The Green Bay Packers versus the Seattle Seahawks. It may not have the same appeal as the last NFC Championship appearance of four years ago against the Bears, but it is a great matchup nonetheless. The best against the best in the NFC.
The Packers and Seahawks have met in the playoffs twice previously in Green Bay with the Packers winning both. The “we want the ball and we’re gonna score” game in 2003 being the most memorable with the Packers winning 33-27 in overtime thanks to an Al Harris pick-six.
Unlike those two games when the Packers were big favorites, this time the Seahawks are defending world champs and are playing in their house, thus, are huge favorites for a game of this magnitude. Not a big surprise considering the Seahawks bring the league’s best defense and a top ten offense while the Packers bring a top ten offense but a defense that is still proving itself.
The Seahawks beat the Packers handily the first week of the season but you could have rolled the ’96 Packers out that night and they probably would have still lost. I know from experience how unbelievable the atmosphere is when the defending champions open the following season on a Thursday night at home. It’s an amazing event and there’s a reason why only one defending champ has lost their opener the next season since the NFL started the program it in 2006.
The other thing about that game is people forget the Packers played most of it with Derek Sherrod at right tackle and then lost Eddie Lacy in the second half. Sherrod is no longer in the NFL and Lacy is a huge part of the Packers’ offense. Not only that but the Packers were trying some ridiculous 4-3 defense that failed miserably. This is not the same team the Seahawks played in week one.
I do think this is the same Seahawks team the Packers played in week one. The Seahawks are hitting on all cylinders and haven’t lost since November 16 in Kansas City. The Packers are 12-2 since the end of September so it’s clear the two best teams in the NFC are lining up Sunday.
Here is what I think.
I think I am fine with Aaron Rodgers’ mobility being limited. The safest place for him to be is in the friendly confines of his underrated offensive line. It took a half to get used to it but Rodgers looked just fine staying in the pocket.
I think Eddie Lacy will have success running the ball but I think the addition of Randall Cobb to the backfield will create some big plays. That is something the Packers didn’t do in the first meeting when Cobb was still finding his way back from his 2013 broken leg.
I think on defense the Packers need to worry more about Russell Wilson than they do Marshawn Lynch. Like DeMarco Murray did, Lynch will get his yards. If the Packers contain Wilson and force him to pass I like the Packers’ chances of getting an interception or two. Wilson is deadly on the run so the Packers need to keep him in the pocket as much humanly possible.
I think the Packers win the game. While it’s fresher for the Seahawks, the Packers still have their core players from their Super Bowl run of four years ago that know what it takes to win this game. With that experience and the addition and maturation of key rookies Corey Linsley, Richard Rodgers, Davante Adams and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, the Packers have their best team since winning Super Bowl 45.
I think it will be a three point 23-20 win for the Packers. On to Glendale.