Monday Night Football - Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions Odds and Picks

For the second straight week, we will end the slate of games with two tilts on Monday Night Football. The first game between the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins will get some viewers, but most fans will be looking to tune in and watch the Detroit Lions host the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle is currently sitting atop the NFC West at 3-0, but Detroit is the favorite by the NFL betting odds here. The Lions will be looking to avenge a 37-31 overtime loss at home to the Seahawks last year that prevented them from starting the season 6-0. 

Week 4 Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions

Seattle Seahawks +3.5Detroit Lions -3.5Total 46

The opening NFL betting line pegged Detroit as a 4.5-point favorite over Seattle in the final game of Week 4. While the Lions have received the bulk of the bets, most of the money has come in on the Seahawks and that has brought the line down. The total has come down from where it opened at 47.5 too.

Seattle Seahawks Overview

Geno Smith has rejuvenated his career in Seattle. Smith was written off as a bust after two seasons with the New York Jets, and he appeared destined to spend the rest of his tenure in the NFL as a backup. However, he proved us all wrong starting in 2021 and posted a winning record as the starter for the Seahawks in 2022 and 2023. Smith has completed 74.8% of his passes for 7.6 YPA with three touchdowns and three interceptions.

Seattle has done an excellent job of giving Smith plenty of options in the passing game. D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett have been a solid tandem for years, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is looking to make his mark in his second season out of Ohio State. The Seahawks have a nice one-two punch at running back too in Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III, but Walker is questionable to play and has missed the last two games with an oblique injury.

The offensive line has some concerns as right tackle George Fant is still on injured reserve, while starting guards Laken Tomlinson and Anthony Bradford are listed as questionable.

Those worries pale in comparison to Seattle’s problems in the front seven though. Five of the Seahawks’ seven starters are listed as questionable this week, and three of the backups are also questionable. Fortunately, the secondary is relatively healthy. 

Detroit Lions Overview

The Lions might have the best running back tandem in the NFL. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs nearly became just the eighth pair of teammates to run for 1,000 yards in 2023. Both Montgomery and Gibbs are already over 200 yards this season, putting them both on pace to make history this season.

Detroit has the best tackle tandem in the league, but star center Frank Ragnow will miss Monday night’s game. Tight end Sam LaPorta is questionable too, so that’s a bit concerning for the Lions.

Jared Goff has had a tough start to his season. Goff has already thrown for four interceptions despite being sacked just four times in three games. That’s something he needs to fix as interceptions were his bugaboo during his tenure with the Los Angeles Rams.

It’s clear that Detroit’s defense is much improved from what we saw in 2023. Aidan Hutchinson has become an elite defensive end, and the front seven is still relatively young. Unfortunately, there isn’t much depth with seven backups on injured reserve, so the Lions can ill afford any more injuries on this side of the ball.

Monday Night Football Prediction

I can see why some might want to roll the dice with Seattle on the moneyline here, but I will take Detroit to cover the number at home. Montgomery and Gibbs have the potential to bowl over the Seahawks’ defense and continually break into the second level. That will set up Goff on play action, and that’s where he thrives as a quarterback. It is worth noting that replacement kicker Jake Bates has yet to make an attempt from longer than 35 yards though.

Final Score: Detroit 26, Seattle 20