STACY ROST

Seahawks-Lions takeaways: Seahawks keep winning the turnover battle

Oct 28, 2018, 2:20 PM | Updated: 2:33 pm

Ed Dickson caught one of the Seahawks QB Russell Wilson's three TD passes. (AP)...

Ed Dickson caught one of the Seahawks QB Russell Wilson's three TD passes. (AP)

(AP)

The Seahawks faced a tough slate coming out of their bye week, but they passed their first test with flying colors, defeating the Detroit Lions 28-14 on the road.

Recap | O’Neil on run game | Dickson’s fake punt | 710 reaction | Photos

Seattle improves to 4-3 with the win, but it doesn’t get any easier for a Seahawks team set to play Philip Rivers and the Chargers, Jared Goff and the undefeated Rams, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, and Cam Newton and the Panthers over the next four weeks.

Still, the Seahawks have plenty to feel good about after their Week 8 win. Here are a few quick takeaways:

Hawks see more from Moore

Second-year wide receiver David Moore continued to improve on his season with his fourth career touchdown. All scores have come over the last three games.

Moore was a standout in training camp, though the 2017 seventh-round pick saw just one target through Seattle’s first three games. Moore’s snap counts increased in Week 4 (43 against the Cardinals, compared to just 16 against the Broncos in Week 1) and Seattle has benefited from his production. Moore had his first catch of the season against Arizona and has had at least one touchdown in each of the last three games.

Moore led all receivers Sunday, catching all four of his targets for 97 yards and one touchdown.

Ed Dickson makes an entrance

Tight end Ed Dickson made his first start with Seattle after missing the first six weeks of the season on the Non-Football Injury list.

Dickson, who was signed by the Seahawks in March, had two catches for 54 yards and one touchdown.

In more Dickson-related news, punter Michael Dickson made a surprise play late in the fourth quarter for Seattle when he ran for a first down on a punt instead of taking a safety.

In a postgame interview with Jen Mueller on the 710 ESPN broadcast, Dickson said he didn’t even know he would be running for a first down until he saw the opportunity.

“So we’re meant to take a safety,” Dickson said. “And I was meant to milk the clock by running around and step out at the back of the end zone. But there was just a massive gap. And Pete said earlier – I don’t know if he was joking, after the London game – ‘Man, when are you going to take it and just run it?’ And I think he was being sarcastic, but I just pulled it off and it worked out.”

Seattle keeps winning the turnover battle

Following an offseason in which Seattle saw the departure of several longtime defensive starters, the Seahawks’ defense has continued to outperform expectations.

Seattle is second in the league in one particular category: turnover differential. The defense has forced 14 turnovers through seven games, with at least two in each game (the lone exception being a Week 4 contest against the Cardinals, when they recorded just one turnover). In comparison, the Seahawks’ offense has given up the ball just six times this year, and only once in the last five weeks.

That number is obviously subject to change, but through seven games it’s better than their performance in 2017 (+8), 2016 (+1), and 2015 (+7).

Stacy Rost

Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith quarterback...

Stacy Rost

Are Seahawks really not Super Bowl contenders because of QB?

FOX Sports' Joel Klatt said the Seattle Seahawks "don't have the requisite quarterback play" to be a Super Bowl contender. Is he right?

23 hours ago

Seattle Seahawks Leonard Williams...

Stacy Rost

Seahawks Notebook: Did Hawks overpay for Leonard Williams?

Did the Seattle Seahawks pay Leonard Williams too much in free agency? Stacy Rost dives into that and more about the offseason.

15 days ago

Seahawks Broncos Russell Wilson...

Stacy Rost

Rost: It’s wrong to say we saw Russell Wilson’s spectacular failure coming

Looking at what led to the recent downfall of Russell Wilson is a delicate balancing act between realization and honesty, Stacy Rost says.

19 days ago

Seattle Seahawks safeties...

Stacy Rost

Rost: 4 big questions after Seahawks release Diggs, Adams and Dissly

The Seattle Seahawks' big releases greatly impact two positions. Stacy Rost dives into the main questions the Hawks now must answer.

22 days ago

Seattle Seahawks free agency Patrick Queen...

Stacy Rost

Rost: Could Seattle Seahawks sign All-Pro linebacker Patrick Queen?

The Seattle Seahawks have a problem at linebacker, but also an opportunity to bring in a big name in free agency in Patrick Queen.

27 days ago

Seattle Seahawks Mike Macdonald...

Stacy Rost

Before Seahawks, Macdonald was most ‘consequential’ hire at Michigan

Austin Meek, who covers Michigan football for The Athletic, provided an interesting look at new Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald.

29 days ago

Seahawks-Lions takeaways: Seahawks keep winning the turnover battle