DETROIT—The Seahawks came into Monday night's game with plenty working against them, most notably the absence of five of their top defensive players. Even so, the Seahawks, led by Geno Smith and an offense that put up 516 total yards, showed a ton of fight all the way to the end. Ultimately, however, Seattle's short-handed defense couldn't get the stops they needed, and the Lions were able to hold on for a 42-29 victory that dropped Seattle's record to 3-1.

Here are six rapid reactions to Monday night's loss at Ford Field:

1. The Lions were able to move the ball on the ground and through the air against Seattle's short-handed defense.

The Seahawks defense has been outstanding early this season under Mike Macdonald's leadership, but they came into Monday night's game missing some very important players. Outside linebackers Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe were both out with knee injuries, while defensive linemen Leonard Williams (ribs) and Byron Murphy II (hamstring) were both out with injuries suffered in last week's win. And as if all of the injuries the Seahawks had coming into the game weren't enough, they also lost Julian Love to a thigh injury, playing the entire second half without their Pro-Bowl safety.

And as much as coaches and players don't want to use injuries as an excuse, that's a ton of talent to be missing against an offense as potent as Detroit's. Featuring one of the league's more balanced attacks, the Lions were able to get the running game going early, with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combining for 88 yards and three touchdowns on 16 first half carries.

The Lions were also dangerous through the air, especially in the second half, getting big plays including a 40-yard tackle-breaking catch and run by Montgomery, and a 70-yard touchdown reception by Jameson Williams on a crosser that was a perfect counter to a Seahawks blitz. Lions quarterback Jared Goff finished his day a perfect 18 for 18 for 292 yards and two touchdowns, and also caught a touchdown pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown on a trick play.

2. Geno Smith was great in Detroit again, but this time it wasn't quite enough for a win.

The Seahawks won a pair of shootouts in Detroit in 2022 and 2023, and in both games, Geno Smith was fantastic, passing for a combined 648 yards and four touchdowns without turning the ball over in those wins, adding a touchdown run as well in the first game.

In his third trip to Detroit in as many years, Smith was excellent once again, but this time it wasn't quite enough for the Seahawks to overcome a big day by Detroit's offense and a costly first-half fumble by DK Metcalf.

Smith was sharp throughout the game, completing 38 of 56 passes for a career-high 395 yards, including a touchdown pass to AJ Barner, the first career score for the rookie tight end out of Michigan. Smith was intercepted at the end of the game trying to make something happen down two scores, but otherwise was nearly flawless. Smith also had to use his legs quite a bit in the pocket to buy time against a dangerous Lions pass rush, making several impressive throws on the move after avoiding initial pressure, and he rushed for an additional 38 yards.

3. Kenneth Walker III was back, and pulled off one of the crazier moves you'll ever see on his way to a big day.

Even with the Seahawks leaning pretty heavily on the passing game in this contest, particularly in the first half, running back Kenneth Walker III had some good moments in his first game back from injury, including one of the more improbable plays you'll see on a football field. After catching a short pass from Smith, Walker was tossed down by Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone, but landed on Anzalone without touchdown the turf. As Walker got back to his feet, Anzalone, hauled Walker down again, but this time Walker somersaulted over the linebacker, got back to his feet and ran for a first down.

Walker capped that drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, one of his three in the game, and after gaining just six yards in the first half, he got going in the second half, ripping off runs of 28, 23 and 21 yards in the third quarter, the last of those being a touchdown, on his way to 80 yards on 12 carries.

4. DK Metcalf had another big game, but there's one play he'd really like to have back.

Coming off of back-to-back 100-yard games, DK Metcalf had another productive day against the Lions, catching seven passes for a team-high 104 yards, while also drawing multiple penalties for pass interference and defensive holding.

With that performance, Metcalf became the first player in franchise history with 100 receiving yards in three straight games. But as much as Metcalf had a big role in helping keep the Seahawks offense moving, there's one play he and the offense would love to have back, a first-quarter fumble that the Lions returned deep into Seahawks territory to set up a touchdown that gave them a 14-0 lead. In Metcalf's defense, he fumbled after breaking multiple tackles that few, if any other receivers in the league could have, but ultimately the ball was punched out just as he went down fighting for yards. It was an effort that teammates and coaches will appreciate, just with an unfortunate ending.

5. TE AJ Barner scored his first touchdown.

Rookie tight end AJ Barner has plenty of fond memories playing in the state of Michigan, having won a national championship with the Wolverines last season, and now he can add another, scoring his first career NFL touchdown in Monday's game, a 9-yard catch and run in the second quarter. Barner added another catch that gained 18 yards and a first down, giving him two catches for 27 yards.

6. The pass protection held up well with a lot going against it.

The Seahawks were not just playing in a hostile environment on Monday, they were also facing one of the NFL's best pass rushers in Aidan Hutchinson, who had an NFL-leading 6.5 sacks through the first three weeks of the season. Add to that a pass-heavy offense with Geno Smith attempting 56 passes, and Monday's game should have set up well for Detroit's pass rush to feast. And yet Seattle's offensive line and pass protection held up admirably well, with Smith getting sacked three times and hit nine times, though much of that damage came late when the Seahawks were playing from behind and in obvious passing situations. With tackles Charles Cross and Stone Forsythe doing most of the work against Hutchinson, the Pro-Bowl defensive end had no tackles, no sacks and three quarterback hits.