There are points in a season where everything can turn. Monday night, Detroit Lions superstar wide receiver Calvin Johnson (a.k.a. “Megatron”) provided one of those moments when he fumbled what would have been a sure touchdown, thanks to former holdout Kam Chancellor’s defense.

As Johnson was about to score, Chancellor punched the ball from his hands and K.J. Wright knocked it out the back of the end zone (a borderline illegal move but no penalty was called) with just over a minute remaining in the game. What a gift of a play. 

With the staunch rival Arizona Cardinals losing over the weekend, Monday night’s tilt against the hapless 0-3 Lions looked like a golden opportunity for the Seahawks to make up some ground in the standings and pull within one game of the redbirds. But it looked like it wasn’t going to happen. 

Leading 13-3 into most of the 4^th quarter, ‘Hawks quarterback Russell Wilson fumbled and the Lions defense took it to the house to cut the lead to only three points. Having already given up the lead in a close game to a good defense week 1 against the St. Louis Rams, it was looking like another OT game if the Lions could just kick a field goal. Instead of staying ultra conservative, they went for it with Johnson, who–thank the football gods–fumbled. 

The ‘Hawks looked like their feet were in mud for much of the game on offense – the O-line looked porous (will they ever get it together?) and, as a result, the running game with Rawls looked sluggish, who only had 48 rushing yards on 17 carries. The one bright spot came toward the end of the second quarter when receiver Doug Baldwin caught a touchdown in the back of the end zone to put the team up 7-0. Other than that, the ‘Hawks had three turnovers, including two from Wilson. The only thing keeping the team from a loss was their stellar kickers who kicked two field goals and some great punts that put the Lions deep in their own territory. 

The passing game, which as we’ve written, will be key to the success (or lack there of) for the Seahawks this season, looked anemic. Where is Jimmy Graham??? He had four catches for what seemed like zero yards. 

This didn’t seem to hurt the fervor of the 12s, though, whose loud, passionate energy seemed to power the team’s defense from the stands. If they were the sun, Chancellor and the boys were like solar panels. Even Richard Sherman, who has looked a bit slower than usual this season, held his own. 

If the ‘Hawks had lost this week they would be in real trouble for the season’s playoff hopes: 1-3 is much different than 2-2. But they didn’t. Somehow. So things are on track. Our prediction? The team will finish 11-5 and get the first wild card, just missing the division title, with the Cardinals going 12-4. Next week for the ‘Hawks is the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals–in Cincy–who are due for a loss. 

Go ‘Hawks.