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Detroit Lions suffer devastating 37-31 OT loss to Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are the Detroit Lions’ Kryptonite.

Geno Smith threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett on the first possession of overtime as the Seahawks beat the Lions for the third straight year, 37-31, in the Lions’ home opener at Ford Field.

The Lions blew a seven-point second-half lead, then rallied from 10 down in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime. But the defense allowed two third-down conversions on Seattle’s nine-play touchdown drive in the extra period.

Jared Goff completed 28 of 35 passes for 323 yards with three touchdowns, but threw his first interception in 10 months — one Tre Brown returned 40 yards for a touchdown to give the Seahawks a 31-21 lead with 8:04 to play.

Goff led scoring drives on the Lions’ final two possessions of regulation, but never got the chance to touch the ball in overtime.

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He threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds with 3:08 to play, then after the Lions forced a three-and-out, Riley Patterson hit a 38-yard field goal to tie the game at 38.

In a highly anticipated game coming off an upset of last year’s Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, the Lions gave up 393 yards of offense and forced one punt on Seattle’s final six possessions.

The Lions (1-1) finished the game without key offensive starters David Montgomery (thigh) and Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee), who left with injuries. Amon-Ra St. Brown also missed time with a toe injury and cramps, but returned late in regulation to finish with a team-high 102 yards receiving on six catches.

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery runs against the Seattle Seahawks defense during the first half at Ford Field, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery runs against the Seattle Seahawks defense during the first half at Ford Field, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.

Kenneth Walker opened the scoring with the first of two rushing touchdowns for the Seahawks, who missed two first-half field goals (45 and 56 yards).

Goff threw touchdown passes of 22 and 36 yards to Reynolds and Kalif Raymond in the first half, the second coming on a well-designed flea flicker.

Walker’s second touchdown tied the game at 14, two plays after a Montgomery fumble to start the half, yet the Lions answered on the ensuing series with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Goff converted a fourth-and-3 misdirection shovel pass to St. Brown to keep the drive alive, and Montgomery capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run.

Montgomery finished with 16 carries for 67 yards before leaving with a right thigh injury late in the third quarter. He was injured trying to fight for extra yardage late in the period, when he twisted awkwardly with Jordyn Brooks clutching his leg.

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Montgomery, who had 74 yards rushing and a touchdown in his Lions debut, limped to the bench with the help of trainers and was eventually carted to the locker room.

Smith was 32 of 41 passing for 328 yards and two touchdowns for the Seahawks (1-1).

The Lions host the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday (1 p.m.), then play at Green Bay the following Thursday. The Falcons (2-0) rallied for a 25-24 win Sunday over the Packers (1-1).

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions suffer devastating 37-31 OT loss to Seattle Seahawks