Scouting the Seahawks

[LUKE23]

My biggest worry is the amount of heat they get on the QB paired with Favre's tendency to get a little too amped up in the playoffs. Could be a recipe for interceptions.

I think we can slow Seattle's running game pretty well given that our DL is almost fully healthy and we can rotate a lot of guys, and they will be rested. Seattle's WR's are playing pretty well right now.

I think it will be a pretty close game.

[rilamann]

I do think the Packers will beat the Seahawks but it will be a tough close game.

My big thing with this matchup is how much is this game going to take out of the Packers physically and emotionally and will the Packers have enough left in the tank to win @Dallas.

Ecspecially when you consider Dallas shouldnt have much trouble with the Bucs or Giants.

[ReasonablySober]

I don't see their offense scoring a lot UNLESS we give the ball away in our own territory. Shaun Alexander is a shell of his former self. Their receivers are solid but no one you need to really worry about.

The thing is they may not need to move the ball a lot. That defense is loaded with talented playmakers. Kerney is a stud. That corp of linebackers may be the best in the NFL. You saw what Trufant does best. If the Packers don't protect that ball or Favre throws a couple their way, that D could put up 14 points on their own.

I wanted nothing to do with Seattle. When the 'Skins recovered that kickoff I thought we might get lucky and miss them.

Yea, no such luck.

[Comet]

I don't see their offense scoring a lot UNLESS we give the ball away in our own territory. Shaun Alexander is a shell of his former self. Their receivers are solid but no one you need to really worry about.

The thing is they may not need to move the ball a lot. That defense is loaded with talented playmakers. Kerney is a stud. That corp of linebackers may be the best in the NFL. You saw what Trufant does best. If the Packers don't protect that ball or Favre throws a couple their way, that D could put up 14 points on their own.

I wanted nothing to do with Seattle. When the 'Skins recovered that kickoff I thought we might get lucky and miss them.

Yea, no such luck.

Except for that paragraph, I disagree. If Todd Collins was Tom Brady, then yes, I would agree. But he's not. Collins' performance this regular season is not enough to convince me that he's a formidable quarterback. He's 36 and he put up his stats in only a few games.

I'm not suggesting that Seattle's defense sucks, in fact it's great (I say that because they have a lot of great players, despite of the fact they finished middle-of-the-pack in most defensive categories). But I guarantee you that their D won't have as much success against us as it did against Washington. Why? Because Favre is our QB. #4 has plenty left in the tank (I'd say if it weren't for Tom Brady's amazing season that Favre would get the MVP award) and has a lot of playoff experience. And look at all the weapons (Driver, Jennings, Jones, Lee, Grant) that he gets to work with. Not to mention he's kept his interception totals low this season. There's a reason we have the 2nd-best offense in the league.

But as for the part where I agree with you, we have one of the best secondary units in the league. The Seahawks' passing game will be held in check. As for the the running game, our D-Line is healthier than it was in the latter weeks of the season, plus Shaun Alexander's best days are behind him. And he doesn't have Steve Hutchinson to clear running paths for him (Hutchinson departed a little less than 2 years ago, but still, I think Hutchinson played a major role in Alexander's monstrous 2005 season).

Am I saying we're going to blow them out? No. But this game is at Lambeau (the best home-field advantage in sports) and we're the better team. We should win this game.

[crkone]

I don't agree about Seattle. They didn't look impressive at all and needed help to seal the game. Plus they haven't played a good, balanced offense for basically the whole year (top scoring team they faced was Arizona, who does have a good passing offense). Lets see how their LBs do against our empty backfield sets. They don't have a rushing game or a good TE, which should play to our strengths.

And come on, its in Green Bay.

I just hope it isn't windy...

[BrewersGM]

Im glad we got the Seahawks! The only thing that will kill us is turnovers. If we run the ball well, which we should, we will be fine. Yeah their defense has some playmakers, but we play our game and everything should pan out. I think Seattle's secondary will struggle with our WR's becasue their gonna focus on Grant. There CB are not having great years, their LB's are making the plays..

Our D will lock down Bobby Ingram and washed up Alexander. One thing about our defense is we have alot of outside speed. It helps when holes open and players fly in to fill gaps. I dont see any threat at all. Hasselback is smart, if we get to him early in the game it could be over quicky. If we let him make plays the game could go into the 4th close...

Pack win this one 31-17...

[LUKE23]

Sounds like Branch is out. That leaves Burleson and Engram. I think Harris/Woodson can handle that.

I just can see us struggling to score in this game, especially if the weather is really bad.

[MickeyDavis]

Right now weather forecase is 20's, no snow. Suppose to be in the 30's in Seattle this week so there won't be a big shock when they get off the plane. They still have a lot of guys left from their Super Bowl team. Their team won't get rattled in Lambeau.

Just need to play within ourselves, have Grant rip off one or two long runs and don't do anything stupid.

[TheGhostDog]

Today's fun fact: If you count preseason games, the Packers have played 8 out of the 11 playoff teams already this year. That experience, plus all the close slugfests we've weathered so far this season, will render the Pack's roster youth a non-factor.

If we don't get 20 below wind chill with 30 mph wind gusts I think the Pack wins 35-21. Tauscher is light years more dependable than whoever was impersonating a right tackle for the Redskins today, so Seattle will be running stunts all day to try to get Kerney on our guards. No matter, we'll hold Seattle to about 17 yards rushing and Hasselbeck's throwing hand/wrist problems will lead to a few picks. I don't think we need to worry about Favre going into panic mode until the Packers go into a game as a distinct underdog.

I would love seeing the Patriots try to beat the Jaguars in the windy weather we saw versus Chicago.

[Flames24Rulz]

I'd MUCH rather face Seattle than Tampa Bay. With the Giants, you don't know what you're going to get. But I think we match up much better with the Seahawks than the Bucs.

Pocket QB. Garcia can make plays with his legs and that always adds another element into the game for defenders. Hasselbeck is exclusively a pocket passer, so that should make it easier for us to key in on one thing.

No Cover 2 defense. Everyone knows that Favre struggles against that type of defense. Why exactly? I have no idea. Seattle has some good DB's, but I don't think they are quite as good as Tampa's.

We played Seattle last year when they were significantly better than us. They really struggled against us as well. Shaun Alexander ran for over 200 yards in that game, but we were without Barnett and well, we weren't really that great of a team when we played them last year. Fast forward a year later and Seattle has absolutely no running game to speak of and they're exclusively a pass team.

I'm so glad we gave Bush, Blackmon, and Tramon those final three games to get ready. They've practiced in game situations. We're going to need them to come through for us next Saturday and I believe those in-game practices that they've had are going to be extremely beneficial to us.

I say we win 24-14, or somewhere in that neighborhood. I was not impressed at all with Seattle today and that final score doesn't show how close that game really was with the two pick 6's. Nonetheless, it should be another fun one.

[th87]

I think if we play our game, we should probably win.

Stay with the plan, don't get too excited, and don't make mistakes. That should get it done. No need to get too fancy. If we can stay within those things, we should probably be okay.

I'm all jittery though! That means it's playoff time!

[eagle13]

As most of you have said NO TURNOVERS.

IMHO its the only thing that can beat us in this game - ourselves.

[MickeyDavis]

Pack favored by 8 1/2. That seems high.

[Profound23]

Pack favored by 8 1/2. That seems high.

I would take the Seahawks to cover definitely.

[aaprigs311]

anyone know if branch will be back next week? our nickel and dimebacks against their talented 3/4 receivers is going to come into play. bush and blackmon are goin to have tough assignments.

[Captain Erv]

anyone know if branch will be back next week? our nickel and dimebacks against their talented 3/4 receivers is going to come into play. bush and blackmon are goin to have tough assignments.

Update: Branch (calf) said he will be ready to play next Saturday against the Packers, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Recommendation: Branch was inactive for Saturday's win over the Redskins. If he does play, he'll have his work cut out for him against either Al Harris or Charles Woodson.

[Neusch23]

I honestly can see NY beating the cowboys. I liked that match up for them to get beat the best.

I believe that Seattle is the tougher match up for us, but I believe we can keep their running game in check.

Everything else is up to the weather.

IT was warm today, and most of the snow melted here in Green Bay.....Lets see what we get.

I like our secondary vs their pass. If we can keep pressure on Hasselbeck I like our chances.

[MickeyDavis]

Right now the forecast in GB for Saturday is 26 with snow showers. That's fine. As long as there isn't something crazy like 40 MPH winds we should be ok.

I also think the Giants have a decent shot. It's hard to beat a team 3 times in a season (remember Pack/Queens a few years ago).

[El Duderino]

I'd rather play Seattle than the Giants for one main reason, if the weather makes passing tough, the Giants really can run the ball with Jacobs and Bradshaw. Plus, while Seattle has a better overall defense, the Giants have a very good defensive line.

[SteveScheffler]

will someone find a video of matt hasselbecks "we want the ball and were gonna score" line so i can blow up my buddies faceboks with it.