Every time the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions meet, fans expect big plays and even bigger numbers. Both teams like to move the ball fast, and their games often turn into high-scoring battles. This article looks closely at one of their most memorable recent matchups, a Monday Night Football clash at Ford Field in Detroit. We will walk through the key stats from that game, from passing yards to rushing touchdowns, and explain what those numbers meant for the final score. Whether you are a Seahawks fan, a Lions fan, or you just enjoy football stats, this breakdown gives you a full and clear picture of how the game was won and lost.
Game Overview
The game took place on Monday, September 30, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit. A crowd of 66,658 fans watched the Lions beat the Seahawks by a final score of 42-29. Both teams entered the night with a 3-1 record, so the win mattered for early-season standing in a tough NFC picture.
The Seahawks came into the game banged up on defense. They were missing edge rushers Uchenna Nwosu and Leonard Williams, along with linebacker Jerome Baker. Safety Julian Love also left the game early with a thigh injury. The Lions had their own injury concerns too, playing without defensive back Brian Branch, who was out sick, and center Frank Ragnow, who was dealing with a pectoral injury. Even with those absences, the offenses on both sides had one of their best nights of the season.
Quarterback Stats: Jared Goff vs. Geno Smith
This game is remembered most for Jared Goff’s night. He completed 18 of 18 passes for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns. That is not a typo. He did not miss a single throw. This set an NFL record for the most completions in a game with zero incompletions, a mark that had never been reached before at that volume. On top of his passing numbers, Goff also caught a touchdown pass himself, a 7-yard trick-play score thrown to him by receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Geno Smith had a strong night of his own, even in a losing effort. He completed 38 of 56 passes for 395 yards and 1 touchdown. Smith kept Seattle in the game by spreading the ball around and pushing the pace, but the Seahawks defense could not get enough stops to make his big passing day count for a win. Seattle also turned the ball over twice in the game, which made Smith’s job harder in the second half.
The contrast between the two quarterbacks tells the story of the game. Goff was almost flawless with fewer attempts, while Smith threw for more total yards but needed nearly three times as many passes to get there.
Running Back Stats
The running backs made this game feel like a track meet. Detroit and Seattle combined for six rushing touchdowns between just three backs.
Kenneth Walker III (Seahawks) had the best game of his season so far. He carried the ball 12 times for 80 yards and scored 3 rushing touchdowns, a career high. Walker was Seattle’s most reliable weapon on the ground, finding the end zone in short-yardage situations all night.
Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions) matched Walker’s impact with 14 carries for 78 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. Gibbs is known for his speed, and he used it to punish Seattle’s thin defensive front, picking up chunks of yardage on outside runs.
David Montgomery (Lions) opened the scoring for Detroit with a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. He and Gibbs form one of the most balanced running back duos in the league, and this game showed exactly why. Together, the Lions backfield combined for over 100 rushing yards and 3 total touchdowns.
All three running backs showed that short-yardage power and open-field speed were both on full display this night.
Receiving Stats
The passing game had its own standout moments, even with Goff’s perfect night stealing most of the headlines.
Jameson Williams (Lions) provided the biggest single play of the game. He caught a pass from Goff and turned it into a 70-yard touchdown in the third quarter, breaking away from the Seahawks secondary for an easy score. That one play was almost a quarter of Goff’s total passing yards.
AJ Barner (Seahawks) caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith, giving the tight end a key scoring moment in the third quarter as Seattle tried to keep pace.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions) was involved in two different touchdowns. He caught a short touchdown pass from Goff later in the game, and he also threw the trick-play touchdown pass to Goff mentioned earlier. St. Brown’s versatility gave Detroit’s offense extra ways to hurt Seattle.
DK Metcalf (Seahawks) was a factor throughout the game, though a late fumble after a catch proved costly. Detroit recovered the ball and turned it into points, showing how one mistake in a fast-paced game can shift momentum.
Tyler Lockett (Seahawks) also drew a costly penalty late in the fourth quarter, an offensive pass interference call that hurt a Seattle scoring chance at a key moment.
Across both rosters, this game showed how much modern NFL passing attacks rely on a mix of big plays, trick plays, and short, high-percentage throws.
Key Moments and Turning Points
The game had several swings that shaped the final result.
- The early fumble. DK Metcalf fumbled after a catch while trying to gain extra yards. The Lions recovered and turned it into a quick touchdown, giving Detroit a 14-0 lead before Seattle could settle in.
- Goff’s perfect streak. Every single throw Jared Goff made found its target. By the second half, fans and commentators were tracking the streak closely, and it became the defining storyline of the night.
- The trick play. Amon-Ra St. Brown threw a touchdown pass to his own quarterback, Jared Goff, for a score that put Detroit further ahead and showed the Lions’ creativity in the red zone.
- Jameson Williams’ breakaway score. His 70-yard touchdown in the third quarter extended Detroit’s lead and took away any momentum Seattle had built.
- The late safety. With time running out, Seattle’s defense sacked Goff in the end zone for a safety, cutting the lead to 13 points. It was too little, too late, but it showed the Seahawks never stopped competing.
These moments, taken together, explain why the final score ended up so lopsided even though both offenses moved the ball well.
Team Stats Comparison
Looking at the full team numbers helps explain how the Lions pulled away, even though Seattle actually gained more total yards.
| Stat | Seattle Seahawks | Detroit Lions |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 29 | 42 |
| Total Yards | 516 | 389 |
| Passing Yards | 383 | 273 |
| Rushing Yards | 133 | 116 |
| Total Plays | 78 | 50 |
| Yards Per Play | 6.6 | 7.8 |
| Time of Possession | 34:04 | 25:56 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
This table shows something interesting. Seattle actually had more total yards, more plays, and held the ball longer. But Detroit was far more efficient, gaining more yards on every play and not turning the ball over even once. In the NFL, turnovers and efficiency often matter more than raw yardage, and this game is a clear example of that idea in action.
What the Stats Tell Us
When you step back and look at the full picture, a few lessons stand out from this Seahawks vs Lions game.
First, accuracy beats volume. Geno Smith threw for more yards, but Jared Goff’s perfect passing night, paired with zero turnovers, made the bigger difference. Second, a strong running game can carry an offense even when the passing stats look close. Kenneth Walker and Jahmyr Gibbs both proved that short, powerful runs near the goal line are just as valuable as long passing plays. Third, one turnover, like the Metcalf fumble, can flip the entire tone of a game. Detroit turned that single mistake into an early lead they never gave up.
For Seahawks fans, this game was a reminder that a banged-up defense can struggle to contain a team playing with confidence and no mistakes. For Lions fans, it was a showcase of a complete team effort, with the offensive line, running backs, receivers, and quarterback all clicking on the same night. Games like this one are why the Seahawks-Lions series is always worth watching, no matter where each team stands in the standings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Seahawks vs Lions game?
The Detroit Lions won the game 42-29 over the Seattle Seahawks. The game was played on Monday, September 30, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit.
What was Jared Goff’s stat line in the game?
Jared Goff completed all 18 of his 18 pass attempts for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also caught a 7-yard touchdown pass on a trick play. His perfect completion rate set an NFL record for the most completions in a game without a single incompletion.
Which running back had the best game?
Kenneth Walker III of the Seahawks had the standout rushing performance, with 12 carries for 80 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns, a career high for him. Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions was close behind with 14 carries for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns.
