Green Bay Packers

2 Packers Dreams and 1 Seahawks Nightmare

Photo credit: Rob Schumacher (The Arizona Republic via USA TODAY Sports)

One of the spotlight matchups in Week 10 will pit the Seattle Seahawks against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

Seattle is 3-5, but Russell Wilson‘s return will change that swiftly. Aaron Rodgers is expected to return for the Packers after missing last week due to a positive COVID test.

Here are two potential Green Bay dream scenarios and one possible Seattle nightmare for Sunday’s affair.

Rodgers missing the entire week has no impact

Rodgers is expected to be under center for the Packers on Sunday. Because he is unvaccinated, his return to the team takes longer than for someone who is actually immunized.

He has been able to tune in remotely for meetings this week. But outside of that, Rodgers hasn’t been able to do anything team-related. Jordan Love has continued to take the first-team reps.

The reigning MVP’s return will be a welcome sight for the Packers. Hopefully, missing the whole week will have no impact on him. Green Bay’s wide receivers already have good chemistry with their superstar quarterback. And Rodgers has been able to partake in the game plan to attack the Seahawks.

He last played on a Thursday night over two weeks ago in Arizona, but perhaps the time off has provided Rodgers with a bye week of his own in some respects. If he’s able to come in as seamlessly as expected and zip the pigskin around on Sunday afternoon, the odds are good for Green Bay.

Joe Barry’s defense makes Russell Wilson’s debut chaotic 

Wilson is returning from injured reserve after missing three games, and the last thing Green Bay’s defense can afford to do is allow him to come back and have all day to make throws. Wilson is coming back after undergoing surgery on the middle finger of his throwing hand. It’s human nature to expect it to be somewhat on his mind in his first game back.

Joe Barry’s defense has been hyper-aggressive in forcing the issue and establishing their mark in recent weeks. A similar scheme should be in store for Seattle’s offense. They have two explosive playmakers in D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but this shouldn’t deter the Packers from dialing up the heat.

Barry will likely test Wilson early, bringing some blitzes that will be key for Green Bay if they can hit home. Wilson may not have to shake off much rust, but making him uncomfortable in the pocket will keep him off-balance.

Green Bay can’t afford to sit back and take a wait-and-see approach with Wilson. They need to assume he’s at or near 100% and go from there. They need to try to make things as chaotic as possible.

Rodgers doesn’t get the all-clear to play

The nightmare scenario for Green Bay is that Rodgers cannot play, so it really has nothing to do with the Seahawks.

I’m not suggesting that Love couldn’t step in and get a win for Green Bay this time around. But obviously, the chances are much better with No. 12 under center.

The biggest positive for Green Bay if it shakes out this way is that Love has had the entire week to take the first-team reps in Rodgers’ absence. Rodgers’ positive COVID test didn’t come until midweek while they were prepping for the Kansas City Chiefs, so they had to quickly turn over the keys to Love, who was making his first start.

Seattle would now be Love’s second start, coming off a full week of reps and playing in the comforts of Lambeau. All of that is fine and dandy, but Green Bay would still be walking on eggshells knowing Rodgers is out while Wilson is back in place of Geno Smith. It’s the nightmare scenario that Packers fans have stored away deep in their minds for this contest. We likely won’t know about Rodgers’ clearance one way or another until late Saturday.

The lack of cohesion between Love and some of his receivers, most notably Davante Adams, was on display numerous times against the Chiefs. It was pronounced when they tried hitting the back-shoulder fade. It’s a route that Rodgers and Adams can do blindfolded, but the second-year quarterback doesn’t quite have that timing down.

If Rodgers is to play, many a gambler will pick the Packers to get back on the right track at home against the Seahawks. If it’s Love, the herd will flock over to the Seahawks knowing that Wilson is back while No. 12 is still out.

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