Seahawks (8:15PM ET ABC) – Big 3-0 sweep on Sunday to turn last week into an overall winning week.  No matter what we will get out ahead in NFL Week 4, but I’m taking a shot at the big week here and I’ll finish it off with a MAX BET when the Seattle Seahawks head to the Motor City to take on the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

I haven’t been that impressed with Detroit, the Lions needed overtime to beat the Rams in a game they had no business covering and came out and lost to a banged-up Bucs team the following week.  Last week the Lions were shut out in the second half by a poor Cardinals defense and caught a massive break right before halftime when Jared Goff threw a clear “pick six” that was inexplicably overturned by the referees.  Seattle has some injuries on the defensive side of the ball but Detroit has yet to score more than 20 points in regulation in any game this season against competition (Rams, Bucs, Cardinals) that have defenses similar to what the Seahawks will run out there tonight WITH THE INJURIES.  What I’m most encouraged by in this matchup is the Seattle offense, Kenneth Walker III will be a full go for the visitors and that’s huge because it give the Seahawks offense another dimension while they set up to throw all over the Lions here.  I don’t see how Detroit wins in the secondary here, the Lions have had zero answer for the Seahawks passing attack the past couple times these two teams have played including a 37-31 Seattle win in overtime on this field last year.  Detroit struggles to cover 1v1 on the perimeter which should mean a monster game for DK Metcalf who has abused his last two opponents with over 100 yards receiving in both games. 

Detroit is solid against the run and will likely generate some pressure which is why the play of Geno Smith is so important here.  I think people will discount Walker’s return because the Lions have a solid run defense but Walker is such a massive upgrade from Zach Charbonnet (in my opinion) that Walker simply being active gives the Lions more to think about which, in turn, gives Smith more of a wrinkle to exploit the Lions secondary.  Smith did an excellent job of shredding the Lions secondary in this matchup last season with six different receivers gaining 30+ yards and total of 328 yards passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions.  I would argue the matchups this time around for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett are even better than a season ago and, as previously mentioned, Metcalf should abuse any Detroit defender that tries to guard him 1v1 on the outside here.  Seattle has been up against solid run defenses the past two weeks and Smith torched both the Patriots and Dolphins relentlessly for an average of over 300+ per game.  The new offensive scheme for Seattle has put more trust into Smith to make the correct play and it’s a big reason the Seahawks are much improved and have started the season 3-0.

Seattle might have a few guys out on defense but this is still an excellent Seahawks secondary that should limit big plays downfield.  I especially think that will be the case because the Lions weren’t able to dial up many big plays against a banged up Bucs defense or a terrible Cardinals secondary last week.  Where the Lions should have success in this game is running the ball but not as much success as they typically would with Sam LaPorta banged up and Frank Ragnow already ruled out for this game.  Even with some guys out I still love Seattle here who continue to play with something to prove.  I felt like this team was undervalued coming into the season and somehow, despite going 3-0 with two covers and a push, are still undervalued in the betting market thanks to the betting public loving this Lions team.  Even if Seattle plays from behind in this game the Lions inability to cover Seahawks receivers will have the back door open against this generous number.  I don’t think it comes to that but +4 should hold up either way here.  Play on Seahawks +4 (-110) for 5% (or 5 units)