The Seahawks’ defense was so bad Geno Smith had to beat it AND Detroit’s. Oh, the issues.

The only way the Seahawks’ defense could have been more absent and ineffective is if they had all stayed home.

The defenders who played but did not perform Sunday at Ford Field in Michigan made Seattle history.

Thanks to Geno Smith and the offense, the Seahawks allowed the most points in a regulation-game victory in the 47-season history of the franchise.

Seattle allowed the Lions (1-3), playing without top running back D’Andre Swift and top wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, to roll up 520 yards and 45 points. The Seahawks won despite their defense, 48-45, to even their record at 2-2.

Their defense remains anything but straightened out heading to New Orleans (1-3) next weekend.

After Sunday’s game, 35-year-old captain and defensive tackle Al Woods got up in the middle of the locker room and told teammates: “Grateful for the offense today.”

He wasn’t alone.

Fortunately, Seattle rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen had his first interception return for a touchdown of his career. That was on the first play after halftime, to give Seattle a 31-15 lead that didn’t last long.

“He’s special. He’s a cheat code,” Pro Bowl safety Quandre Diggs of Woolen, the rookie the Seahawks call “Avatar.”

“We should thank God for that.”

What’s the problem(s)?

The Seahawks again missed tackles in the open field. They turned short passes into mammoth gains such as Detroit tight end T.J. Hockenson’s 81-yard catch and bulldozing in the third quarter that set up yet another score.

Run fits remained the season-long issue. Inside linebacker Cody Barton was late and got run past on numerous runs and catches. Coach Pete Carroll benched Darrell Taylor and started Darryl Johnson at left outside linebacker for the first time. Johnson sprained his ankle midway through the second quarter. Taylor re-entered for more than just passing downs after Johnson’s injury.

The Lions ran 66 plays. Taylor had as many tackles, or even assisted tackles, as you did Sunday while tasked to set the left edge of the defense. Eighteen other Seahawks had at least one tackle in the game.

Penalties for illegal contact, pass interference and defensive holding extended Detroit drives to more points.

Each time Smith and the offense made it a two-score game and threatened to end it, Seattle’s defense made it close again: 24-9 and 31-15 became 31-23; 38-23 became 38-31; 41-31 became 41-38; and 48-38 with 5 1/2 minutes left became 48-45 with Penny and the offense having to run for a game-clinching first down in the final minute to finally, mercilessly end it.

“Of course you’re worried,” Diggs, the defense’s co-captain, said. “But I don’t want to say we are going to panic.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys out there. We’ve just go to pick up the small details of things. I think, like I said, you could erase 24 or some of those points if we don’t have those penalties or we play smarter on down and distances and if guys know exactly where there are threes (three-receiver sides) away or threes to you.

“It’s just small things that you’ve got to be in tune to the game, and I don’t think we are there yet.”

Gifting Detroit

Seattle should have been leading by at least 17-0 six minutes into the second quarter. But the Seahawks gifted the Lions their first 9 points, plus seven more at the end of the half and two in the third quarter.

Handing any NFL team 18 points is a hard way to win a game.

Seattle’s struggling defense had one series of three plays and forcing the opponent to punt all season entering Sunday. The unit got two three and outs in its first two drives at Detroit — but allowed two scores on them.

How?

Lockett, back to return punts again this season because Carroll trusts him most, fumbled his first return of this game. Detroit recovered at the Seahawks 32-yard line. On the next play, Seattle blew a coverage in the medium-deep left zone. That left Hockenson alone to catch and almost walk in for a 32-yard touchdown

On a second and 14 for Detroit from the Seattle 31 early in the second quarter, Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu had Goff’s pass go through his hands in the right flat. He’d still be running with the ball had he caught that.

Instead of the interception, the Lions got a field goal to cut the Seahawks’ lead to 14-9.

Then came the second and 23 late in the first half, when Seattle allowed practice-squad call-up Tom Kennedy to roam free behind Barton and in front of defensive backs for a 28-yard gain.

Sidney Jones sighting

The Seahawks had former University of Washington standout Sidney Jones, a starter for Seattle last season, replacing Jackson in the second and third quarters. He’d been a healthy scratch last week after recovering from a concussion in August.

After Jackson gave up a touchdown and two-point pass that cut Seattle’s lead to 38-31 early in the fourth quarter, Jones returned to the game.