DETROIT LIONS head coach Jim Caldwell admits his team face a tall order on the road in Seattle this week after ruining their chances of a home playoff game in Wild Card Weekend.
The Lions held a two-game lead in the NFC North with three games remaining in the regular-season and were on course for a division title and a home fixture.
But Detroit lost their last three contests, including a painful loss last week against the Green Bay Packers at home.
Green Bay clinched the division with victory in Detroit, leaving the Lions having to settle for the sixth seed and a trip to the No 3 seed Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night.
Seattle’s Century Link Field is one of the loudest in the NFL, and their raucous fans have played a crucial role in the team’s recent success, reaching back-to-back Super Bowls in 2014 and 2015.
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“It’s always a challenge on the road,” Caldwell acknowledged. “Obviously playing at places that are very difficult to play with the noise and all of the other factors that you deal with.
“They present quite a challenge, but that’s what this league is all about. You have to be able to go on the road and you have to be able to perform well. We understand it’s a difficult task, as well.”
“It’s always rowdy,” the Lions head coach added.
“I remember a few years back there was a visiting team that went in with six false starts in the game, maybe it was more than that, but it was six at a minimum.
"Those kinds of things stick out in your mind, but it’s difficult to hear.
"It’s certainly a team that you have to prepare for in that regard. We’ve been in some noisy stadiums, but this is a little different deal. It’s loud and a lot of electricity. I know it’ll be an exciting time.”
And if the noise isn't enough of an issue for Detroit, Seattle's defence is one of the best in the league, even in the absence of their injured leader Earl Thomas.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford recalls Detroit's 13-10 defeat at Century Link Field last season, and is optimistic his side can come out on top this weekend.
"Strong, fast and physical," Stafford said of Seattle's defence. "They're disciplined in what they do and they play hard.
"We had a chance there late in the game to win it but Kam Chancellor made a great play.
"So it was a tight game last year with some missed opportunities in there that you always look back and wish you had hit or whatever they were."
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