The Seattle Seahawks suffered their first defeat of the season in Week 4, falling 42-29 to the Detroit Lions during Monday Night Football. Despite an impressive performance from quarterback Geno Smith, who went 38-for-56, throwing for 395 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, Seattle’s defense struggled to contain the Lions’ potent offense. Lions quarterback Jared Goff delivered a flawless game, completing all 18 of his passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns. After the game, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald urged his team to reflect on what went wrong and how they can improve moving forward.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a litmus test,” Macdonald said, according to a post from Curtis Crabtree on X (formerly Twitter). “It just shows us that we’re not the team that we need to be at this point. I mean, that’s what it is. Just wasn’t good enough. They did what they did to win the game, they did a great job, they had a great plan, and we came up short.”
Macdonald’s candid postgame assessment signals that the Seahawks have some serious work to do, particularly on defense. While Smith and the offense showed flashes of brilliance, the defense simply couldn’t keep pace with Detroit’s explosive playmakers. Jared Goff’s perfect performance, paired with significant contributions from Lions receivers like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, put the Seahawks’ defense under constant pressure.
Though Macdonald credited his defense for their effort, he made it clear that more is needed if Seattle hopes to compete with top-tier teams. “Give Detroit a lot of credit, but it just wasn’t a good performance on the defensive side of the ball,” Macdonald said, as reported by Dave Hogg of the Associated Press. “Our guys fought like heck and we were in it until the final seconds, but we’re obviously not the football team we need to be.”
The Seahawks’ defense was also missing several key players, which certainly impacted their performance. Safety Julian Love left the game with a thigh injury, and defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, who had been dealing with a hamstring injury since Week 3, was unable to play. The absences of Boye Mafe, Leonard Williams, and Uchenna Nwosu further depleted Seattle’s defensive line, making it harder for the unit to hold up against Detroit’s relentless attack. However, Macdonald avoided making excuses, emphasizing that injuries are part of the game, and the team must adapt.
Looking ahead, the Seahawks know they need to make adjustments to get back on track. While their offensive performance under Geno Smith continues to show promise, the defensive side of the ball requires serious improvement if the team wants to contend in the NFC. Macdonald’s honest feedback serves as a wake-up call, challenging the team to rise to the occasion and address their shortcomings.
As Seattle prepares for their next matchup, the (3-1) New York Giants in Week 5, they will need to regroup and find a way to strengthen their defense while continuing to build on the positive aspects of their offense. With a talented roster and a coach who isn’t afraid to speak the truth, the Seahawks have the potential to bounce back from this loss—but only if they take Macdonald’s reality check to heart.
