The terrible defensive performance in Week 4 was a major factor in the Seattle Seahawks’ loss to the Detroit Lions. Seattle’s lack of several injured players, including Boye Mafe, Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, Uchenna Nwosu, and Jerome Baker, could be an explanation, but the backups were still dominated. The performance was embarrassing.
Detroit used 50 offensive plays to score 42 points. There had only been six previous instances of such efficiency prior to the NFL. The only reason Seattle had an eight-minute advantage in time of possession was because Detroit was scoring so quickly.
At least the offense, led by quarterback Geno Smith, performed admirably. The team performed well enough to win a lot of games. The defense gave up enough points to lose the majority.
Dre’Mont Jones, the edge rusher, has three Seahawks to blame for the team’s terrible defensive effort against the Lions in Week 4.
Jones had to have a great game because Mafe and Williams were not in Seattle. He didn’t. Even after signing a free agent contract in 2023, he hasn’t continuously delivered above-average work. Perhaps in this game, he would have shown why he was the most expensive free agent John Schneider had ever signed a deal with.
Jared Goff, the quarterback, was indeed sack by Jones, but it was during garbage time. He only had one QB pressure during the entire game. Pro Football Focus (paywall alert!) claims that Jones made just one tackle and failed to make another one. Leading an effective defense is not possible when one is missing half of your tackles.
Jones was switched from the edge rusher position to the defensive line, although he did not contribute much to his new alignment. He might be a salary cap casualty the following year if he can’t prove he can play well for the remainder of the season.
Tight end Tyrel Dodson
After three games, Dodson has performed incredibly well and seems like a wise replacement for Bobby Wagner as the Seahawks’ defensive end. Though he didn’t have a great Week 4, he will probably have a solid season.
Perhaps a single play revealed the real distinction between Wagner and Dodson. Dodson had a terrific opportunity to stop Lions running back David Montgomery from scoring on a third-and-goal play from the one-yard line, but Montgomery managed to slip past Dodson. Wagner most likely would have received the run stuff.
Dodson also allowed completions for 75 yards on all five of his targets. The Lions routinely found receivers open over the middle of the field, just as 12s became used to seeing from their defense in the prior three seasons.
Recessive end Trevis Gipson
Gipson has no business playing for the Seahawks. Due to injuries to Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu, Seattle had to give players like Derick Hall some rest, therefore he received 12 snaps—12 too many. Despite being categorized as an edge rusher, Gipson had the speed of a defensive tackle, appeared to be 55 years old, and reacted slowly to everything.
The Lions were ready to throw a wide receiver pass to quarterback Jared Goff close to Seattle’s goal line, and Gipson was the only player on the team to see it. However, he sprinted to where Goff was as if his feet were chained together. He moved quite slowly, and Goff isn’t particularly quick. Gipson’s lackluster athleticism was made evident by the play, even while he was making an effort.
He failed to make a tackle on his lone try and let up touchdowns when he was singled out for coverage. It is impossible for Mafe and Nwosu to return soon enough.
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