Lions 6-26 Seahawks, Final
Seattle move on, they will face Atlanta next week, and the winner of the Giants Packers game tomorrow will head to Dallas.
Game ball to Rawls who set a franchise record tonight with 161 rushing yards - who had that three hours ago?
That will do it for our coverage, we’ll be back tomorrow for more live NFL Wild Card match-ups, but for now, from all of us here are Guardian sport, good morning, good afternoon and goodnight.
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Lions 6-26 Seahawks, 1:18 4th quarter
Michael Bennett has a sack that he will provide a great quote about in about 10 minutes.
Stafford is incomplete on 4th & 13 and that will do it for Detroit.
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WARNING! Lions 6-26 Seahawks, 1:56 4th quarter
It’s gar-bage time in Seattle, Stafford is chucking it around, scrambling, being sacked and is at midfield.
You have to feel for the guy: he was having what some consider to be an MVP season before suffering an injury to his right middle finger. Now he’s heading home after a foul ending to the season.
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TOUCHDOWN! Lions 6-26 Seahawks, 3:36 4th quarter
Here’s something I haven’t seen before. Kearse is about to make a TD catch and Baldwin, who is right there, reaches out and takes it instead!
So it looks like Seattle are going to cover that eight point spread, for those of you gambling at home.
Extra point is good.
Lions 6-19 Seahawks, 3:43 4th quarter
Wilson rolls out on 3rd & 9 and hits Baldwin who makes a spectacular catch, keeping the ball above the turf, somehow. Except the refs rule the play incomplete, sparking Seahawks coach Pete Carroll to challenge the play.
This should be overruled. And it is. First down at the 14 after a 10-yard gain.
Detroit get zero breaks.
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Lions 6-19 Seahawks, 4:25 4th quarter
Another third down, Seattle need five. They get more after a terrific one-handed catch by Richardson on the far sideline! He’s having the best night of his season, drawing comparisons to Odell Beckham thanks to his uni-arm approach to catching. That’s a 27-yard gain to the Detroit 40.
Then Tavon Wilson gets done for roughing the passer, Russell Wilson. Seattle are at the Lions 25.
Seattle RB Collins is shaken up on a play, momentarily halting the inevitable.
It’s 2nd & 7 at the 21 when we return.
Lions 6-19 Seahawks, 5:50 4th quarter
Seattle are into clock run down mode here. It’s 3rd & 3, Wilson goes to the air from the shotgun and quickly fires to Baldwin on the far sideline, that’s a first down which will suck more time off the clock. Seattle at their 28.
Lions 6-19 Seahawks, 7:51 4th quarter
NBC TV here in the US remind us of the eight comeback victories Detroit have enjoyed this season. All of those came before Stafford’s finger issues, of course.
Stafford hits Tate over the middle for 19, but then almost hits Shead, his opponent in what should have been a pick, surely.
Now he’s incomplete looking downfield for Ebron, and now it’s 3rd & 10.
Stafford hit as he throws over the middle intended for Boldin, incomplete, fourth down.
They’re punting, Hester calls for a fair catch at the 16.
Dissatisfaction in Detroit:
That's game. Thank you Boldin, Ngata, Ebron and Tate. Oh and referees, you know who you are. Thank you Stafford for a great year.
— Russell Brown (@Russell_Brown51) January 8, 2017
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 6-19 Seahawks, 8:49 4th quarter
Rawls enjoys great work from his center Ott and strolls into pay-dirt.
And after an eight play, 82-yard drive in 4:03, this one is just about over, even if Hauschka misses the extra point.
Lions 6-13 Seahawks, 9:20 4th quarter
Wilson audibles into the shotgun and then hits Graham on a little slant to the TE Graham. Slick play call and now it’s on the four.
Lions 6-13 Seahawks, 9:33 4th quarter
Another key 3rd down, Seattle need a yard. Operating from the Lions 14, Wilson calls time out.
Lions 6-13 Seahawks, 10:16 4th quarter
Baldwin is by himself over the middle - yikes! First down, and that is an opportunity missed. Seattle up to the 35...or actually the Lions 23!
Baldwin again is away down the far sideline and makes a great grab for a gain of 42! That is a huge play in this game - Wilson has been much better this half, not that there was anywhere to go but up...
Lions 6-13 Seahawks, 11:30 4th quarter
OK, I overreacted on Boldin. They should not cut him right now, but he should receive a stiff talking to after the game - he knows better!
Quickly, it’s 3rd & 5. Big play for Detroit coming up.
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Lions 6-13 Seahawks, 12:57 4th quarter
Detroit start at their 16 after Roberts was manhandled by Johnson on the kickoff: thrown right on his back he was. Gulp.
First play from scrimmage - Boldin is hit with another personal foul. Are you kidding me? He should be cut, immediately.
That is bananas.
Stafford goes deep looking for Jones but it’s too deep and not catch-able, so no pass interference call after Jones was obstructed.
It’s 3rd & 17, and now Boldin makes a catch on the far sideline, short of the first down and Detroit has to punt. Boldin fails to shove anyone aft3er the play, somehow.
Punt: Seattle have it at their 18. Can Detroit’s D make a play or what?
FIELD GOAL! Lions 6-13 Seahawks, 14:12 4th quarter
It’s good.
That would be a potential momentum point for Detroit if they could actually get to the endzone. Alas...they’ll need three kicks to win, and I’m not sure there’s enough time.
Lions 6-10 Seahawks, 14:30 4th quarter
Rawls slips - it’s 3rd down and goal, they need six to get six.
Wilson throws over the middle - Quin breaks up the pass and Detroit survive a big moment here, holding Seattle.
It’s a 27-yard attempt for Hauschka.
Lions 6-10 Seahawks, end of 3rd quarter
Rawls is back now, and Wilson finds him in the middle immediately. It’s a short gain of about a yard and sets up a 4rd and 6, that is until Ngata throws a post-play shoulder at Ifedi - flag flies, Seahawks get 15 yards and that puts this ball to the Detroit nine.
Not smart.
Baldwin, a little three-yard grab from Wilson on the far side moves the pill to the six, and that’s the end of the quarter.
second and goal to go for Seattle.
Lions 6-10 Seahawks, 2:41 3rd quarter
Baldwin, a nifty sideline catch for six, a little run by Rawls, and now it’s 3rd & short. Can Detroit’s D make a stop?
Nope - Rawls is rambling all over the field - left, right, forwards, backwards, and when it’s all said and done, and Russell makes an illegal block (not called) it’s a 32 yard gain down to Detroit’s 34!
That incidentally, is the opposite of a big Detroit stop.
It’s not all good news for Seattle - Rawls is shaken up on the play, one that puts him over 150 yards on the night.
It was a helmet to helmet hit, with Whitehead so we don’t know if he’ll make it back. It didn’t look great.
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Analysis:
Prater is good. #Lions
— Felsing (@ethanjofes) January 8, 2017
Since Detroit can’t manage more than three, they sure could use a game-changing play from the defense. Now seems like as good a time as any.
Lions 6-10 Seahawks, 4:03 3rd quarter
The kick is out of the endzone - Seattle start at their 20.
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FIELD GOAL! Lions 6-10 Seahawks, 4:03 3rd quarter
Prater is true from 53 - just two more field goals and Detroit are up.
Lions 3-10 Seahawks, 4:06 3rd quarter
Stafford has time - looks for Tate, and the throw is high. Fourth down, here comes Prater.
Maybe they can win this thing with kicks after all?
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Lions 3-10 Seahawks, 4:10 3rd quarter
More from Stafford, it’s Tate again, this time for 13 yards, and after a little run by Zenner, Detroit are at the Seahawks 41.
Lions offense hanging in there despite the usual mistakes on this drive - here’s another completion - it’s Zenner (he’s everywhere), setting up a 3rd & 2.
Lions 3-10 Seahawks, 6:04 3rd quarter
First down! The former Seahawks wideout, Golden Tate, makes the catch in the middle, sidesteps and is ahead for just enough!
Now Shead is penalized for illegal hands to the face, a lucky break after Jones drops yet another Stafford pass!
Zenner ahead for a yard. It’s 2nd & 9.
Stafford, shotgun, he’s chased, throws to Zenner who barely realized the pass was coming - he makes a terrific catch considering! That’s a first down, up to their own 44-yard line!
Lions 3-10 Seahawks, 8:57 3rd quarter
Zenner rumbles up for four yards to provide Stafford some space from the goal line.
Then Stafford in the shotgun, two pump fakes, runs towards the near sideline and gets out of bounds at the 11. That makes it third and about four.
Lions 3-10 Seahawks, 9:36 3rd quarter
Detroit stack the defensive line to stop Rawls, finally - that stop sets up a big 3rd & 11.
Wilson, back to pass, steps up in the dissolving pocket quickly and is TAKEN DOWN! That’s Ansah who got to Wilson for the sack and it pushes Seattle back out of field goal range!
That’s the good news for Detroit. The bad news is that Seattle just punted the ball inside the Lions five-yard line, where they’ll try to kick their offense into gear in their first possession of the second half.
Lions 3-10 Seahawks, 11:36 3rd quarter
Jimmy Graham, backing in over the middle, has the pill for a first down at the Lions 34! Detroit needed a big stop there, instead Seattle are creeping towards the red zone.
Lions 3-10 Seahawks, 12:09 3rd quarter
Wilson pickes up the pace with a pair of completions to start the half but it’s Rawls with a head of steam, right up the middle for another gain, this time it’s for nine! How about this guy!
Richardson drops a perfect pass from Wilson on the far sideline, then the Hawks QB throws it away under pressure setting up a big 3rd & 10...
We're back
Seattle start at their 20 after a touchback...
Stats
Seattle have 119 total yards of offense, 30 of which came on one play late in the half. Stafford hasn’t been a total disaster - 9/17 for 97 yards, but did not turn the ball over. Zenner had 26 yards on seven carries, in stark contrast to Rawls who ran for 107 yards on 15 carries.
Wilson has thrown for just 45 yards, which is remarkable. If not for Rawls, and the blown offensive interference call, where would Seattle be? Perhaps down 3-0.
But that’s not how it works, and an early half TD by Seattle would likely be too much for Detroit’s lowly offense to recover from.
Seahawks get the ball to start the second half.
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Missed tackles. Dropped passes. Bonehead penalties. Shafted by refs. Can't wait for the second half! #lions
— Marty Beneteau (@martybeneteau) January 8, 2017
It doesn’t say it all, but it says a lot.
Lions 3-10 Seahawks, end of 2nd quarter
So that will do it - good half defensively for both sides, offensively, Detroit stunk and Seattle had just enough thanks to Richardson’s somewhat tainted circus catch.
FIELD GOAL! Lions 3-10 Seahawks, 0:20 2nd quarter
It’s good. So Detroit get three, which wouldn’t be so bad if seven didn’t seem so tough. They aren’t gonna win this thing with kicks.
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Lions 0-10 Seahawks, 0:24 2nd quarter
Stafford is sacked, then a screen to Zenner goes nowhere.
3rd & 9 now, Stafford throws left and can’t find Jones this time around! Drive stalled!
Here comes the field goal unit - it’s 51 yards for Matt Prater’s big foot.
REVIEW! Lions 0-10 Seahawks, 1:22 2nd quarter
Yes he did! It sticks! Detroit must score here!
REVIEW! Lions 0-10 Seahawks, 1:22 2nd quarter
Stafford floats one towards the near sideline and Jones has a great over the shoulder catch! That’s a 30-yard gain to the Seahawks 34, if it sticks.
They’re going to take a second look at that one. That makes sense because it’s pretty tight. Did Jones have two feet in bounds?
Instant replay
It’s showing Richardson face-masking Wilson, so that should have actually been offsetting penalties. It takes a bit of a shine off the wonderment of Seattle’s TD catch...but only a bit.
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Lions 0-10 Seahawks, 1:56 2nd quarter
Steven Hauschka comes on to kick Seattle to a 10-point lead, true from 43 yards out.
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WARNING! Lions 0-7 Seahawks, 2:00 2nd quarter
We hit the warning with Detroit pulling it together to stop this Seattle siege - on 3rd and 4, Wilson misses McEvoy and so the field goal unit will likely emerge after the break. Big stop there form Detroit, one needed particularly badly.
Lions 0-7 Seahawks, 3:27 2nd quarter
Rawls is tied up...until he spins out of trouble and breaks down the sideline for a gain of 26! Bad bad tackling there and that jaunt puts the Settle RB over 100 yards for the half!
This doesn’t look like the 23rd ranked rushing offense!
And here’s Richardson again! This time it’s for 19 yards - there’s a rip in Detroit’s lining that needs a very quick sew. Seattle on the Lions 28.
Lions 0-7 Seahawks, 4:48 2nd quarter
How will Detroit respond, down a TD with this Seattle crowd whipping up?
Stafford finds Ebron again, this time for 11 yards. Then a pair of runs by Zenner that cancel each other out - it’s 3rd & 9 - Stafford hits Boldin on the near sideline but he drops it!
Another Detroit drop!
Then Boldin pushes someone on the sideline and he’s hit with a personal foul for that masterpiece - silly silly stuff right there.
So that’s how they answer - 4th & 24. Seattle take the punt and start on their own 24.
Oh boy...
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If you don’t believe me...
...take a look at this!
OBJ move aside, what about Paul Richardson! pic.twitter.com/lefP2NPUnt
— The Sports Quotient (@SportsQuotient) January 8, 2017
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 0-7 Seahawks, 7:07 2nd quarter
3rd & goal - play action and the Lions don’t buy it! Wilson is chased and fires high and incomplete.
Why not run Rawls?
Seattle go for it! Wilson throws up what looks like a balloon - and Paul Richardson makes a one handed catch across the body of an interfering Tavon Wilson and I don’t know how he made that catch!
A huge play there by Richardson who makes one of the catches OF THE SEASON to give Seattle a second quarter lead!
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Lions 0-0 Seahawks, 7:59 2nd quarter
Wilson, quick release and it’s complete to Jermaine Kearse on the far side - first down and goal to go inside the 10!
Now Rawls takes it down to the Lions two, right up the gut. Great drive by Seattle here, leaning on Rawls almost all the way. Can they punch it in?
Lions 0-0 Seahawks, 9:28 2nd quarter
Rawls, moving to his left, finds a hole and has another first down - 10 yard gain behind great execution by the Seattle line.
Rawls, again, this time for four inside the Lions red zone - they’re at the 17.
Big 3rd & 3 coming up for Seattle.
Lions 0-0 Seahawks, 11:18 2nd quarter
Marcel Reece barrels forward and he’s short! It’s 4th & inches and they’re going for it on the Lions 39!
Rawls, who has 53 yards already, has enough for the first down and the drive continues.
Allowing Rawls ratchet up yards is exactly what Detroit could not afford to do.
Lions 0-0 Seahawks, 13:01 2nd quarter
Rawls rolls: back-to-back runs , first for 12, then for nine.
Third time is no charm - Rawls runs left and is stopped short of the first down setting up a 3rd & inches.
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Lions 0-0 Seahawks, 14:52 2nd quarter
Detroit are going for it on the Seattle 38 - Stafford rolls to his right, throws left complete to TE Matthew Mulligan who is stuffed straight away as the Lions turn the ball over on downs!
That would’ve been a 55-yard field goal so no second guessing on that one...except for the bizarre play call of course.
Seattle take over at their own 40.
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Lions 0-0 Seahawks, end of 1st quarter
Now Stafford with lots of time - and I mean a lot of time - hitting Zenner for seven before connecting with Golden Tate, but for no gain. This looks a lot like a rhythm...
It’s 3rd & 3 - Stafford is on the run! He’s going for the first down on a suicide mission and nearly gets his head taken off as he tumbles short of the first down.
It’s 4th & 1...will they go for it? All shall be revealed in the second quarter.
Lions 0-0 Seahawks, 2:09 1st quarter
As for Detroit’s offense, well, that’s another story. Stafford completely misses looking for Ebron.
It’s 3rd & 4, and here’s some life for the damaged QB! Stafford makes a little move in the pocket to avoid the rush and he finds Ebron over the middle for a 12-yard gain and a first down!
Then Stafford fakes a hand off and hits Marvin Jones in the middle at the Lions 47. That’s crisp from Detroit - we’ve seen good, bad and ugly on this drive so far.
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Lions 0-0 Seahawks, 4:39 1st quarter
Big, physical run by a compact physical runner: Rawls strong for eight yards.
But here come Detroit’s D. Back-to-back sacks: first Haloti Ngata, then Ezekiel Ansah! Wilson has nowhere to go except the sideline as we get our fourth punt of the first quarter.
Roberts buffed the punt but fell on it and they begin at the 24. Lions fans got to feel good about the start by this defense.
Lions 0-0 Seahawks, 6:41 1st quarter
Jimmy Graham is shaken up after being hit hard by safety Tavon Wilson on an incomplete pass to the tight end.
He heads to the sidelines as Wilson ratchets up a completion to Doug Baldwin for 10.
Now Luke Wilson has a catch over the middle, he’s not touched and rolls towards a first down, a bit short.
So a third and short coming up: that’s converted by Rawls who runs for three - Seattle on the move at their 36.
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@LengelDavid Hello! This SB isnt the 1st that is also a Chinese surname - SB 11 shared name with current Chinese president - xi jinping.
— Jenny Pennington (@PennyJennington) January 8, 2017
This is great! Thank you! I’m all ears if there are any more. Let’s all move on this as much a possible!
Lions 0-0 Seahawks, 8:59 1st quarter
Detroit are called for a false start but then Stafford finds Golden Tate for a short reception on the far side setting up a 3rd & 1.
Eric Ebron drops a catch he should have made easily and that means another punt coming up to Hester and Seattle.
That was momentum that slipped though Ebron’s hand right there: Detroit can’t afford that sort of nonsense.
Fair catch on the punt - Seattle begin on their 13.
Lions 0-0 Seahawks, 10:47 1st quarter
Stafford fires incomplete on the far side behind Marvin Jones, but then it’s Zenner, running strong, finding a hole on the right side for a gain of 17!
Now here’s an offsides penalty on Michael Bennett for 10 yards, who made the news this week with his comments regarding Zenner’s status.
Detroit are on the move, approaching midfield at their 47.
Lions 0-0 Seahawks, 12:41 1st quarter
Russell Wilson is scrambling on a 3rd & 3 and has to get rid of it! Great pursuit by Detroit as they themselves force a three and out!
Two punts right away in Seattle: Andre Roberts calls for a fair catch at the Lions 23 and that’s where they’ll start.
Kickoff!
We’re on in Seattle! Detroit have the ball first and the NFL’s best white running back, Zach Zenner, is busy early, but he gets nowhere.
The Lions are three and out early, and after a Detroit penalty on the punt, Seattle start at their 36.
Incidentally, Devin Hester, who has returned more kick returns for TD’s than anyone in NFL, caught that punt for Seattle after signing with Seattle midweek.
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Predictions
Oh why not: Detroit 23-20! Let’s go!
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Beating the Seahawks
How? Well, Detroit can start by making Russell Wilson uncomfortable in the pocket because he is a much slower version of himself these days. Wilson has been wearing a knee brace since spraining his MCL in week four against the Niners, and has averaged just 3.6 yards per scramble, a career low. If for any reason he can’t get it going, Seattle have zero running game to fall back on.
OK, that’s an exaggeration: they ranked 23rd in rushing efficiency without a certain missing retired running back.
So, yeah, it’s basic: stop their quarterback and don’t let their well below average running game gain any sort of momentum. If they can do that, and the Matthew Stafford who was in the running for an MVP until injuring his pinkie somehow is resurrected behind an over-performing offensive line, Detroit could be competitive and keep eyes on screens later than expected.
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1991
It’s the last year that Detroit won a playoff game. It’s also the last year I was in high school, which makes me a bit sad.
They were a fun team, with a Fred Flintstone looking character as head coach in Wayne Fontes, a hall-of-fame back in Barry Sanders, the very ordinary QB in Erik Kramer and a notable wideout Brett Perriman.
They beat up on Dallas at the Pontiac Silverdome 38-6, prompting this Anchorman-ish report from the local TV folks.
They then got destroyed by Joe Gibbs’ Washington team that went on to beat Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVI.
And they haven’t won since.
Super Bowl LI
Houston are still in the running to be the first home team to play a Super Bowl in their stadium, that is, until they go to New England (perhaps eventually) and lose by 54 points.
That’s a fact, but one not as interesting as this coming Super Bowl being the first (at first thought) to boast Roman numerals that also double as a Chinese surname. Li is the last name to 93m folks around the world, making it one of the most popular names on the planet, ranking only second in China to Wang.
It’s obviously a piece of shameless NFL marketing as they continue to market their sport globally. Obviously.
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Elsewhere
You may or may not know that one of the world’s most boring franchises, the Houston Texans, are facing the Oakland Raiders in Texas. Poor Oakland lost two quarterbacks and have left it all up to 23-year-old Connor Cook at QB for this AFC Wild Card game: they’re paying the price.
Now we hear that they’ve lost wideout Michael Crabrtree to injury to boot. Oy vey.
The silver, black and blue are getting smoked 27-14 and have just turned the ball over.
It will be all over soon enough with just over 4:30 left in the fourth quarter: it’s a disappointing finish in what was already a major bounce back season for Oakland.
Hola!
Hello there, and welcome to our coverage of the first of two NFC Wild Card contests. The Giants and Packers play tomorrow in the grand finale to the weekend, and in about 50 minutes or so, the Lions and Seahawks kick-off in the loudest outdoor stadium in North America, Seattle’s CenturyLink Field.
As if Detroit doesn’t have enough problems, quarterback Matthew Stafford and his gimpy right middle finger face a superior team, fans that never shut up, and a globally based legion of doubters. I’m not sure there’s anyone inside or outside of Detroit believe the Lions can pull this thing off.
Come to think of it, I’m not sure anyone on Detroit believe they can actually pull this thing off.
And that’s mostly because Jim Caldwell’s cadets limped into the postseason by blowing their division with a series of losses to would-be playoff football teams. Now, they have to face an actual playoff team in Seattle.
The Seahawks rarely lose at home, especially this time of year. They certainly aren’t at full strength and are saddled with their own problems including the loss of interstellar free safety Earl Thomas. To tell you the truth, this particular club is actually more about what they’ve done on the field in the past five years than what they’ve done on the field this season, which is a lot less. If they’re playing Washington this week instead of Detroit, their fan base is a heck of a lot more nervous.
But they’re not.
Detroit, with their limited QB and lack of running game (they don’t have a back with 360 rushing yards this season) are pretty much walking right into the greedy hands of the home team.
Still, crazier things than a Lions win in in Seattle have happened, right?
RIGHT?
Right, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a heck of a wild card game should Caldwell inspire his Lions to play the desperate football required to pull the upset of the season. Until I see otherwise, I’m hanging my hat on the under-appreciated head coach helping to shock the world tonight.
Anyway, we’ll know more soon enough.
Wherever you are, do what you have to do to get ready for some football: that should include emailing your predictions over to us at david.lengel.freelance@theguardian.com or be like Trump and choose twitter as your weapon: @lengeldavid.
Please stand by...
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David will be here shortly. In the meantime, read Paolo Bandini’s predictions for this weekend’s games:
You know the outlook must be bleak when even your hometown media see no chance of a victory. The Detroit Free Press put the Lions’ chances of beating Seattle at less than 0.01%, and that is hardly the most damning figure available. Jim Caldwell’s team are 0-5 against opponents who made the playoffs this season, 0-4 in outdoor games and 0-3 since Matthew Stafford dislocated his middle finger.
This is not the most impressive version of the Seahawks that we have seen in recent years, with a 3-3 record over the past six weeks and an offense that has been held under 10 points on three separate occasions. An injury to Earl Thomas has significantly diminished their defense, even if he does say so himself. But they have never lost a home playoff game with Russell Wilson at quarterback. I cannot envisage this being the first.
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