SEATTLE — Things could not have started much better for the Detroit Lions.
Playing without starting quarterback Jared Goff, two of their top three receivers and their leader on every level of defense, the Lions forced a three-and-out on the game’s opening series then drove into Seattle Seahawks territory on the ensuing possession.
But when Jamaal Williams was stopped on fourth-and-1, it started a kind of avalanche not even seen on Mt. Rainier.
Rashaad Penny ran for 144 of his career-high 170 yards in the first half and the Seahawks scored on nine straight possessions to hand the Lions their ugliest loss of the season, 51-29, Sunday at Lumen Field.
“I felt like it knocked the wind out of us when we didn’t get the fourth-and-inches or half a yard, whatever you want to call it,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We had gotten a three-and-out and we drove it well, and then we don’t come away and then we didn’t respond after that.”
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With the loss, the Lions are guaranteed a top-two pick in April’s NFL draft, where they should have the chance to take one of top pass rushers Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux or Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, who lost 50-10 to the New England Patriots on Sunday, have the worst record in the NFL at 2-14 and can lock up the No. 1 overall pick with a loss to the Indianapolis Colts next week or a Lions win or tie.
The Lions (2-13-1) host the Green Bay Packers in their season finale next Sunday at Ford Field. The Packers clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Winners of two of their previous three games, the Lions allowed their most points since Week 6 of the 2017 season against a Seattle team that entered the week 29th in total offense and last in the league in time of possession.
Penny ripped off three runs of at least 20 yards in the first half, and Seattle finished with 265 yards rushing and punted just once in the game.
“Just not good enough, man,” Lions defensive end Austin Bryant said. “There’s no way around it. You look at the score, they pretty much could do whatever they wanted. They were running the ball, they had the play-action pass coming off of it. They hit with us some shots, too, and we just never got our footing and got comfortable and started getting stops. The proof is in the pudding, the tape don’t lie and we weren’t good enough today, point blank, period.”
Wilson, in the midst of his first losing season as Seahawks quarterback, finished 20-for-29 passing for 236 yards. He hinted at wanting a fresh start last offseason, and the Seahawks could accommodate his request in the coming months as they look to retool their aging roster.
Wilson played the entire game Sunday and was serenaded with loud cheers after ending the game with two kneel-down snaps inside the Lions’ 5-yard line – the only time Seattle failed to score after its opening drive.
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He matched his season-high with four touchdown passes, three of them going to DK Metcalf, who scored on two 13-yard catches and a 1-yard grab in the fourth quarter. Tyler Lockett caught a 1-yard touchdown pass in the first half, Jason Myers made field goals of 51, 36 and 42 yards.
“Couldn’t stop the run and then we didn’t run it very well, so that was kind of the essence of this game,” Campbell said. “I know this, we were getting cut off backside. We weren’t where we were supposed to be on a few things. (For what reason), who knows? I got to look at the tape. I know this, we weren’t stopping it. Penny is a hell of a player. He is. But when you let him get going, then you’re making that quarterback 10 times better than he already is, and that’s tough.”
The Lions made the score look somewhat respectable with touchdowns on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter to cut Seattle’s lead to 38-22. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught his fourth touchdown in five weeks on a 7-yard pass from Tim Boyle, and followed with a two-point conversion run. Boyle then threw a 6-yard pass to left tackle Taylor Decker on the ensuing series, after the Lions recovered an onside kick.
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But the Seahawks converted a key third-and-7 with just under 3 minutes to play in the third quarter. Colby Parkinson broke two tackles on the play, and the Seahawks capped the drive with a back-breaking touchdown – their fifth straight – early in the fourth quarter.
“Didn’t tackle well,” Campbell said. “You saw it, man. It wasn’t — it just was not good. It was not good.”
Boyle, making his second straight start in place of an injured Jared Goff, finished 22-for-37 passing for a career-high 262 yards. He threw three interceptions, one on the first play of the second half after he bobbled the snap, and two in the fourth quarter.
St. Brown had eight catches for a career-high 111 yards, his fifth straight game with at least eight catches, and scored rushing and receiving touchdowns.
Metcalf had six catches for 63 yards for the Seahawks, who finished with 497 yards of total offense.
Contact Dave Birkett at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
