Detroit Lions travel to Seattle Seahawks, live on Sky Sports
Tuesday 6 October 2015 06:27, UK
How will the Seattle Seahawks cope without the hulking presence of Marshawn Lynch?
That's the big question ahead of their clash against the Detroit Lions after the running back was ruled out through injury.
You can see the Seahawks adapt without one of their top players at 1.15am on Tuesday morning on Sky Sports 2 HD.
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The last time Lynch missed a game due to injury was in 2011, when he had back troubles, so his absence from the Seahawks line-up will be conspicuous.
Pete Carroll, the Seahawks coach, confirmed the news over the weekend after an MRI scan discovered a hamstring injury - a different issue to the one that Lynch recently fought through in the same muscle.
He suffered his latest injury in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears last week so undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls is expected to be thrown into the deep end against the Lions. Fred Jackson, the veteran, will chip in with his share of the workload.
The reshuffle will ask interesting questions of Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who might decide to utilise tight end Jimmy Graham more frequently.
The Lions have given up an average of 112 rushing yards per game this year and have yet to win this season, so Lynch's absence will be a major boost to their hopes of ending their luckless run.
The game will also throw up the fascinating sideshow of Richard Sherman v Calvin Johnson, a brilliant one-on-one cornerback v wide receiver contest that has lit up this NFL fixture in previous meetings.
Watch the Detroit Lions @ the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday at 1.15am on Sky Sports 2 HD.
