They did it on the ground. They did it by air. They did it without throwing an incomplete pass.

The Detroit Lions offense enjoyed a 42-29 victory over the Seahawks on Monday night, handing Seattle its first loss of the season after a 3-0 start. Geno Smith and Kenneth Walker made a valiant effort to keep pace with Seattle. But ultimately it was a fruitless effort against a Lions unit that was firing on all cylinders against a Seahawks defense missing several starters with injuries.

The Lions went three-and-out on their opening possession following a third-down sack by Goff. From that point on, there was little resistance from a Seahawks defense unable to slow down Detroit’s cavalcade of playmakers.

Jared Goff had a perfect night at quarterback, completing all 18 pass attempts. He also managed to catch a touchdown. Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Amon Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta each took turns playing for an offense that scored touchdowns on six of 10 possessions.

Gibbs, Montgomery’s starting Lion’s attack

After their first possession, three-and-out, the Lions responded with touchdown drives on three consecutive drives. Detroit’s two-headed running back monster of Gibbs and Montgomery set the early tone.

Gibbs made a 20-yard run to put the Lions in the red zone on their first scoring possession. Montgomery capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Detroit’s next two possessions ended with touchdown runs from Gibbs as the Lions opened a 21-7 lead.

The Seahawks opened the third quarter with a touchdown to cut Detroit’s lead to 21-14. That’s when the Lions really started to show off.

Montgomery set up Detroit’s next touchdown on a physical catch-and-run on a screen pass from Goff. He caught the first-and-10 pass for what seemed destined for a short gain as Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon closed in for a tackle near the line of scrimmage. But it was Witherspoon who ended up on the ground after a violent collision as Montgomery stayed upright and carried the ball for a 40-yard gain, breaking multiple tackles along the way.

Trick play secures the TD catch for Goff

The play set up the first touchdown catch of Goff’s career. On second and goal at the 7-yard line, Goff handed the ball to St. Brown and then headed to the left corner of the end zone. St. Brown then turned and threw a perfect ball that Goff ran in for a score to extend Detroit’s lead to 28-14.

The Seahawks responded again with a touchdown to cut Detroit’s lead to one score. It doesn’t matter. On Detroit’s next play, Goff found Willams for a 70-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 35–20.

The Seahawks responded again, this time with Walker’s third touchdown run of the night, cutting the Lions’ lead to 35–27 early in the fourth quarter. But that was Seattle’s last gasp.

Goff’s second touchdown pass of the night – this one against St. Brown – put Detroit ahead 42-27 with 3:34 left and nearly ended Seattle’s hopes of a comeback.

Goff wasn’t sure he was perfect

Ultimately, Goff completed 18 of 18 pass attempts for 292 yards and two touchdowns. He wasn’t sure he had a perfect game until ESPN’s Lisa Salters told him after the game.

“You know, I wasn’t sure,” Goff said. “I was trying to remember if I had an incomplete. I didn’t quite know. But I knew I had a chance.”

Choose your fighter

The Lions finished 19 of 19 as a team through the air thanks to St. Brown’s 7-yard toss to Goff. Gibbs ran 14 times for 78 yards and two scores. Montgomery totaled 80 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.

St. Brown totaled six catches for 45 yards and a touchdown catch in addition to his touchdown throw. Williams totaled 80 yards on two catches, making his only big play count for a touchdown. LaPorta added 53 yards on four catches, including a gain of 30 yards on Detroit’s final touchdown drive of the night.

For Seattle’s defense, it came down to a game of “pick your poison” without the right answer.

Seattle outgained Detroit in total offense, 516 yards to 389. Geno Smith threw for 395 yards, while Walker scored 80 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

But Detroit’s offense was more precise and efficient. The Lions averaged a whopping 7.8 yards per play and didn’t turn the ball over. Goff averaged 16.2 yards per attempt.

Smith threw the ball 56 times as Seattle played from behind all night. His 7.1 yards per attempt would be exceptional on most nights. Just not on Mondays.

It wouldn’t be entirely fair to judge Seattle’s defense based on Monday’s effort. They played without five injured players from their starting seven rotation. Defensive linemen Byron Murphy III (hamstring) and Leonard Williams (ribs) and linebackers Jerome Baker (hamstring), Boye Mafe (knee) and Uchenna Nwosu (knee) all missed the game.

The Seahawks hope to be healthier as they prepare to face the New York Giants next Sunday. The Lions enter the first bye week of the season with a big win and a 3-1 start. Next up is a showdown with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6.