Seahawks at Lions -- Week 8

Where: Ford Field, Detroit (FieldTurf, indoors) 

When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox)

Spread: Lions by 2.5

Forecast: Indoors 

Records: Seahawks (Overall: 4-3, NFC West: 0-3); Lions (Overall: 2-4, NFC North: 0-2)

Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 8, 2009: Seahawks 32, Lions 20; Sept. 10, 2006: Seahawks 9, Lions 6. Series record: Seahawks lead 7-4.

What matters: Ending the road struggles. Yes, the Seahawks have struggled on the road (1-3), but it's worth noting that all three of those losses were to division foes. Seattle is 4-0 against non-division teams, which should give fans optimism as it heads into Detroit, where they haven't lost since 1997.  

Who matters: QB Russell Wilson. The road hasn't been kind to the rookie. All seven of Wilson's interceptions this season have come on the road, and his 55.7 road QB rating ranks 31st in the league. Sunday won't be any easier for Wilson as the Seahawks go up against a Detroit pass defense that ranks sixth in the league.   

Key matchups: CB Richard Sherman vs. Lions WR Calvin Johnson. If anyone can stop Megatron, it's Optimus Prime. Sherman added some spark to this matchup this week when he changed his Twitter name to Optimus Prime. Prime is the rival of Megatron. Nicknames aside, Sherman has quietly turned into one of the league's best shutdown corners, and he'll get a test from Johnson. The Seahawk secondary will most likely be tested too going up against a Lions' offense that has thrown a league-high 46.2 times per game. 

Injuries of note: WR Doug Baldwin (ankle) is out Sunday. Baldwin had been coming on recently with 126 of his 149 yards this season coming in the Seahawks past three games. Backup CB Byron Maxwell (hamstring) will miss his second straight game. DT Jason Jones (ankle) is listed as doubtful. G John Moffitt (knee) could play for the first time since Week 3, he's listed as questionable for Sunday. 

Inside stuff: The fourth quarter could be a wild one. With 80 points, the Lions lead the NFL in fourth-quarter scoring. But the Seahawks' defense has been a brick wall in the fourth quarter, allowing 24 points, the second fewest in the NFL behind the Broncos' six points.

Connections: Lions WR Burleson spent four seasons in Seattle. But Burleson won't be playing Sunday after breaking his leg in the Lions' 13-7 Monday night loss to the Bears. 

Stat you should know: A Seattle win Sunday would make it four in a row over the Lions, matching a series high. The Seahawks also won four in a row over Detroit from 1978-90. Seattle hasn't lost in Detroit since November 1997. 

Bulletin board quote: "Whatever. (Bleep) him." Lions C Dominic Raiola when asked about CB Sherman changing his name on Twitter this week to Optimus Prime.  

Record watch: With seven career kickoff returns for a touchdown, Leon Washington ranks No. 2 in NFL history behind Cleveland's Josh Cribbs (eight). Washington will be going against a Lions special teams Sunday that's allowed four touchdowns this season -- two each on punt returns and kickoff returns. 

Looking ahead: The Seahawks will return home for a two-week stretch against Minnesota and the New York Jets. A return to the Pacific Northwest is good news for a Seattle team that's undefeated at home.  

Prediction: Seahawks 20, Lions 13

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Seahawks blogger John Breech follow @JohnBreech and @CBSSeahawks.