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NFL Preview - Seattle at Detroit
-> NFL Preview - Seattle (0-0) at Detroit (0-0), to bet click here.
By -> NFL Analyst and Ecobika independent -> sports betting advices
The Seattle Seahawks open defense of their NFC title on familiar ground at Detroit's Ford Field on Sunday, and will be vying to spoil the debut of Lions head coach Rod Marinelli.
Seattle finished with the best record in the NFC last season (13-3) en route to the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance. The Seahawks, though, suffered a 21-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL at Ford Field.
Mike Holmgren's squad will try to avoid similar results in this trip to the Motor City, especially with 2005 MVP running back Shaun Alexander returning to the nest with a thicker wallet.
Alexander inked an eight-year deal worth more than million after recording an NFL single-season record 28 touchdowns last year. Not only does Alexander have to worry about the Madden cover jinx this season, but he will also be counted on to help end a five-year run in which the Super Bowl loser has missed the playoffs the following season.
The Alabama product has 100 career TDs and needs two more to surpass Steve Largent (101) for the team record.
Seattle, which is in the hunt for a third consecutive NFC West title and fourth consecutive playoff appearance, sported an offense that led the NFL in points (452) and touchdowns (57) while ranking second in total yards (6,089) last season.
Besides Alexander, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was another reason Seattle's offense kept the chains moving. The Pro Bowl signal-caller completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 3,459 yards with 24 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.
Hasselbeck, who needs four TD passes for 100 in his career, will have a new target to throw to in Nate Burleson, who was acquired in the offseason from Minnesota. Burleson will team up with Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram.
Jackson is recovering from offseason knee surgery and is considered questionable for Sunday. It's certain Seattle tight end Jerramy Stevens will miss the game because of surgery last month to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Itula Mili is expected to take over at tight end.
If the Seahawks can spoil the Lions' day with a loss, Holmgren will become the 16th head coach in NFL history with 150 career wins, including the playoffs.
Marinelli, meanwhile, will make his NFL head coaching debut after taking over for the deposed Steve Mariucci (and interim head coach Dick Jauron) in January. Marinelli is the 23rd head coach in franchise history and is gunning to become the first to lead the Lions to the Super Bowl.
Detroit finished the 2005 campaign with a 5-11 record.
Marinelli, who held the title of assistant head coach with Tampa Bay, will have his hands full this season. With president Matt Millen making head- scratching moves, Marinelli must sidestep the drama and help this team to its first winning season since going 9-7 in 2000.
Detroit, which has won its last three season-openers, last made the playoffs in 1999, when they lost to the Washington Redskins in the Wild Card round. The last postseason win for the Lions was against the Dallas Cowboys in 1991.
Leaving the den this offseason was quarterback Joey Harrington, while QBs Jon Kitna and Josh McCown headed to Motown. Kitna served as Carson Palmer's backup in Cincinnati the past two seasons and McCown made spot starts in Arizona.
Kitna will start against Seattle and will have running back Kevin Jones behind him with something to prove. After posting 1,133 yards and five TDs during his rookie season in 2004, Jones had 664 yards and five scores in '05.
A more mature Jones, along with receivers Roy and Mike Williams, will improve a Detroit offense which has finished near the bottom of the barrel every year. They will get their chance to prove this year is for real when Seattle comes knocking on Sunday afternoon.
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SERIES HISTORY
Seattle has a 5-4 lead in the all-time series with Detroit, breaking the deadlock with a 35-14 victory at Qwest Field in 2003. The Lions' most recent win in the series came in 1999, a 28-20 triumph at the Kingdome. Detroit is 2-1 in games played in the Motor City, including a 17-16 triumph in the last such matchup, in 1996. Seattle's lone win in Detroit came in 1987, a 37-14 decision.
Holmgren is 12-6 in his career against the Lions, including 11-5 while at the helm of Green Bay from 1992 through 1998. Holmgren's Packers defeated the Lions in NFC First-Round Playoff games in both 1993 and 1994. Marinelli will be facing both Holmgren and the Seahawks for the first time as a head coach.
SEAHAWKS OFFENSE VS. LIONS DEFENSE
If last season's stats mattered on Sunday, this matchup would be as lopsided as Fred "Rerun" Berry and Twiggy on opposite ends of a see-saw. Detroit wouldn't have a snowball's chance in Arizona if stats did matter.
Predicted Outcome: Seahawks 31, Lions 13, take your bet NOW!!!
Ecobika independent -> sports betting advices
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About the Author: Ecobika independent -> sports betting advices
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