The Detroit Lions hand the Seattle Seahawks their first loss

DETROIT – The Detroit Lions fended off a comeback attempt from the Seattle Seahawks with a 42-29 win at Ford Field on Monday night.

Detroit scored three rushing touchdowns and three more through the air, including a 70-yard touchdown connection between quarterback Jared Goff (who had zero incompletions on the night) and receiver Jameson Williams. It was the Seahawks’ first loss of the season after getting off to a 3-0 start.

Here is the most important information about the game:

With 100 former Lions players attending the homecoming festivities and Calvin Johnson inducted into the Pride of the Lions, Detroit defeated Seattle in the regular season for the first time since 2012. The Lions had lost five straight games to the Seahawks.

QB breakdown: Goff’s four interceptions in the first three games of a season were the most of his career in that span, but against Seattle he went without a turnover on a perfect night. Goff finished the game with 292 yards and a flawless 18-for-18 mark.

Most surprising performance: Offensive line. Lions Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow was sidelined with a partially torn pectoral muscle, but the offensive line strengthened with veteran lineman Graham Glasgow moving to center and Kayode Awosika starting at left guard. Their protection helped Lions running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery score three rushing touchdowns in the first half.

Eye-catching statistic(s): Monday was a great night for the Detroit duos. Thanks to a trick play in the third quarter, Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown became the fifth duo in NFL history to each pass and receive a touchdown in the same game. It was also the sixth game in which Gibbs and Montgomery each scored a rushing TD, making them the most games of that kind by a Lions duo in franchise history, according to ESPN Research. — Eric Woodyard

Next game: at the Dallas Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET, October 13)

Between a long list of losses, a loaded Lions team and a hostile environment at Ford Field, there was a lot to expect Monday night against the Seahawks as they tried to improve to 4-0 under new coach Mike Macdonald.

The jury is still out on how good they can be in this transitional season, especially with a defense that feasted on underperforming quarterbacks in the first three weeks — Bo Nix, Jacoby Brissett and Skylar Thompson — before being dealt with by Goff became. But sticking with Detroit despite all the adversity they’ve faced has shown that, if nothing else, they’re tough.

Quarterback testing will continue for most of the next five weeks. After facing Daniel Jones next week, they’ll see Brock Purdy, Kirk Cousins, Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford before their Week 10 bye. They need to get healthier on defense to even compete.

QB breakdown: Geno Smith believes he is underpaid, and his performance against Detroit shouldn’t change his mind about that. In addition to his trademark accuracy, he made quick decisions and rarely put the ball in danger until he made a desperation throw into the end zone with about a minute left. Smith set career highs in completions and passing yards, completing 38 of 56 passes for 395 yards and a touchdown. He led three more touchdown drives. He recorded three sacks, but that was to be expected as an overwhelmed offensive line faced a potent Lions pass rush in one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL.

Key game: DK Metcalf’s lost fumble late in the first quarter was a big mistake in a game where the Seahawks couldn’t afford one. He fought for extra yards at the Detroit 34 as the Lions pummeled the ball, capping off a promising scoring drive and allowing an easy Lions touchdown after their 49-yard return. What could have been a draw was instead a 14-0 deficit. According to ESPN Research, Metcalf has now lost seven receiving fumbles since entering the NFL in 2019, which is the most fumbles in that span. However, he became the first player in franchise history with three consecutive 100-yard games (seven catches for 104 yards).

Describe the game in two words: As expected. Without Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II and Jerome Baker, the Seahawks would have needed a defensive miracle to stop Detroit. They lost another key defensive player when Julian Love was ruled out in the first half with a hamstring injury.

Silver linings: Kenneth Walker III is back. The Seahawks’ RB1 returned after missing two games with an oblique injury, and his three-touchdown performance reminded everyone what Seattle had been missing in his absence. Zach Charbonnet has contributed admirably, but he’s a power back who doesn’t have the breakthrough through the line or the additional second-level equipment that Walker showed when he rushed for 80 yards on 12 carries. — Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. New York Giants (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)