Senior writer and insider Tim Twentyman DetroitLions.com provides a closer look at Seattle's Wild Card opponent:
1. The Lions head into Seattle losers of three-straight, with two of those three losses coming on the road. What has to change for them on Saturday?
Twentyman:There are four things that jump out to me right away:
-- Contain Russell Wilson from extending/making plays with his legs. The Lions have to do a better job this week than they did against Aaron Rodgers last week and Dak Prescott the week before.
-- Seattle ranks third in the NFL with 42 sacks this season. Detroit has to find a way to keep that pass rush at bay at least a little bit by finding some sort of running game early on.
-- Take advantage of early opportunities. The Lions can't miss the same plays they missed early on last week, like the deep ball to Golden Tate when he got behind the Packers defense, or the missed Matt Prater field goal in the first quarter.
-- Detroit has to be better in the third quarter. For whatever reason, those 15 minutes haven't been kind to the Lions. Detroit's been outscored 21-3 in the third quarter during their current losing streak, and 85-53 on the year.
2. Jim Caldwell has been in a similar situation when Baltimore lost four of their last five at the end of the regular season in their 2012 Super Bowl season. How can he duplicate that run in Detroit?
Twentyman: If you look back at that run Baltimore had in 2012, quarterback Joe Flacco had the run of his life. He threw for 1,140 yards with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 117.2. That run earned him a pretty nice pay day, too.
Matthew Stafford doesn't have to play that well, but he has to play better than he has the last month since injuring the right middle finger on his throwing hand. He was an MVP candidate heading into that Chicago game Week 14, but after the injury early in that game, he's thrown just three touchdowns and five interceptions for a passer rating of 74.1.
To be fair, he's played better teams with better defenses over that stretch, but even though he says the finger isn't affecting him much at all, the numbers don't support that claim.
The Lions need Stafford to play at a really high level if Detroit has any chance of getting by Seattle and that terrific defensive unit.
3. How have the Lions fared in short weeks on the West Coast?
Twentyman:The Lions have actually been lucky in that they haven't had to travel out west on a short week in any of the three years Jim Caldwell's been the head coach.
They played San Diego Week 1 last year, but had plenty of time to prepare for that 33-28 loss.
The only other time they've played on the west coast in Caldwell's tenure was last year, when they traveled to CenturyLink to play the Seahawks on Monday Night Football Week 4. That was coming off a Sunday night game the week before, so again, plenty of time to prepare.
As Seattle fans know well, that was a good game that was decided late in somewhat controversial fashion. So, the Lions know they can travel on the road to Seattle and give the Seahawks a game, which is what's expected this time around, too.
4. Do you think Zach Zenner will handle most of the duties in the backfield again this week? Or will Dwayne Washington and Joique Bell sneak in some snaps?
Twentyman: Expect Zenner to carry the load. Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter used the words "reliable" and "consistent" when talking about Zenner on Wednesday, and those are exactly the traits coordinators are looking for from players in the playoffs.
Zenner carried the ball 20 times last week and played 64 snaps at running back. No other Detroit back took a single rep on offense. Zenner finished with 110 total yards (69 rushing, 41 receiving) against the Packers. That after rushing for 63 yards in the first half against Dallas the week prior.
Zenner isn't flashy. He's not going to give you the home run. But he's always in the right spot, he always gains positive yards and he can catch the ball out of the backfield. That fits this Lions offense, and is exactly what they need against Seattle's seventh-ranked run defense.
5. Finally, the Lions could be without right tackle Riley Reiff (hip) on Saturday. If he can't play, who likely replaces him in the lineup with Corey Robinson now on IR?
Twentyman: Next up would be Cornelius Lucas, the third-year lineman out of Kansas State. He's been the fourth tackle all year behind Taylor Decker, Reiff and Robinson.
But the good thing for the Lions is that Lucas has played plenty of football. He played in 15 games in 2014 (three starts), 15 games in 2015 (three starts) and has been active for five games this season. It's not an ideal situation starting your fourth tackle against the likes of Cliff Avril and Co., but if it comes down to that, Lucas has 35 games and six starts under his belt.
Get to know the faces of the Detroit Lions' offensive and defensive units heading into the team's Wild Card playoff matchup with the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) in action against the New York Giants during an NFL game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Brad Penner)
Detroit Lions fullback Zach Zenner runs during the first half of NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions running back Dwayne Washington (36) runs for yardage in action against the New York Giants Sunday December 18, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones is seen in the bench area during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin (80) on the sideline against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andre Roberts returns a punt return for a 55-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron (85)before a NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tight end Matthew Mulligan (82) catches a warm-up pass before an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Detroit, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions offensive guard Laken Tomlinson (72) during warm ups prior to an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions tackle Cornelius Lucas (77) watches from the sideline during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. The Lions won 22-17. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Detroit Lions guard Larry Warford (75) watches play against the Philadelphia Eagles in a week five NFL football game Oct. 9, 2016 in Detroit. The Lions won 24 - 23. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) on the sideline against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Riley Reiff (71) rests during an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won the game, 42-21. (Greg Trott via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive guard Graham Glasgow is seen in the bench area during the second half of an NFL football game Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Joe Dahl (66) during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday September 1, 2016 in Detroit (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Nevin Lawson (24) before a NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin (27) during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, Dec. 26, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during a NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson (32) before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, September 11, 2016 in Indianapolis (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive end Devin Taylor is seen on the bench during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Lions safety Don Carey (26) during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) is seen in the bench area during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy (54) smiles before a NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) celebrates during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Tex. on Monday, Dec 26, 2016. The Cowboys defeated the Lions 42-21. (Kirby Lee/NFL)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is seen on the bench during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson (91) is seen in the bench area during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker watches during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016. Detroit won 31-28. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions outside linebacker Josh Bynes (57) is seen in the bench area during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Khyri Thornton (99) takes the field for a NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive end Kerry Hyder (61) during a NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive back Rafael Bush (31) on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans , Sunday, Sep. 18, 2016 in Detroit. (Rick Osentoski via AP Images)
Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) before a NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 in Detroit. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions punter Sam Martin (6) during pre-game of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions long snapper Don Muhlbach (48) before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, September 25, 2016 in Green Bay, Wis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
