The Seattle Seahawks are headed to Atlanta following their 26-6 win over the Detroit Lions in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs. What did we learn?
A 9-4 start in 2016 by the Detroit Lions turned into a four-game, season-ending losing streak, the final straw coming on Saturday night as Jim Caldwell’s club slept-walked at Seattle, 26-6. The NFC West champions are now onto Atlanta for a second meeting with the Falcons this season. So what exactly did we learn from the Seattle Seahawks’ 20-point win over their visitors from the Motor City?
1. Seahawks got the running game untracked
Due to a ton of factors, the Seattle ground attack fell upon hard times this season. Pete Carroll’s club averaged just 99.4 yards per game on the ground, good for 25th in the NFL. It was quite a tumble for a team usually in the Top 5 in this category and a club that was third in the league a year ago. But the offensive line had its way with the Lions, and Thomas Rawls and company amassed 177 yards on the ground – 161 and a score by the second-year running back.
2. Seattle pass blocking still an issue
A patient Russell Wilson would finish the game completing 23 of his 30 throws for 224 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. But he was also sacked three times in the contest. That far from an extraordinary number but you have to be a bit concerned when it comes to next Saturday and the prospect of colliding with Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Vic Beasley and his NFL-high 15.5 sacks.
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3. The Lions could use a lesson on tackling
Including the setback at Seattle, the Lions dropped four straight games and their defense allowed a dozen touchdown passes. And including this contest, Detroit failed to come up with a takeaway in five consecutive games. But Seattle’s 177 yards on the ground in this contest was assisted by some shoddy tackling by Teryl Austin’s defensive unit. By game’s end, Seattle very quietly rolled up 387 total yards.