The Packers will face their week one opponent, Seattle Seahawks, in the NFC Championship this coming Sunday.

During the week one meeting Percy Harvin led the Seahawks with 7 catches for 59 yards and he also had 4 jet sweeps for 41 yards. He is no longer with the Seahawks.

Also during that first meeting the Packers were 10 points down when Derek Sherrod became a turnstile and was directly the cause of a safety and ultimately that is when the Seahawks pulled away. He is no longer with the Packers.

Last thing of note about the first match up is James Starks had 7 carries for 37 yards for 5.7 average while Eddie Lacy had 12 carries for 34 yards for 2.8 yards a carry. Something to consider when they rotate Starks in for Lacy.


Seahawks scored 30 or more points three times (Packers, Raiders and Giants) in the regular season.
Packers scored 30 or more points eight times (Jets, Bears, Vikings, Panthers, Bears, Eagles, Falcons and Lions) in the regular season.



KEY MATCHUPS
Aaron Rodgers vs Seattle Defense
More is being made about this calf than needs to be. Rodgers says it only effects his running mobility, not his rhythm of throwing or planting to throw.
Slight Edge: Seattle

Shawn Slocum vs Kam Chancelor
Kam showed his leaping abilities last week against the Panthers and the Packers absolutely must find a way to take advantage of this. Unfortunately Slocum is a mental midget and the atroticous kicking woes will continue. I just hope Mason Crosby doesn't get killed in the process. What the Packers should do is a hard count or if they see Kam in the air, Tim Masthay (preferably Matt Flynn would hold) would turn and throw it to a streaking TE because that back end will be wide open.
Big Edge: Seattle

Packers Defense vs Russell Wilson
The aforementioned Harvin is longer with the Seahawks and they really do not have anyone other than Ricardo Lockette with threatening speed. The Packers have Sam Shields who is faster than Lockette and if I'm Dom Capers, I lock Shields on to him and bounce Casey Hayward and Tramon Williams on Doug Baldwin.
Edge: Seattle

Packers Tackling vs Marshawn Lynch
Marshawn Lynch is the back breaker and although the Packers have improved their tackling the last month, they haven't faced someone as powerful and menacing as Lynch.
Edge: Seattle


This game will not be decided by Russell Wilson or even Aaron Rodgers. The play of Corey Linsley, Davante Adams, Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix and Richard Rodgers collectively will decide the outcome more than either QB. If they play sound error free football, the Packers will have a chance. If these four falter, the game will be won easily by the Seahawks.

It does not matter who you are, when you are a 2nd year coordinator and teams are lining up to interview you for a head coaching vacancy, that is a distraction. No one is pounding down the doors to hire Packers assistants and Dan Quinn has teams blowing up his phone and that will be a slight advantage to the Packers.

Richard Sherman is going to be on the right side and as you can see from the graphic, that is where Rodgers is most efficient. Sherman will win this battle again and unfortunately for the Packers, the season starts and ends against the same team for the third season in a row.
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The grades below are cumulative of the regular season and post season games from ProFootballFocus.com

OFFENSE
Blocking Grades
Packers Pass: +52.8 (1st) Run: -8.8 (16th)
Seahawks Pass: +25.7 (17th) Run: -15.6 (18th)

Passing Grades
Packers: +57.5 (1st)
Seahawks: +4.0 (13th)

Rushing Grades
Packers: +8.2 (8th)
Seahawks: +30.3 (1st)


DEFENSE
Run Defense Grades
Packers: -12.2 (28th)
Seahawks: +24.7 (10th)

Pass Coverage Grades
Packers: -4.7 (14th)
Seahawks: +31.5 (4th)

Pass Rush Grades
Packers: +18.9(13th)
Seahawks: +40.3 (6th)


SPECIAL TEAMS
Packers -14.3 (23rd)
Seahawks +22.8 (10th)

Overall Grades
Packers Offense: +111.9 (2nd) Defense: -12.2 (20th)
Seahawks Offense: -22.3 (13th) Defense: +83.8 (4th)


Zero's Power Ranking
Packers 1st Place
Seahawks 4th Place

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The game will be decided mostly by the performance of our Oline. They have to be able to create some holes for the running game, and keep Rodgers in a comfortable pocket. McCarthy can help this by showing that offensive mind and creating a gameplan of power running and quick passes.

Our offense cannot expect success running outside because we are outmatched in speed. Move guys around to push the secondary back from the LOS and hit some quick slants and take the 5 yard gain.

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Close game.

Seven total field goals. Crosby makes the difference with five, including three of 50+.
GB 22
Seattle 20

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DuJuan runs a 4.3, no?

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Our oline doesn't. So unless we expect him to run without blocking.

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Harris probsly will be inactive.

Packers have to play mistake free ball, be patient, control the clock, shorten the game, and they will have a chance

Packers 19
Seahawks 17

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lol, really?

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here is my take on how to beat Seattle. I'm not looking back at their losses this year so these may not apply but this I the way I see it.

You have to get up early and that will probably have to be from a big play. Either we make a big one or they screw up somehow or both. Then you have to be able to with stand a big play by their defense. By that I mean you have to be ahead when their defense comes up with the big play. It seems that some teams stay with them for 3 quarters or so but then their defense comes up huge and its too late to recover. If their defense scores in the 4th quarter and puts them up by more one score it could pretty much be over. It tough to score once on these guys let alone twice when they smell blood.

Its kind of the opposite of letting a bad team stick around and they end up beating you. You don't get the good team down an they end coming through.

My prediction 21 - 17 and the winning team will have a defensive score.

I hope we kick off to start the game. I know it'd be nice to have the opportunity to be ahead before the defense even hits the field but I have faith that our defense can stop them on their first drive, which will help quiet the crowd down. I also love getting the ball to start the second half.

A Few Thoughts:

Ironic that Zero's rankings have the Packers #1 and Seattle #4 in light of the conclusions.

Regarding the Cam Cameron thing v. Carolina, it seems to me that the Right Guard or whoever he comes over should be able to go straight up in his first move and redirect the mid-air Cameron away from the kicker - hopefully hurting him somehow in the process. (yes, I said HURTING him - anybody got a problem with that? hahahaha)

It worries me a little bit that Crosby's kicks have been too low many times in the last half of the season. Hopefully he gets that fixed.

I think we will have a tough time running on the Seattle D (what a shock hahaha). However, I think Aaron Rodgers is closer to full strength than he lets on, and I think he is the dominant factor scrambling out of the pocket just enough to get openings and throw - same 'ol same 'ol. Our O Line ain't much, but I think they can keep the D off Rodgers just enough for that.

Our D ain't exactly world beaters, but they were adequate against Dallas, and I really think Seattle's offense is not as good as Dallas. We need to do to Russell Wilson what Ohio State did to Mariota - surround him and collapse the pocket - not rush in undisciplined and let him escape - as he does so well.

I see Rodgers passing and Capers scheming as the keys to a Packer victory.

One more thing, Sam Shields played better against the Cowboys than he has all season IMO. He needs to continue that against Seattle.

Packers 31 Seahawks 21

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