***MNF IN THE SWAMP-UPSET 'ESPECIAL***

***DETROIT LIONS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS***

I believe we are in for a real treat tonight with a very entertaining back and forth game between two teams with star studded offenses and subpar defenses. The Lions are 0-3 and I have honestly not seen a team continuously shoot themselves in the foot more than they have. In their defense, they have been cursed with a very tough schedule as they went to San Diego in week 1, Minnesota in week 2, and then hosted Denver on SNF in week 3. Now there are no excuses, but when you are your own worst enemy with bad play calling and a ton of penalties to boot and facing tough opponents, it is no secret that the results will not be in your favor. Lions Head Coach Jim Caldwell is no dummy and will demand improvement in these areas. He will get these guys to re-focus and clean up their stupid mistakes as this MUST be a focal point when playing in a stadium that is as loud as Seattle will be tonight. WR Golden Tate made a point in the media last week that defenses are calling out their plays on offense before they snap the ball. That being said I have to believe they will mix things up this week and hold nothing back as they go for the jugular with their season on the line. Their run game has been nonexistant and Stafford has had literally no time in the pocket to throw the ball. When he is forced to do so 90% of the game while playing catch-up, it allows the opponent's defense to pin their ears back and crush him. He has clearly taken a beating in every game. If I'm Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi I am feeling the heat and I know that I have to make some drastic changes or my QB will not last another week. As far as Golden Tate goes, I am anticipating this guy to have a HUGE game tonight as he returns to the home stadium of his old team where he won a Super Bowl before coming to Detroit. This guy is a YAC monster who has been quiet all season. I think they will make him a focal point of the gameplan tonight as WR Calvin Johnson AKA Megatron will surely draw the matchup of the ProBowl Seahawks CB Richard Sherman. I've always thought that the Lions would matchup well with this team when I thought they would beat Dallas and face Seattle in the NFC Championship last year as they probably should've. I think Sherman will get all he can handle with Megatron tonight and that Stafford will not be afraid to let it rip. He knows he doesn't have all day to get rid of the ball with his offensive line struggling and he will not refrain from hitting Johnson, Tate, and TE Eric Ebron on quick routes and rely on them do the work afterwards. This pass rush is good but nothing like what they have faced the last two weeks. As I mentioned the Lions running attack has been nonexistant, and they are obviously aware of this. They know tonight if they want to win this game they cannot play gunshy and have to do what they do best. I think they will attempt to fearlessly open it up right away through the air. If this has any success, which I think it will with short passes underneath the coverage, it will allow an efficient attack from RB speedsters Theo Riddick and Rookie Ameer Abdullah. Starting RB Joquie Bell seems to have lost a step, he was hurt to start this year and I'm thinking maybe came back too soon in fear of losing his job to these young guys who have been electric when in the game. It may be time to abandon Bell until 3rd and short situations and alternate these two shifty RBs who also pose as a dump off threat out the backfield similar to the ways they used to use Jhavid Best and then Reggie Bush.

As for the Seahawks, I believe they are on the decline. Don't get me wrong, they are clearly an above average team, but no longer the world beaters that they used to be. RB Marshawn Lynch AKA BeastMode is out tonight but insert young rookie Thomas Rawls who looked explosive last week and had a nice debut for himself rushing against a poor Bears defense after he came in for an injured Lynch. He will be fed tonight and will most likely run well, but he may also be prone to turning the ball over in a game like this as rookies can sometimes be. QB Russel Wilson is a great one, and now has the longitme unstoppable force in ex-Saint TE Jimmy Graham at his disposal. It has been a slow process but they seem to finally be establishing some chemistry together in the passing game and against the Lions defense will surely get some production. However, Lion's safety James Ihedigbo is similar to Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor in that he is large and brings the hurt. I think he will be tasked with keying on and holding Graham in check with big hits when possible. The Lions DBs are talented and Peyton Manning was able to take advantage of their height last weekend with his big targets. That being said the Seahawk WRs are not very tall and the Lion CBs Slay and Mathis will matchup much better with these guys. I don't think the Lions will stop the Hawks from scoring but I do think they will be able to match them and answer any scores with some of their own. As far as the Seahawks secondary, we all know how good they are. Now they have Chancellor back in the lineup and that surely improves them greatly but he missed an entire training camp and although he played last week, Bears backup QB Jimmy Clausen is nowhere near the threat with those current Chicago WRs (no Alshon Jefferey) that Stafford and his

In a nutshell, although the Hawks are a dangerous team they are not what they once were and the Lions are far too talented to not turn things around here tonight with their backs against the wall. They were embarassed in their home opener last week facing an amazing defense in Denver and I think they take advantage of back to back Prime Time games to redeem themselves. It is gut-check time for this team and they will avoid going 0-4 with a statement win here tonight on the road in the infamously dreaded CenturyLink Stadium. LIONS +10!