It’s the marquee matchup of week 1 of the NFL season. Or maybe I’m just saying that because it’s the Seattle Seahawks at the Green Bay Packers.
Since that game that will not be mentioned, the Packers have owned the Seahawks. Russell Wilson threw a career-high five interceptions in a 38-10 Packers’ blowout last season in Lambeau Field.
This is obviously not last season, however. The Seahawks come in as 2.5-3 point dogs in this game. That line suggests that Vegas actually likes Seattle in this game.
I do not.
We’ve talked about preparedness leading up to this game all during the preseason. About how Seattle plays during the preseason and the Packers don’t care.
I believe this is a prepared Packers’ team. I do not think there will be another blowout where Wilson gives up the ball multiple times. What this really comes down to — and what we’ve all been waiting to see — is if the Packers’ revamped secondary will be any good.
I’ve consulted my Magic 8 Ball and signs point to yes.
Actually, the way the Packers got better in the secondary throughout the preseason points to yes.
That, and let’s be honest, if I’m betting, I’m betting on Aaron Rodgers. The way he finished last season suggests he’s going to come into this season and be a monster.
If, as he mentioned last year, the Packers want home field in the playoffs, this game should go a long way toward establishing that.
QB1 rules the day on this day. I put my faith in that.
Shawn
HERE … WE … GO
Week 1 is finally upon us. All the bullshit is aside and the talk turns cheap when the pigskin is finally kicked at Lambeau Field today same as it has for the last nearly 100 years in Green Bay Wisconsin.
On one sideline we’ll have the communist-sympathizing, god-hating, dog-eating, kill-a-baby-seal and talk shit about your momma while doing it Seattle Seahawks. On the other sideline will stand your own defender of the weak, shield in the night, and champion of truth, justice and the American way Green Bay Packers.
As much as I despise most things the Pete Carroll regime stands for, I have to give them credit. They know who they are and they aren’t trying to be anyone else. While the Packers try to lead the charge into the next era of professional football with receivers at running backs and safeties at linebacker, the Seahawks just keep building their defense and saying, “Bring it on.” As much as things change, one thing that stays the same is that if you can’t score, then you can’t win. The Seahawks are built to stop you from scoring, and thus, stop you from winning.
The Seahawks have done little for their offense other than bringing in some new running backs, like the former Packer known as Eddie Lacy. For their defense, the Seahawks just brought in another Pro Bowler to add to the seven that were already there.
In short, after losing their path the last two seasons, the Seahawks appear to have decided to just go back to what got them there in the first place. They are going to bring a dominant defense and an offense that won’t screw things up.
Screw things up is what the Seahawks did for four quarters the last time these two teams met. Pete Carroll and crew had never suffered such an embarrassing defeat during his reign. I expect they remember that. I don’t expect for it to happen again.
The Packers probably won’t see a defense like this again all year. Can a starting offense that took most of the preseason off put up more than 20 points against defense like this? I don’t know. A lot of people around here seem pretty confident that they can. I don’t share that confidence.
All that sounds bad for the Packers. However, just like there was the last three times these two teams met, there is another key element to this match up. That is the Packer defense against the Seattle offense. Frankly, other than the last five minutes of the 2014 NFC Championship Game, the Packer defense has had Seattle’s number. THEY have been the most dominant defense on the field.
And while I don’t expect the Seattle offense to be the traveling circus that it was last year, I do believe that the Packer defense will be even better than it was at that point.
I see this as a defensive game. And with the Packers at home, I like them to edge this one out.
Of course, how both offensive lines do against the pass rush of their opponent will be huge keys in this game. In addition to that, I believe that whoever plays the slot for the Packers, Damarious Randall or Quentin Rollins, against Doug Baldwin will be another important factor. And lastly, can the Seahawks get a running game going, whether it is with Lacy or otherwise?
Partially because of their own errors, the Seahawks didn’t stick with the run in the match up last season. We will see if they repeat that error. We’ll also see definitively if this Packer offense is ready to roll or not.
This is likely to be a bumpy start for the offense, but I still trust Aaron Rodgers and company to do enough to pull this out. Take the under and the Packers.
Packers 23, Seahawks 20