2. Can rushing attack keep rolling?
Detroit’s passing attack hasn’t quite clicked on all cylinders yet this season, despite ranking seventh in the NFL in passing entering tonight’s game. Detroit’s ground game, however, has been rolling to the tune of 163 rushing yards per game through the first three weeks of the season and are coming off a 188-yard performance on the ground in the win over Arizona last week. Detroit’s gained at least 4.0 yards on 53 of their 101 rushing attempts this season, the third best rate in the league.
Seattle ranks 15th in the NFL against the run, allowing 116 yards on the ground per game. The Lions are at their best offensively when they can dictate the pace with their run game and use the passing attack as a complement. Look for them to establish the run early and often tonight.
3. Replacing defensive starters
Detroit lost defensive end Marcus Davenport for the rest of the season and SAM linebacker Derrick Barnes for the foreseeable future. Davenport has been a a productive player for a Lions’ defense that is second in the NFL in QB hits (15) and top 10 in total pressures (57) through the first three weeks. Third-year defensive lineman Josh Paschal is expected to get the bulk of the snaps in Davenport’s absence, though the Lions have options to rotate different players opposite Aidan Hutchinson. It’s important the Lions get production from that spot or teams will use more and more resources to try and slow down Hutchinson on the other side.
As for replacing Barnes, Glenn said he has a ton of confidence in the depth at linebacker, probably more than any other position group on his defense.
“We have a number of guys in that linebacker room that would want to play that role,” Glenn said this week. “And I’ve said this every week, that’s a room that I highly respect the way that they operate. I highly respect the friendship and the closeness that they have in that room, and I highly respect the versatility that we have in that room.”
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