The performance of the attack was decisive for the Lions, while the Seahawks prevailed by exploiting their defense
Detroit and Seattle win the Monday Night matches that complete the seventh NFL day. They confirm themselves as quality teams, at least playoff-worthy. The Lions exhibit a great offense, the Seahawks a great defense.
detroit-tampa bay 24-9
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The Lions remain undefeated at home, in Detroit. They dominate Tampa well beyond the final score led by the electric running back Jahmir Gibbs who ran for 136 yards scoring two touchdowns and adding 82 catches. A monster. The Bucs have no countermeasures for him and above all their attack runs in circles for once, suffering from the absence of Bucky Irving, the starting running back, and the exit of Mike Evans, the best receiver, who is injured in the first half, breaking his right collarbone. Baker Mayfield, who had played like an MVP so far this season, doesn’t work miracles this time. The Lions go up to 5-2 in record (3-0 in front of their fans) relaunching themselves after the defeat suffered in Kansas City, Tampa is now up 5-2.
the match
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Jared Goff immediately for Amon-Ra St Brown to make it 7-0, then Jahmir Gibbs’ 78-yard sprint in the 2nd quarter makes it 14-0 Lions. Evans, recovering from a muscle problem, gets hurt trying to make a diving catch, a fumble by Sterling Shepard covered by Aidan Hutchinson – the best of his defense, exceptional – offers a match point to Detroit. Missed! First Jake Bates misses the kick from 54 yards, then after Arthur Mallet’s interception in Mayfield, Goff is intercepted by Jamel Dean. McLaughlin, the other kicker, gives Tampa the points of 3-14 in the last second of the first half. Tampa therefore remains clinging to the game against all logic: 58 yards produced in attack against Detroit’s 275, yet the challenge is still open. And freshman Tez Johnson at the start of the second half converted a short pass from Mayfield into a touchdown to make it 9-14. The 2-point conversion fails, however. The Lions’ response was immediate and was led by the usual Gibbs. Who does what he wants, runs as he pleases until the touchdown at 21-9. Then Bates helps himself to the post from 58 yards for the kick which makes it 24-9. Finished. At Ford Field the party can begin.
Seattle-Houston 27-19
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A great defensive player and super receiver, Jaxson Smith-Njigba. The gist of Seattle’s recipe for success, now 5-2 record, is all here. Solid, well-trained team, with a quarterback, Sam Darnold, who confirms his obvious limitations, but inserted into this system it can still work, at least until the playoffs. Houston is much worse off. Not only because of the 2-4 record, but because CJ Stroud is unrecognizable compared to his exceptional freshman season and that disastrous offensive line certainly doesn’t help him, just as the non-existent running game doesn’t help. The defense is quality, this time it even puts together 4 forced turnovers and scores a touchdown, but it’s not enough. At Lumen Field the celebration is partial: the city’s baseball team, the Mariners, at the same time loses access to the World Series in Game 7 (against Toronto).
the match
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Zach Charbonnet’s one-yard run makes it 7-0 Seattle, then Darnold finds Smith-Njigba in the end zone at the end of the 1st quarter to make it 14-0. The receiver dunks by jumping over the goal posts, but the NBA starts only in a few hours and he gets the penalty for the spectacular celebration. Houston makes a damned effort in attack: the first four offensive possessions translate into as many punts. Then the unimaginable happens: Cooper Kupp, the receiver, throws with a trick play and is intercepted by Calen Bullock, but the Texans only partially capitalize, with 3 points. 14-6 at mid-match because Jason Myers’ kick is blocked, Ka’imi Fairbarn’s kick hits the posts. At the beginning of the second half Ernest Jones intercepts Stroud and it becomes 17-6. The attack doesn’t work, the defense takes care of getting Houston back up: Darnold makes a big deal by holding the ball in the end zone, he is tackled, the fumble is recovered by Will Anderson for the touchdown to make it 12-17. However, Charbonnet’s second try closes the match: 27-12. Darnold throws a horrendous interception, prey to Derek Stingley, but Houston scores only 2′ from the end with Woody Marks. Too little, too late.
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