The Seattle Seahawks will need little motivation when they kick off their 2017 NFL season against the Green Bay Packers Sunday afternoon ( 1:25 p.m. PT) at Lambeau Field. The Packers have won the last two meetings between the teams including last years 38 to 10 beat down of the visiting Seahawks
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw five interceptions and the team committed six turnovers in a game that was over before it started. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers tossed a 66 TD pass to Davante Adams on the third play of the game and the Packers never looked back.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is hoping a productive drama free training camp that saw the return of Earl Thomas, a healthy Russell Wilson and the emergence of what he hopes will be a running game will propel the Seahawks to a win in one of the most difficult venues in the NFL.
“I just think because of the history; just because it goes back so far. It means so much to the NFL and the history of the NFL. There’s just something special about it; growing up in the Sixties and getting attracted to it, that’s a personal thing, I’m not saying that for anybody else, I just like it.”
TWO KEYS TO THE GAME
OFFENSIVE LINE PLAY
Right tackle George Fants season came to an abrupt and unexpected end August 18th when he tore his ACL in the Seahawks 20-13 preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings. Guard Rees Odhiambo slid into the tackle position and has performed to expectations. The Seahawks brought in reinforcements when they acquired Matt Tobin from the Philadelphia Eagle for a fifth round draft pick.
If the offensive line unit made up of left guard Luke Joeckel, center Justin Britt, right guard Mark Glowinski, right tackle Germain Ifedi and Odhiambo has a decent game in which Wilson has time to throw and the running backs have some creases to run through the Seahawks will have a chance at breaking their Lambeau Field curse. The last time the Seahawks won in Green Bay was in 1999.
SEAHAWKS DEFENSIVE BACK FIELD
While the interior play of the Seahawks defensive line will play an integral part in containing Rodgers, the Seattle defensive backfields ability to be patient, disciplined and smart when playing pass defense will be key when defending against Rodgers multitude of gifted receivers.
Jordy Nelson is one of the best slot receivers in the game and the ten-year veteran had 97 receptions for 1257 yards and 14 touchdowns. Davante Adams 75 receptions 997 yards and 12 touchdowns is another weapon Rogers has at his disposal. The Packers picked up TE Martellus Bennett younger of Michael Bennett in the offseason.
Rodgers is sure to test rookie cornerback Shaquill Griffin who will either start or see plenty of action behind Jeremy Lane. The bonus for Seattle is that Sunday will be the first time it will have a healthy Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman on the field at the same time. Carroll believes a healthy defensive backfield is vital for his to win
“Yeah, we need to be healthy, you know. They are that good, so these guys are ready to play good football. Jeremy [Lane] has really had just a tremendous offseason. I am really excited about him fitting in with our guys. We have raved about Earl’s [Thomas] work. Kam [Chancellor] has been right on point and [Richard] Sherm(an) has never been more consistent than he has at this point in an offseason. I think he has been great at it. Everything lines up well, but we all know, we are going to need it all to play against a fine club.”
