #DETvsSEA #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/zXEbzZlLCP
This Matthew Stafford throw.
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2017
This @MarvinJonesJr catch.
PERFECT. #DETvsSEA #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/Y85VVykSaZ
The cut.
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2017
The hesitation.
The block by @DangeRussWilson.
This whole @TRawls810 run = Amazing. #DETvsSEA #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/vaszXteNdd
.@DangeRussWilson launches it DEEP!
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2017
And, of course, @DougBaldwinJr hauls it in. #DETvsSEA #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/Up7TDo96GH
.@TRawls810.
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2017
SIX.#DETvsSEA #NFLPlayoffs #Seahawks https://t.co/b3p6fN6nOD
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/817944545383968768
Three Stars
1. Thomas Rawls
Injuries limited the second-year pro to nine games, 349 yards rushing and three touchdowns this season. On Saturday night against the Lions, Rawls racked up 27 carries for 161 yards and one score. After averaging just 99.4 yards per game on the ground during the regular season, Rawls and the Seattle running attack racked up 177 yards in the 20-point home win.
2. Bobby Wagner
It’s been a rough few weeks for the usually-staunch Seattle defense. But they stifled Matthew Stafford and the Lions’ offense, limiting Detroit to just two field goals and only 49 yards rushing. Wagner would lead the Seahawks with 10 tackles (8 solo) and he and his teammates limited the Lions to 2-of-11 on third-down conversion attempts.
3. Paul Richardson
The 2014 second-round pick from the University of Colorado hasn’t done a lot to distinguish himself in three NFL seasons. But he made three impressive grabs against the Lions’ defense, good for 48 yards and one controversial touchdown in which he had the ball in one hand and Lions’ safety Tavon Wilson facemask in the other. Still, it was an impressive evening overall for a player with 51 catches and two scores in 31 regular-season contests.
Odds
Entering the game, the Seahawks were 7-1 at home this season while the Lions were 3-5 on the road. That’s why Seattle was an 8-point favorite to advance to the divisional round of the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year and they easily covered the number. The OVER/UNDER for this postseason tilt stood at 42.5 and both teams fell woefully short.