Our second game of the NFL’s Wild Card Weekend is a match up between the stumbling Seattle Seahawks (10-5-1) and the bumbling Detroit Lions (9-7). The line on this one hasn’t moved since it opened, but the totals have clicked up a point from Monday afternoon. Kick off is set for Saturday night at 8:15 p.m. on NBC.
The only people less excited than I am to see the Lions in the playoffs are actual Lions fans. Let’s not waste another second. Let’s get fired up for this pick.
The Game: Detroit at Seattle (-8, 43.5 O/U)
The History
For two teams that have both been in the NFL for over 40 years, they’ve only met 11 times. The Seahawks lead the series 8-5, with their last victory over the Lions coming in October, 2015, a 13-10 victory.
Detroit’s top receiver, Golden Tate, was originally a second round draft pick for the Seahawks back in 2010. Tate won a Super Bowl with Seattle in 2013.
Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril was originally a third round pick for Detroit in 2008, the same year the Lions went 0-16, the only NFL team to ever finish winless in the post free agency era.
How the Lions Got Here
The answer to that question is the Washington Redskins. If the Redskins won last Sunday against a New York Giants team playing just to stay in playoff shape, the Lions would be sitting at home watching Wild Card Saturday where they belong. Instead, they get to travel to Seattle, the most inhospitable field in the NFL and play outside in 30-degree weather. Congratulations, Detroit.
Jim Caldwell will be back with the @Lions in 2017: https://t.co/oNzOM3MUyw pic.twitter.com/8gVU5RLtYo
— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2017
Saying the Lions “backed” into the playoffs is to misuse the sports cliche. They choked on a McGriddle, died, went to Hell, then ended up in the playoffs. Detroit’s last win was a 20-17 come-from-behind victory over the Chicago Bears of all teams.
Quarterback Matt Stafford has put together the best season of his life and was even in the MVP conversation until he dislocated the middle finger on his throwing hand. Needless to say, in an offense that can’t run the ball, a quarterback with bum digit on his throwing had has been an issue.
How the Seahawks Got Here
Seattle was blessed this season with an NFC West in complete collapse. Jeff Fisher was still in control of the Los Angeles Rams and Chip Kelly was handed the keys to the 49ers, so three of Seattle’s 10 wins were right there. With the New York Jets on the schedule early the Seahawks started out 4-1 and all seemed right with the world.
Then everybody figured out the Seahawks’ offensive line was ass.
So pumped to be with the #12s on Saturday night at CenturyLink!! Let's turn it up #12s!!
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) January 5, 2017
Russell Wilson was pretty much forced to run for his life every other drop back and a string of Seattle running backs all got hurt. The minute it looked like the Seahawks had figured out their team, like say with three consecutive wins over the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots (at Foxboro) and the Philadelphia Eagles, they went ahead and lost 14-5 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That’s pretty much how they finished out the season. One week they’d look great, say against the Carolina Panthers (winning 40-7). The very next week they’d lose 38-10 to the Green Bay Packers.
The X-Factors
Some people might point to Matt Stafford or Russell Wilson here, but this game is all about the coaching match up and it’s laughably lopsided. Jim Caldwell should not be an NFL head coach and by accidentally sliding into the playoffs, he’ll curse Detroit for at least one more season. Pete Carroll is one of the best coaches in the league and has beaten Caldwell on the dry erase boards and meeting rooms already.
The Pick
Seattle is playing at home in front of the 12th man that just has this one chance, barring disasters in Atlanta and Dallas next week, to cheer for the only thing that keeps them alive during the winter months. Matt Stafford is nursing a bad finger, but his entire hand may freeze off in Seattle. The Lions have not won a road playoff game since 1957 for a reason. Seahawks 27, Lions 10
Last Week
Straight up: 11-5
Against the spread: 9-7
Season
Straight up: 157-97-2
Against the spread: 124-28
To make a wager on this week’s NFL games, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.
