Unlike most seasons when you get set for a tough primetime road game in December, whether the Green Bay Packers win or lose Sunday night in Seattle won’t greatly affect their playoff chances. We will, however, learn a lot about this team in the process. As I’m sure you know, this would be the Wild Card matchup if the playoffs started this week.
It’s an opportunity for the young Packers to get that sour taste out of their mouths after the ending of the Detroit Lions game and beat a solid playoff-caliber NFC team coming in red-hot and confident. They’ll have to do it at one of the toughest, loudest venues in the league, in front of fans who’ve waited four years to host Sunday Night Football.
The Seattle Seahawks game closes out the brutal part of Green Bay’s schedule, with three games in 11 days against quality opponents and tough road tests these last two weeks. The Packers haven’t won in Seattle since Aaron Rodgers’ first year as a starter (of course, we all know they won the Fail Mary game, but let’s not bring that up).
What do we make of the Seahawks? They started strong under first-year coach and defensive guru Mike McDonald but then slumped to a 4-5 record at the bye. Since then, they’ve won four straight and lead the NFC West, a half-game ahead of the hard-charging Los Angeles Rams.
But those four wins came against the Arizona Cardinals (twice), New York Jets (on a miracle pick-six), and (injury-decimated) San Francisco 49ers — not exactly brutal competition.
Still, the defense is better and healthier than it was a month ago. DL Leonard Williams pick-sixed Rodgers in that Jets game and will be a problem for Elgton Jenkins and Josh Myers. He leads a front seven with a new group of linebackers that’s been stout against the run lately. We all know that’s how the Packers want to attack the Seahawks. Josh Jacobs will remain the main attraction in the Pack’s offense.
Green Bay should get Romeo Doubs back in the passing game; he cleared concussion protocol on Friday. That’s a big factor on third downs, where the Pack has struggled in his absence. Seattle’s pass rush is solid, but they don’t get a lot of sacks. Let’s see how Jordan Love handles the heat. I think LaFleur will call plays to get the ball out of his hands quickly and let his receivers go to work, then take a few deep shots with Christian Watson later in the game.
The Packers will score points, no doubt about it. The question is, how will the defense perform against an offense that’s heating up, even though they may be without RB Kenneth Walker for a second-straight game? Backup Zach Charbonnet is coming off a career day with 134 yards and two TDs and is a threat as a receiver. Geno Smith drops back to pass more than just about anyone, and the Pack will have to apply the heat because the secondary is still shorthanded.
The Packers ruled Jaire Alexander out on Friday after practicing fully on Wednesday and Thursday. You wonder if this was football-related or something else. You never know with Alexander, who’s now missed 14 of Green Bay’s last 28 games. Javon Bullard is out with an ankle injury that’s been called week to week, so that’s two of your preferred starting corners. That’s not helpful against D.K. Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (a 2023 draft crush for many of us).
The good news is Evan Williams will be back at safety, so figure Keisean Nixon goes back to the slot to deal with JSN, and Eric Stokes and Carrington Valentine will man the outside. Expect Xavier McKinney to help out deep wherever Metcalf is lined up.
The Pack has been really good against the run of late, and that needs to continue. Get Geno into tough down and distance spots, and he will make mistakes. It will be interesting to see how often Jeff Hafley elects to blitz — I bet he does it more than we’re accustomed to. Getting Edgerrin Cooper back will also be a shot in the arm.
Undoubtedly, it will be a playoff atmosphere at Lumen Field, much like it was last week at Ford Field. Are the Seahawks ready to step up in class after beating up some patsies? The Pack has won 10 straight against the NFC West, and NFC North teams are 28-3 against the rest of the league this season.
I think both teams will be able to move the ball against the other, and it might feel like the Lions game felt: Whoever has the ball last wins. This feels like a game where Love shows what sets him apart, when it matters most, and in comeback fashion as the clock expires.
Packers 27
Seahawks 26
