It looks like the magic has run out on the Detroit Lions. After winning eight of nine games during the middle of the season to get into playoff position, many by coming from behind in the fourth quarter, the Lions faltered down the stretch and the NFC North title that was theirs just a few weeks back isn’t. It was a painful final three weeks of the year where the Lions couldn’t hang with the top teams in the conference, showing us that they aren’t ready for a major role in the postseason. But it’s a one-game tournament now and the Lions play their Wild Card game in one of the most raucous environments when they visit the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.
Watch this Wild Card playoff round matchup live on Saturday, January 7, 2017, at 8:15 p.m. ET at CenturyLink Field.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Detroit Lions +7
Seattle Seahawks -7
Over/Under 42.5
Odds Analysis
The Seahawks have had so much success at home over the past several years and that has translated into the postseason. And expect the 12th man to be extra amped for this one after Seattle didn’t get a home playoff game last season. Seattle has won nine straight postseason games at the Link while going 5-3-1 ATS. With spreads lower than 7-points, though, they are 3-1 ATS. We could see movement on the line before kickoff, so it might be wise to get in now.
Injury Report
Asa Jackson – The Lions just got cornerback Darius Slay back from a hamstring injury and now Jackson might miss some time with an ankle injury. That’s not a good sign for a Detroit defense that struggled to contain Dallas and Green Bay the past two weeks.
Tyler Lockett – Seattle heads into the postseason without one of its top play-making threats after Lockett broke his leg two weeks ago. The offense worked against a poor San Francisco club on Sunday with Jermaine Kearse and Paul Richardson getting into the action. The return game is where we could see some issues, though. Locket was the main return threat on kickoffs and punts and Pete Carroll used several players in the role last week in an attempt to find someone to do the job.
Matchup to Watch
The Lions are not going to pull off a fourth quarter comeback against the Seahawks in Seattle, so it would behoove Matthew Stafford and the offense to get out to a better start than what they have been doing the past few games. Detroit did enough during the middle of the season to pad its numbers and build enough of a cushion to reach the postseason, even though they lost their last three games. The Lions played the toughest part of their schedule over the final three weeks and showed that they aren’t ready to compete with the big boys just yet. Going against one of the better defenses, the Lions failed to score a touchdown in a 17-6 loss to the Giants three weeks ago.
They got lit up by premier offensive clubs in Dallas and Green Bay the past two games, surrendering 73 combined points. And facing the Seahawks at the Link is another death trap. Seattle is vulnerable on defense since the loss of Earl Thomas, but the offense needs to be slowed and the Lions have to take advantage of Seattle’s weak line. The Seahawks surrendered two sacks on Sunday and allowed 42 this season, one of the highest totals in the NFL. If the Lions can cause havoc in the backfield, they may have a chance of pulling the road upset.
Free ATS Pick
The Seahawks enjoy the best home field advantage in the NFL and Detroit will have a serious challenge on its hands to advance. Seattle had a little rest on Sunday after Carroll pulled his starters midway through the contest after it was apparent a No. 2 seed wasn’t in the cards. They also played the Niners, which was another easy road for them. The Lions, meanwhile, had the Sunday night game and played balls out for 60 minutes in an effort to win the division title.
It didn’t work out for Detroit and the club limps into the postseason having lost three straight to some of the best in the NFC. Seattle doesn’t scare me as much this season as they deal with some injuries to key personnel, but playing at home makes them the favorite. The Seahawks have been just a different club when playing at the Link and that’s the difference as the Lions continue their free-fall. Take the Seahawks minus the points as the team’s play over the total.
NFL Odds: Seahawks 27, Lions 17
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