Seahawks Instant Reaction: 710 ESPN Seattle on 51-29 win over Lions

The Seahawks put together their highest-scoring game since 2012 to defeat the Detroit Lions 51-29 in their final home game of the season Sunday.

Fast Facts: Seahawks blast Lions 51-29 | 10 standout numbers from Hawks’ win

As we do after every Seahawks game, we have collected the instant reactions from the voices of 710 ESPN Seattle. See what they have to say below, and tune in Monday for full Seahawks coverage starting with The Mike Salk Show at 6 a.m. and The Pete Carroll Show at 9:30.

Mike Salk – The Mike Salk Show

Some games are complicated. Others are simple. Put this one in the latter category.

The Seahawks finally got their offense going, scoring 51 points and putting the Lions out of their misery. Give Detroit credit for kicking and screaming until the end – the Lions are a reflection of their head coach if nothing else. But much like the victories we watched over Jacksonville and Houston, this was a clear example of a better team simply taking it to a lesser one.

The secret was the running game. Yes, the same running game that has so many fans ready to give up on Pete Carroll because he insists it’s important to the success of their team concept. That success Sunday was mostly due to the continued emergence of Rashaad Penny, who bested his career day in the first half alone and finished with 25 carries, 170 yards and two scores. The only thing that limited his numbers were the touchdowns that didn’t allow him to keep on running! That was the running back the Seahawks drafted in 2018 who was an explosive play machine at San Diego State. And, quite frankly, that is actually who he’s been in the NFL when healthy and given chances.

Russell Wilson should note that his success was built off that running game. The play-action, moving pocket and ultimately three touchdowns to DK Metcalf looked so much smoother because of the running game. I don’t know if Russ will play in front of these Seahawks fans ever again, but if he doesn’t, it will be because of his unwillingness to accept that he plays best in a system much like the one we saw on display this week.

Bob Stelton – Wyman and Bob

The Seahawks’ offense had its best day of the season in Seattles final home game of the season, scoring 51 points. Yes, it was against a lousy Detroit team that has two wins, but this was the kind of game this offense and team needed after their debacle against the Bears last weekend.

Monster days for Russell Willson, Rashaad Penny and DK Metcalf will provide some positive feelings at Seahawks headquarters for the week. I would also throw in the offensive line, which did a great job of run blocking and keeping Wilson clean, allowing just one sack on the day.

The defense made some big plays, forcing three turnovers, and it was great to see Cody Barton get extended time out there and actually attack the line of scrimmage, making some big plays along with Darrell Taylor and Jordyn Brooks. Oddly enough, the defense allowed more points against a hapless Lions team than they had to any other team since Week 3 vs the Vikings when they allowed 30 points. But they also won the time of possession battle for just the second time this season.

All in all, it was the kind of win we as Seahawks fans have come to expect against bad teams like Detroit. Except that this season, there are no expected wins with how this team has played. It would be great to see the Seahawks end the season by stringing together a couple of wins and sticking it to division rival Arizona at the same time, but it doesn’t really change anything as far as what they should/will do in the offseason.

Mike Lefko – Wyman and Bob

The Seahawks finally did what you are supposed to do against a bad football team and put together their best offensive showing in their final home game of the season. A healthy Rashaad Penny continues to be impressive down the stretch, and his career day (which he set in the first half alone) warrants significant conversation about bringing him back next season.

We saw the Seahawks establish a clear identity on offense and everything flowed off the fact that Penny was able to gash the Lions defense. That enabled the play-action to be successful, to free up receivers, and to give Russell Wilson more time in the pocket. It certainly freed up looks for DK Metcalf, who racked up his first three-TD performance and caught six of the nine passes thrown his way. This was the optimal offensive performance and it’s an identity the Seahawks can build on into next season.

The late touchdowns allowed by the defense aren’t too concerning; when it’s a 38-7 game early in the third quarter, a team is going to rack up garbage-time points and yards. And when the Lions did bring it back to within possible breathing distance (38-22), the Seahawks’ offense responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive that took seven minutes off the clock.

What was eerily prescient was Bobby Wagner publicly acknowledging earlier this week that he doesn’t know if he will be in a Seahawks uniform after this season, then getting hurt on his first play of the game and missing a defensive snap for the first time all season. An unfortunate coincidence for sure, but it did give the Seahawks a long look at Cody Barton playing linebacker, and he looked ready for the moment.

When you have a game like this, it doesn’t matter what your record is, the game is fun. The Seahawks played with a joy and fire that has been absent for most of the season. There is one game left. Might as well harness this energy into going out on a high note against a division rival.

Rost: What can you put stock into from Hawks’ victory over two-win Lions?