Packers at Seahawks
Sunday, 3:05 p.m. *FOX* Line: Seahawks -7 ¹/₂ * O/U: 46 ¹/₂
Packers offense vs. Seahawks defense
There are options galore for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but he is dealing with an injured left calf that severely limited his mobility last week, though he did move more freely in the second half.
Figure he won’t repeat Week 1, when he refused to throw in cornerback Richard Sherman’s direction, but Rodgers will look to isolate receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb on CB Byron Maxwell, who didn’t play much vs. the Panthers because of shortness of breath.
The Seahawks have allowed 56 points in their past seven games (8.0 points per game). Their defensive ends, Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, are superb, their linebackers are the best trio in the league and their Legion of Boom secondary is beastly.
The best way to attack is up the middle on the suspect Seattle defensive tackles with running back Eddie Lacy, who gives Rodgers a legitimate pounding ground alternative.
Rodgers shook off his physical ailment in a sterling second half against the Cowboys, but he struggled in the season-opening loss in Seattle. This is a battle of great vs. great.
Edge: Seahawks
Seahawks offense vs. Packers defense
It is likely there were some sleepless nights in Green Bay trying to devise a strategy to prevent Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson from breaking containment and hurting the Packers with his running and passing on the run. He is a killer when things seemingly break down — 849 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns this season — and the defensive backs must stay plastered to the Seattle receivers when Wilson is buying time for himself.
It is not as if Wilson has a bunch of Pro Bowl targets — Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and tight end Luke Willson are not difference-makers — but they are adept at reading the movements of their shifty QB. It will be interesting to see if LB Clay Matthews (11 sacks) can catch Wilson and if the Green Bay defensive front can slow down RB Marshawn Lynch, as it takes a village to corral him. Lynch had 110 yards the first game of the season on the Packers, who finished the year ranked No. 23 vs the run.
The Seattle offensive line is nothing special. Left tackle Russell Okung has not played up to his past Pro Bowl level. right tackle Justin Britt can be beat, as he has allowed five sacks and 38 pressures this season.
Edge: Seahawks
Special Teams
The Seahawks took a hit after they traded Percy Harvin, as their return game is not dynamic and even less so with kickoff returner Paul Richardson (knee) out of this game. Placekicker Steven Hauschka had a down year (for him), hitting 31 of 37 of his fields goal attempts, but he has a strong leg. Mason Crosby holds all the Packers kicking records and has rebounded from a down 2012 season. He hit 27 of 33 field goals this season and has made 11 straight in the postseason. Randall Cobb gives the Pack a threat on kickoff returns.
Edge: Packers
Coaching
Both these head coaches have a Super Bowl victory on their resume. Mike McCarthy is more of a low-key presence in Green Bay, but he possesses a keen offensive mind and has taken his team into the playoffs six straight years and seven times in his nine seasons. His defensive coordinator, Dom Capers, knows every trick in the book.
Pete Carroll keeps it loose and gets his players to play extremely hard, enjoying a hugely successful third NFL act. He is all about competition on the field during the week, with an occasional free-throw shooting contest mixed in to ease the tension. His defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, is this year’s hot assistant, but teams (including the Jets) got tired of waiting for him to become available.
Edge: Seahawks (slightly)
Three players to watch
Eddie Lacy: Packers bullish RB was bothered by knee soreness during the week and must carry the load as he did last week (101 yards) in playoff victory over the Cowboys.
Bobby Wagner: Watch the Seahawks middle linebacker never come off the field. He is an every-down player — a demon vs. the run and very solid dropping into pass coverage.
Randall Cobb: He is a receiver for the Packers, but he lines up outside, in the slot and in the backfield as a do-everything weapon who must be on the move in order to solve the Legion of Boom secondary.