Seattle @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 7, 2017 ) Detroit 6, Seattle 26

The Seattle Seahawks aim for their fourth victory in five games when they visit the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Seattle posted a dominating 27-3 victory over Oakland in London prior to its bye last week and will attempt to end the Lions' two-game winning streak.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll feels his squad is primed to make a sustained run, and middle linebacker Bobby Wagner is just as optimistic. "We kind of had a little bit of adversity, we responded, and I feel like we're growing," Wagner told reporters. "That's all you can ask for at this point of the season, is to be growing. There are teams that have been 6-0, 7-0, 8-0, and they kind of fall off later in the season." Detroit, which averaged 31.5 points in consecutive games against Green Bay and Miami, is receiving a welcome boost from running back Kerryon Johnson. The second-round pick out of Auburn rushed for a season-high 158 yards in last Sunday's win over the Dolphins and is averaging a stellar 6.4 per carry.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Lions -3. O/U: 49.5

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (3-3): Seattle's defense will receive a boost with the return of Pro Bowl linebacker K.J. Wright, who hasn't played since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in August and is headed toward free agency after the season. "When you get hurt and you miss some ball, all you care about is football, and the contract stuff will handle itself," Wright told reporters. "I just want to play. The money is the money - whatever. I just want to play ball, be out there with my guys, and just do what I love. Football is first and that stuff will handle itself." Russell Wilson has thrown for 13 touchdowns against four interceptions while Chris Carson (352 yards) has pumped life into the running game by topping 100 yards in two of his last three contests.
ABOUT THE LIONS (3-3): Matthew Stafford has been helped by Johnson's emergence as he has completed at least 75 percent of his passes in three of the last four games and has 11 touchdown tosses against one interception over his last five contests. Wide receiver Golden Tate (37 receptions, 467 yards) is happy to play against his former teammates as he is on pace to record his fifth straight 90-catch season since leaving Seattle as a free agent following the 2013 campaign. Linebacker Devon Kennard has registered a team-best five sacks, but the defense is allowing 26.3 points per game and has given up more than 20 in five contests.

EXTRA POINTS
1. The Seahawks have won four of the last five meetings.
2. Detroit acquired DT Damon Harrison from the New York Giants for an undisclosed future draft pick.
3. Seattle TE Ed Dickson (quadriceps) is expected to play for the first time this season.

PREDICTION: Seahawks 26, Lions 24