NFC Championship GB@Seattle (1 Viewer)

[ImTheScientist]

I was postulating on this with some leaguemates, here are some thoughts I had from a Packer fan perspective:

Looking to Seattle. I hope everyone and their brother who is picking Seattle against the gimpy Rodgers helps with Seattle's overconfidence (similar to what the Packers were when they played Denver in the Superbowl back in 1997 season - no one thought Denver would win. I heard one of the Seattle Newspapers had a piece on how to travel and get tickets to Phoenix - a tad presumptuous perhaps?). Seattle was in a dogfight with the Carolina Panthers in last week's game (Car- with no great WRs or QB who was spraying them all over the field, missing open receivers and throwing 2 picks) before they broke it open in the fourth quarter. Here's my initial thoughts:

1) The Packers and Seattle teams that shows up on Sunday are different than week 1, let's count the ways:
a) Bulaga went out with a knee injury, meaning freaking Derrick Sherrod was the revolving door at right tackle giving up 2 sacks. Sherrod was later cut.
b) That was rookie center Linsley's first start. What an indoctrination. Should be a different game
c) With the a) and b) above, the line has had great consistency. This will be a big key if they have a shot. Here's a nice article on the Packers' O-Line http://grantland.com/features/green-bay-packers-offensive-line-aaron-rodgers/
d) Besides Linsley, rookies TE Rodgers and Davante have come on of late. Don't underestimate these role players.
e) Lacy was concussed for some of the second half last game. Not that it mattered by that point, but nonetheless.
f) Defense was tweaked halfway through the season, which helped their rankings a lot, pulling them out of the basement. I think they'll have some new wrinkles, but not sure it will help much against Russel "The Wizard" Wilson.
g) On the Seattle side, they traded Harvin, who gashed the Packers in week 1. They decided to roll the dice with speedy rookie Paul Richardson as WR#3 and as special teams kick returner, but unfortunately he tore his ACL. The loss of Harvin and Richardson leave them a little light at WR, and may have a cumulative impact on special teams. Not much quality depth behind Baldwin and Kearse. Luke Wilson is good though.

2) Cowboys had probably the better offense between them and the Seahawks. Seattle don't have a receiver like Dez or Megatron (the last two teams they played), which means that safety that was helping out more in those games can help out more in the box as needed. Both Dallas and Seattle have very good running backs. Wilson is a much different animal than Romo, and Carrol's play calling is trickster, but Wilson only threw 20 TDs on the year. They rely much more on the running game, defense, and Wilson making something happen to extend and make plays.

3) Seattle's Defense is really good, more complete than Detroit's. But if you look at their record, they beat 4 playoff teams in the regular season (GB week 1, a faltering Arizona twice in the last 5 weeks [against Drew Stanton and Lindley {who?}], Denver at home in OT, and the 7-8-1 Carolina (a 13-9 barn burner). They lost to Dallas at home. Their signature win was probably the Denver win. You play who you play, and their defense is good, but they have only played against 4 "good" QBs (Rodgers, Rivers, Manning and Romo) and lost two of those (against Rivers and Romo). They beat up on mediocre and poor QBs. I just am not sure how much you can take away beating the likes of Kirk Cousins and whoever St. L rolled out there at QB (that they lost to once). Is Seattle's defense good - absolutely. Are they better than the 2000 Baltimore Ravens and the best team since the 1985 Bears (as ESPN personality John Clayton contended in this article - item #10)? I doubt it.

Stop Lynch (easier said than done) and don't make too many mistakes and they have a real shot at winning this, even with a Gimpy Rodgers. He's magic sometimes. Really want the Packers to win this one! Am very excited for Sunday!

1) Seattle is always cocky.

2) I hear you all saying "GB is different".....so is Seattle....vastly different and improved from their first game.

3) Most hawk games are dog fights till the second half. Look at all their games. Its been a theme throughout the Carroll era....he even admitted that much.

I would like to bump this thread after the game but I know it will be full of anger/disappointment from the packer side of things and I'll be too busy packing my bags for Arizona.

 

[ImTheScientist]

I'm happy Packer fans have confidence going into this one. Last week's win wasn't as much fun because those guys all knew they were going to get trounced. This week the tears will be much better.

Its a mirror image of Denver vs Seattle in the super bowl last year. Denver fans pointed to all these "reasons" they were going to stomp the hawks and we know how that ended.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

I was postulating on this with some leaguemates, here are some thoughts I had from a Packer fan perspective:

Looking to Seattle. I hope everyone and their brother who is picking Seattle against the gimpy Rodgers helps with Seattle's overconfidence (similar to what the Packers were when they played Denver in the Superbowl back in 1997 season - no one thought Denver would win. I heard one of the Seattle Newspapers had a piece on how to travel and get tickets to Phoenix - a tad presumptuous perhaps?). Seattle was in a dogfight with the Carolina Panthers in last week's game (Car- with no great WRs or QB who was spraying them all over the field, missing open receivers and throwing 2 picks) before they broke it open in the fourth quarter. Here's my initial thoughts:

1) The Packers and Seattle teams that shows up on Sunday are different than week 1, let's count the ways:
a) Bulaga went out with a knee injury, meaning freaking Derrick Sherrod was the revolving door at right tackle giving up 2 sacks. Sherrod was later cut.
b) That was rookie center Linsley's first start. What an indoctrination. Should be a different game
c) With the a) and b) above, the line has had great consistency. This will be a big key if they have a shot. Here's a nice article on the Packers' O-Line http://grantland.com/features/green-bay-packers-offensive-line-aaron-rodgers/
d) Besides Linsley, rookies TE Rodgers and Davante have come on of late. Don't underestimate these role players.
e) Lacy was concussed for some of the second half last game. Not that it mattered by that point, but nonetheless.
f) Defense was tweaked halfway through the season, which helped their rankings a lot, pulling them out of the basement. I think they'll have some new wrinkles, but not sure it will help much against Russel "The Wizard" Wilson.
g) On the Seattle side, they traded Harvin, who gashed the Packers in week 1. They decided to roll the dice with speedy rookie Paul Richardson as WR#3 and as special teams kick returner, but unfortunately he tore his ACL. The loss of Harvin and Richardson leave them a little light at WR, and may have a cumulative impact on special teams. Not much quality depth behind Baldwin and Kearse. Luke Wilson is good though.

2) Cowboys had probably the better offense between them and the Seahawks. Seattle don't have a receiver like Dez or Megatron (the last two teams they played), which means that safety that was helping out more in those games can help out more in the box as needed. Both Dallas and Seattle have very good running backs. Wilson is a much different animal than Romo, and Carrol's play calling is trickster, but Wilson only threw 20 TDs on the year. They rely much more on the running game, defense, and Wilson making something happen to extend and make plays.

3) Seattle's Defense is really good, more complete than Detroit's. But if you look at their record, they beat 4 playoff teams in the regular season (GB week 1, a faltering Arizona twice in the last 5 weeks [against Drew Stanton and Lindley {who?}], Denver at home in OT, and the 7-8-1 Carolina (a 13-9 barn burner). They lost to Dallas at home. Their signature win was probably the Denver win. You play who you play, and their defense is good, but they have only played against 4 "good" QBs (Rodgers, Rivers, Manning and Romo) and lost two of those (against Rivers and Romo). They beat up on mediocre and poor QBs. I just am not sure how much you can take away beating the likes of Kirk Cousins and whoever St. L rolled out there at QB (that they lost to once). Is Seattle's defense good - absolutely. Are they better than the 2000 Baltimore Ravens and the best team since the 1985 Bears (as ESPN personality John Clayton contended in this article - item #10)? I doubt it.

Stop Lynch (easier said than done) and don't make too many mistakes and they have a real shot at winning this, even with a Gimpy Rodgers. He's magic sometimes. Really want the Packers to win this one! Am very excited for Sunday!

Good info here, just noting, I think Linsley played very well the first game, and don't expect any uptick there. The line overall looked very good in that game, other than the massive drop-off when Bulaga went out. Sherrod got beat early a few times, then it seemed he just gave up. That game was really the end of his career. But overall the line held up reasonably well against the Seahawks in week 1. On offense, I think the biggest difference this game will be the addition of a TE, the emergence of Adams and most certainly a tactical change to us the whole field in the passing game, rather than abandoning Sherman's third. Boykin played the entire first game, lined up on the right and was not targeted once. That tactical error by McCarthy allowed the safety to help on Nelson and Cobb. I think it will be a much different look on Sunday.

On defense, I think we'll see a completely different Packer team. The line was blown out that game - Daniels and Guion were terrible. They were using the 4-3 "quad" base quite a bit, which turned out to be a bad mistake and hasn't been used much since. Brad Jones played all 70 defensive snaps, and Hawk played most of them - both are huge liabilities. In contrast, against the Cowboys last week, Hawk played 18 snaps and Jones 8.

Its a very tall order for the Packers to erase what happened in week one, when they were truly blown out by a much better team. I think every single Packer fan, player and coach has been dying to get this rematch since the moment that game ended. If the Packers had beaten Kyle Orton's Bills last month, they'd by playing at Lambeau on Sunday and probably would have a much better feeling about this game. But I honestly would not want it any other way. To be NFC champions, I think the team has to prove it can win in Seattle, so this is the perfect set up for me. Very excited and hoping for a good one.

 

[smackdaddies]

I'm also not sure Seattle is the better rushing team. Green Bay runs whenever they want to run on anyone they want to run on. At least they did for the last month or so. Lacy hung 100 on Detroit who has a better rush defense than Seattle does. They are going to move the ball on the ground. So is Seattle.

Detroit was ranked 1st in run defense...Seattle was 3rd. Detroit "has a better rush defense." Okay...I guess that's fair..even though it's close and we know Seattle's run D improved in the last half of the season.

Seattle was number 1 in run offense....Green Bay was 11th. You aren't sure "Seattle is the better rushing team."

Alright then.

The thing is, Wilson accounts for a lot of those rushing yards right? Well, I thought about that a little bit (scary I know) and those numbers are skewed quite a bit because of the teams' respective offensive philosophies. Marshawn is phenomenal no doubt. But so is Lacy. Wilson pads those rushing numbers but really isn't close to Rodgers in passing numbers. He's very good, maybe as good as Rodgers even.

Where Wilson might rush for 25 yards on a scramble, Rodgers is more inclined to throw. But on designed runs, I put Lacy up against anyone this week (unless that asthmas thing rears its ugly head again).

We're two homers so I doubt there is going to be a meaningful debate here, but if GB asked Seattle to switch RBs for this game I think Seattle probably doesn't stop laughing until after they win the Super Bowl. On the other hand they would give Seattle Lacy, Starks, and throw in one of their Lombardi trophies to get Lynch for this game.

I know GB fans want to think they have the "next Marshawn Lynch" but I've never seen Lacy throw people around like Lynch has done many, many times over the past three years.

Uhm, Lacy has only been in the league for 2 seasons. Lynch wasn't throwing anybody around until well after he got to Seattle - his 7th year in the league.

Lynch was traded to Seattle in the middle of his 4th year, also the year of the BeastQuake. But I suppose we can compare apples to apples if you'd like. I invite you to watch an Eddie Lacy 2014 compilation and the a 2008 Marshawn Lynch version.

Eddie Lacy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiiwx0CJP_U

Marshawn Lynch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdgTIeJWRIs

Maybe I'm seeing only what I want to see, but those two don't even look the same. Lacy looks slow and weak with no wiggle by comparison.

Slow I will give you, at least compared to speedsters

But weak? Put away the crack pipe. He is a freaking bull in the china shop

 

[CletiusMaximus]

But weak? Put away the crack pipe. He is a freaking bull in the china shop

"the nastiest spin move ever."

 

[sho nuff]

If Rodgers was healthy I would like their chances, but facts are he's not himself at all right now, and its hard to see how the Packers can win this game. I hope they somehow do it though...

Sounds like excuses. No team or player is healthy this time of year.

The rest of the Packers roster is pretty healthy...but if you don't think it matters that the best player on the field has a bum calf...then you really are clueless.

 

[smackdaddies]

Random observations

1) The first game of the season is not very relevant to today.

2) Rodgers injury is really going to hurt the packers this game. Dallas D line is one of the worst, Seattle's is one of the best. Limited mobility means the Packers run game is going to have to work. Problem is Seattles run defense is pretty damm good.

3) I think it is the Packers O line that determines the success of the Packers. They are very good, but they have to be the very best for the Packers to have a chance with Rodgers hurting.

4) You have to be a 100% homer to think the Packers have better than a 25/30 percent chance to win this game.

Go Pack!

 

[biju]

I'm also not sure Seattle is the better rushing team. Green Bay runs whenever they want to run on anyone they want to run on. At least they did for the last month or so. Lacy hung 100 on Detroit who has a better rush defense than Seattle does. They are going to move the ball on the ground. So is Seattle.

Detroit was ranked 1st in run defense...Seattle was 3rd. Detroit "has a better rush defense." Okay...I guess that's fair..even though it's close and we know Seattle's run D improved in the last half of the season.

Seattle was number 1 in run offense....Green Bay was 11th. You aren't sure "Seattle is the better rushing team."

Alright then.

The thing is, Wilson accounts for a lot of those rushing yards right? Well, I thought about that a little bit (scary I know) and those numbers are skewed quite a bit because of the teams' respective offensive philosophies. Marshawn is phenomenal no doubt. But so is Lacy. Wilson pads those rushing numbers but really isn't close to Rodgers in passing numbers. He's very good, maybe as good as Rodgers even.

Where Wilson might rush for 25 yards on a scramble, Rodgers is more inclined to throw. But on designed runs, I put Lacy up against anyone this week (unless that asthmas thing rears its ugly head again).

We're two homers so I doubt there is going to be a meaningful debate here, but if GB asked Seattle to switch RBs for this game I think Seattle probably doesn't stop laughing until after they win the Super Bowl. On the other hand they would give Seattle Lacy, Starks, and throw in one of their Lombardi trophies to get Lynch for this game.

I know GB fans want to think they have the "next Marshawn Lynch" but I've never seen Lacy throw people around like Lynch has done many, many times over the past three years.

Uhm, Lacy has only been in the league for 2 seasons. Lynch wasn't throwing anybody around until well after he got to Seattle - his 7th year in the league.

Lynch was traded to Seattle in the middle of his 4th year, also the year of the BeastQuake. But I suppose we can compare apples to apples if you'd like. I invite you to watch an Eddie Lacy 2014 compilation and the a 2008 Marshawn Lynch version.

Eddie Lacy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiiwx0CJP_U

Marshawn Lynch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdgTIeJWRIs

Maybe I'm seeing only what I want to see, but those two don't even look the same. Lacy looks slow and weak with no wiggle by comparison.

Slow I will give you, at least compared to speedsters

But weak? Put away the crack pipe. He is a freaking bull in the china shop

"by comparison". I see Lacy with a full head of steam run into a defender and fall forward for an extra yard or two. Lynch is almost always gang tackled. Look, I'm not saying Lacy is bad but if you're going to compare the two and say they are "even" I think that's a huge disservice to Marshawn Lynch; he's been one of the best RBs in the game the past 3 years.

 

[sho nuff]

I'm happy Packer fans have confidence going into this one. Last week's win wasn't as much fun because those guys all knew they were going to get trounced. This week the tears will be much better.

I think we have cautious optimism that the Packers will play well and have a chance.

 

[MaxThreshold]

I was postulating on this with some leaguemates, here are some thoughts I had from a Packer fan perspective:

Looking to Seattle. I hope everyone and their brother who is picking Seattle against the gimpy Rodgers helps with Seattle's overconfidence (similar to what the Packers were when they played Denver in the Superbowl back in 1997 season - no one thought Denver would win. I heard one of the Seattle Newspapers had a piece on how to travel and get tickets to Phoenix - a tad presumptuous perhaps?). Seattle was in a dogfight with the Carolina Panthers in last week's game (Car- with no great WRs or QB who was spraying them all over the field, missing open receivers and throwing 2 picks) before they broke it open in the fourth quarter. Here's my initial thoughts:

1) The Packers and Seattle teams that shows up on Sunday are different than week 1, let's count the ways:
a) Bulaga went out with a knee injury, meaning freaking Derrick Sherrod was the revolving door at right tackle giving up 2 sacks. Sherrod was later cut.
b) That was rookie center Linsley's first start. What an indoctrination. Should be a different game
c) With the a) and b) above, the line has had great consistency. This will be a big key if they have a shot. Here's a nice article on the Packers' O-Line http://grantland.com/features/green-bay-packers-offensive-line-aaron-rodgers/
d) Besides Linsley, rookies TE Rodgers and Davante have come on of late. Don't underestimate these role players.
e) Lacy was concussed for some of the second half last game. Not that it mattered by that point, but nonetheless.
f) Defense was tweaked halfway through the season, which helped their rankings a lot, pulling them out of the basement. I think they'll have some new wrinkles, but not sure it will help much against Russel "The Wizard" Wilson.
g) On the Seattle side, they traded Harvin, who gashed the Packers in week 1. They decided to roll the dice with speedy rookie Paul Richardson as WR#3 and as special teams kick returner, but unfortunately he tore his ACL. The loss of Harvin and Richardson leave them a little light at WR, and may have a cumulative impact on special teams. Not much quality depth behind Baldwin and Kearse. Luke Wilson is good though.

2) Cowboys had probably the better offense between them and the Seahawks. Seattle don't have a receiver like Dez or Megatron (the last two teams they played), which means that safety that was helping out more in those games can help out more in the box as needed. Both Dallas and Seattle have very good running backs. Wilson is a much different animal than Romo, and Carrol's play calling is trickster, but Wilson only threw 20 TDs on the year. They rely much more on the running game, defense, and Wilson making something happen to extend and make plays.

3) Seattle's Defense is really good, more complete than Detroit's. But if you look at their record, they beat 4 playoff teams in the regular season (GB week 1, a faltering Arizona twice in the last 5 weeks [against Drew Stanton and Lindley {who?}], Denver at home in OT, and the 7-8-1 Carolina (a 13-9 barn burner). They lost to Dallas at home. Their signature win was probably the Denver win. You play who you play, and their defense is good, but they have only played against 4 "good" QBs (Rodgers, Rivers, Manning and Romo) and lost two of those (against Rivers and Romo). They beat up on mediocre and poor QBs. I just am not sure how much you can take away beating the likes of Kirk Cousins and whoever St. L rolled out there at QB (that they lost to once). Is Seattle's defense good - absolutely. Are they better than the 2000 Baltimore Ravens and the best team since the 1985 Bears (as ESPN personality John Clayton contended in this article - item #10)? I doubt it.

Stop Lynch (easier said than done) and don't make too many mistakes and they have a real shot at winning this, even with a Gimpy Rodgers. He's magic sometimes. Really want the Packers to win this one! Am very excited for Sunday!

1) Seattle is always cocky.

2) I hear you all saying "GB is different".....so is Seattle....vastly different and improved from their first game.

3) Most hawk games are dog fights till the second half. Look at all their games. Its been a theme throughout the Carroll era....he even admitted that much.

I would like to bump this thread after the game but I know it will be full of anger/disappointment from the packer side of things and I'll be too busy packing my bags for Arizona.

Bump the thread? You're not even going to show up when Hawks lose!

You're a huge loud mouth that's a complete p###y when your team loses. The good news is that after the Hawks lose this game we won't have to deal with you for 8 months because you'll run from these boards like a coward.

At least us GB fans show up to take our lumps when standing behind our boasts that don't pan out.

 

[biju]

But weak? Put away the crack pipe. He is a freaking bull in the china shop

"the nastiest spin move ever."

It worked very well in September.

Eddie Lacy: 12 carries, 34 yards, long 15.

I suspect that spin move happened during the 15. He should certainly do it more on Sunday.

 

[biju]

I'm happy Packer fans have confidence going into this one. Last week's win wasn't as much fun because those guys all knew they were going to get trounced. This week the tears will be much better.

I think we have cautious optimism that the Packers will play well and have a chance.

And I agree you should. You are in the CG and absolutely deserve to be here. I think this game pits the top two teams in the NFL regardless of Rodgers' injury and I'm excited for the game.

 

[The General]

But weak? Put away the crack pipe. He is a freaking bull in the china shop

"the nastiest spin move ever."

KAM has something waiting at the end of the spin move

 

[MaxThreshold]

But weak? Put away the crack pipe. He is a freaking bull in the china shop

"the nastiest spin move ever."

KAM has something waiting at the end of the spin move

Kam is going to have to wait for Eddie Lacy to jump up in the air and be a defenseless receiver before that happens.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

But weak? Put away the crack pipe. He is a freaking bull in the china shop

"the nastiest spin move ever."

It worked very well in September.

Eddie Lacy: 12 carries, 34 yards, long 15.

I suspect that spin move happened during the 15. He should certainly do it more on Sunday.

Lacy left that game early with a concussion. I think it was caused by a collision with Kam C. Definitely not a good night for Lacy or the Packers.

 

[parrot]

I'm also not sure Seattle is the better rushing team. Green Bay runs whenever they want to run on anyone they want to run on. At least they did for the last month or so. Lacy hung 100 on Detroit who has a better rush defense than Seattle does. They are going to move the ball on the ground. So is Seattle.

Detroit was ranked 1st in run defense...Seattle was 3rd. Detroit "has a better rush defense." Okay...I guess that's fair..even though it's close and we know Seattle's run D improved in the last half of the season.

Seattle was number 1 in run offense....Green Bay was 11th. You aren't sure "Seattle is the better rushing team."

Alright then.

The thing is, Wilson accounts for a lot of those rushing yards right? Well, I thought about that a little bit (scary I know) and those numbers are skewed quite a bit because of the teams' respective offensive philosophies. Marshawn is phenomenal no doubt. But so is Lacy. Wilson pads those rushing numbers but really isn't close to Rodgers in passing numbers. He's very good, maybe as good as Rodgers even.

Where Wilson might rush for 25 yards on a scramble, Rodgers is more inclined to throw. But on designed runs, I put Lacy up against anyone this week (unless that asthmas thing rears its ugly head again).

We're two homers so I doubt there is going to be a meaningful debate here, but if GB asked Seattle to switch RBs for this game I think Seattle probably doesn't stop laughing until after they win the Super Bowl. On the other hand they would give Seattle Lacy, Starks, and throw in one of their Lombardi trophies to get Lynch for this game.

I know GB fans want to think they have the "next Marshawn Lynch" but I've never seen Lacy throw people around like Lynch has done many, many times over the past three years.

Uhm, Lacy has only been in the league for 2 seasons. Lynch wasn't throwing anybody around until well after he got to Seattle - his 7th year in the league.

Lynch was traded to Seattle in the middle of his 4th year, also the year of the BeastQuake. But I suppose we can compare apples to apples if you'd like. I invite you to watch an Eddie Lacy 2014 compilation and the a 2008 Marshawn Lynch version.

Eddie Lacy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiiwx0CJP_U

Marshawn Lynch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdgTIeJWRIs

Maybe I'm seeing only what I want to see, but those two don't even look the same. Lacy looks slow and weak with no wiggle by comparison.

Slow I will give you, at least compared to speedsters

But weak? Put away the crack pipe. He is a freaking bull in the china shop

"by comparison". I see Lacy with a full head of steam run into a defender and fall forward for an extra yard or two. Lynch is almost always gang tackled. Look, I'm not saying Lacy is bad but if you're going to compare the two and say they are "even" I think that's a huge disservice to Marshawn Lynch; he's been one of the best RBs in the game the past 3 years.

Lynch averaged 4.7 ypc this year, Lacy 4.6. Last year it was 4.2 to 4.1. Seems pretty even.

 

[The General]

But weak? Put away the crack pipe. He is a freaking bull in the china shop

"the nastiest spin move ever."

KAM has something waiting at the end of the spin move

Kam is going to have to wait for Eddie Lacy to jump up in the air and be a defenseless receiver before that happens.

Big Man go down

 

[smackdaddies]

Offense wins games, Defense wins championships

While a truism, thus not always true, I think the numbers show Seattle has to be a pretty big favorite

Total defense (yards allowed per game)
Packers' ranking: 15th (346.4)
Seahawks' ranking: First (267.1)

Rushing defense (yards allowed per game)
Packers' ranking: 23rd (119.9)
Seahawks' ranking: Third (81.5)

Passing defense (yards allowed per game)
Packers' ranking: 10th (226.4)
Seahawks' ranking: First (185.6)

 

[smackdaddies]

I'm also not sure Seattle is the better rushing team. Green Bay runs whenever they want to run on anyone they want to run on. At least they did for the last month or so. Lacy hung 100 on Detroit who has a better rush defense than Seattle does. They are going to move the ball on the ground. So is Seattle.

Detroit was ranked 1st in run defense...Seattle was 3rd. Detroit "has a better rush defense." Okay...I guess that's fair..even though it's close and we know Seattle's run D improved in the last half of the season.

Seattle was number 1 in run offense....Green Bay was 11th. You aren't sure "Seattle is the better rushing team."

Alright then.

The thing is, Wilson accounts for a lot of those rushing yards right? Well, I thought about that a little bit (scary I know) and those numbers are skewed quite a bit because of the teams' respective offensive philosophies. Marshawn is phenomenal no doubt. But so is Lacy. Wilson pads those rushing numbers but really isn't close to Rodgers in passing numbers. He's very good, maybe as good as Rodgers even.

Where Wilson might rush for 25 yards on a scramble, Rodgers is more inclined to throw. But on designed runs, I put Lacy up against anyone this week (unless that asthmas thing rears its ugly head again).

We're two homers so I doubt there is going to be a meaningful debate here, but if GB asked Seattle to switch RBs for this game I think Seattle probably doesn't stop laughing until after they win the Super Bowl. On the other hand they would give Seattle Lacy, Starks, and throw in one of their Lombardi trophies to get Lynch for this game.

I know GB fans want to think they have the "next Marshawn Lynch" but I've never seen Lacy throw people around like Lynch has done many, many times over the past three years.

Uhm, Lacy has only been in the league for 2 seasons. Lynch wasn't throwing anybody around until well after he got to Seattle - his 7th year in the league.

Lynch was traded to Seattle in the middle of his 4th year, also the year of the BeastQuake. But I suppose we can compare apples to apples if you'd like. I invite you to watch an Eddie Lacy 2014 compilation and the a 2008 Marshawn Lynch version.

Eddie Lacy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiiwx0CJP_U

Marshawn Lynch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdgTIeJWRIs

Maybe I'm seeing only what I want to see, but those two don't even look the same. Lacy looks slow and weak with no wiggle by comparison.

Slow I will give you, at least compared to speedsters

But weak? Put away the crack pipe. He is a freaking bull in the china shop

"by comparison". I see Lacy with a full head of steam run into a defender and fall forward for an extra yard or two. Lynch is almost always gang tackled. Look, I'm not saying Lacy is bad but if you're going to compare the two and say they are "even" I think that's a huge disservice to Marshawn Lynch; he's been one of the best RBs in the game the past 3 years.

1) I never said he was better than lynch, because he is not

2) If you think all he does is "fall forward" for an extra yard, you have not watched him play.

 

[smackdaddies]

Anyone who thinks what happened in Sept is relevant to this weekend is smoking crack. They are completely different teams by this time in the season.

 

[Longtucky Lemmings]

Offense wins games, Defense wins championships

While a truism, thus not always true, I think the numbers show Seattle has to be a pretty big favorite

Total defense (yards allowed per game)

Packers' ranking: 15th (346.4)

Seahawks' ranking: First (267.1)

Rushing defense (yards allowed per game)

Packers' ranking: 23rd (119.9)

Seahawks' ranking: Third (81.5)

Passing defense (yards allowed per game)

Packers' ranking: 10th (226.4)

Seahawks' ranking: First (185.6)

I agree that the numbers and "eye test" strongly suggest a Seahawks win. Toss in homefield and you get why Vegas is giving those betting on the Packers 7.5

As mentioned above, the key to this game will be the Packers' O-line. If they play as well as they have since the bye, this will be a competitive game. To win, they will have to play their best game of the season.

 

[ImTheScientist]

If Rodgers was healthy I would like their chances, but facts are he's not himself at all right now, and its hard to see how the Packers can win this game. I hope they somehow do it though...

Sounds like excuses. No team or player is healthy this time of year.

The rest of the Packers roster is pretty healthy...but if you don't think it matters that the best player on the field has a bum calf...then you really are clueless.

How are you a better team this week then week 1 if your best player has a bum calf?

 

[smackdaddies]

If Rodgers was healthy I would like their chances, but facts are he's not himself at all right now, and its hard to see how the Packers can win this game. I hope they somehow do it though...

Sounds like excuses. No team or player is healthy this time of year.

The rest of the Packers roster is pretty healthy...but if you don't think it matters that the best player on the field has a bum calf...then you really are clueless.

How are you a better team this week then week 1 if your best player has a bum calf?

Hawk is no longer an everydown player

HaHa is every down, and far better

Mathews plays the middle lb no

Guion has grown into the defense

Barrington plays in the dime

The packers dumped the "quad", which was a d line up that seattle torched

Offensive line has gotten progressively better

Dvante adams has grown alot during the season

And that is just off the top of my head

 

[Chicago Hooligan]

How did Jordan score 43 in wingtips?

 

[ImTheScientist]

I really hope they test Sherman

 

[MarcO]

I really hope they test Sherman

for Adderall?

 

[MaxThreshold]

I really hope they test Sherman

for Adderall?

 

[smackdaddies]

very cool graphic on how many times a team wins when they are 7.5 point dogs

about 28% of the time as it turns out

Side note - the packers have never been worse than a 6pt dog in any game Rodgers has been the starter

 

[smackdaddies]

good article on how the two teams are different from week 1

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Random observations

1) The first game of the season is not very relevant to today.

2) Rodgers injury is really going to hurt the packers this game. Dallas D line is one of the worst, Seattle's is one of the best. Limited mobility means the Packers run game is going to have to work. Problem is Seattles run defense is pretty damm good.

3) I think it is the Packers O line that determines the success of the Packers. They are very good, but they have to be the very best for the Packers to have a chance with Rodgers hurting.

4) You have to be a 100% homer to think the Packers have better than a 25/30 percent chance to win this game.

Go Pack!

I put the odds of a Packer win somewhat lower, but do believe they have some chance. A win will be very exciting, since they are not really supposed to win as things are now. A win under current circumstances will actually be impressive enough to become part of Packer lore. With the Packer's history not many non-championship games have that potential. (I know they call this a championship game, but we all know the real and only prize these days is the Super Bowl) A loss, well with that more or less anticipated, I suspect it will not upset me too much.

 

[smackdaddies]

"Green Bay's dynamic pass-rushing duo of linebackersJulius Peppers and Clay Matthews must make hay. The pair failed to sack Wilson in Week 1."

If that is part of the story line after this game, expect the same score

 

[Pipes]

I'm happy Packer fans have confidence going into this one. Last week's win wasn't as much fun because those guys all knew they were going to get trounced. This week the tears will be much better.

Its a mirror image of Denver vs Seattle in the super bowl last year. Denver fans pointed to all these "reasons" they were going to stomp the hawks and we know how that ended.

What are you talking about? Most Packer fans are realistic and think Seattle will likely win. We just aren't willing to acknowledge that Seattle is a lock to win.

 

[ImTheScientist]

I really hope they test Sherman

for Adderall?

That test would fail as I'm sure the masking agents are ahead of the crap chemists the NFL uses.

 

[The General]

I really hope they test Sherman

for Adderall?

 

[Dismattle]

Who wins this game?


Why?


Final Score?

I' find it a bit absurd to hear self proclaimed Gurus who bet against OSU for instance to have much clout when discussing PROFESSIONAL football

I'd enjoy knowing what the experts (FBG's) believe the real raw deal to be..


p.s. Don't worry about coming acoss as s Largent fan..

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Who wins this game?

Why?

Final Score?

I' find it a bit absurd to hear self proclaimed Gurus who bet against OSU for instance to have much clout when discussing PROFESSIONAL football

I'd enjoy knowing what the experts (FBG's) believe the real raw deal to be..

p.s. Don't worry about coming acoss as s Largent fan..

If I were betting on this game with the line at Seattle -7.5 I would take Seattle. I would take them if I had to pick, until the line reached Seattle at -9. This game is a total stay away game at the current time for me. I find the variables on health, weather, and awkwardness of matchup too substantial to find the play enticing. To entice my action the line would have to reach Seattle -6 or Seattle -9. After injury reports and practice reports tomorrow I might change to a narrower range. I doubt the line will move sufficiently, nor the news move me to a line that I will choose to accept though I will watch developments.

Right now I have substantial worries about the Packer special teams. Mastay is struggling, causing me to have no confidence that the Packers can win the field position game. the Packer's Field goal unit is vulnerable to blocks. Further, the Packers tackling on returns and their coverage there has been suspect. They do allow field position from time to time (Maybe the Richardson injury will negate this possibility to an extent). The Packer return teams do not particularly concern me. They are fairly reliable, to even slightly dangerous, though Cobb's bobble last week was a distressing incident. As a fan I will hope that Cobb or Hyde can break off a big play, but I do not anticipate that happening. I also do not anticipate any fake punts or field goals, any return antics on reverses or sliding blockers to the opposite side away from the catch, or any onside kicks except in obvious situations. I could see a hard count on field goal tries, or maybe legal motion on the lineup to try to entice Seattle off-sides. I believe they love them some jumping on those sets as it revs them and their fans up and even though they are aware teams will try to trap them on this, I still think there is a real possibility of doing so maybe once.

Teams out of sorts in their special teams play often seem to press against Seattle and it is not uncommon to see Seattle pull ahead after a bit of an even score field position game on a play from special teams that the other team may not have made if they were not pressing. Seattle frustrates some teams with their patience. Often their games are even midway through the 3rd quarter before a lack of patience gives them a crack through which the deluge eventually flows.

 

[Sabertooth]

If Rodgers was healthy I would like their chances, but facts are he's not himself at all right now, and its hard to see how the Packers can win this game. I hope they somehow do it though...

Sounds like excuses. No team or player is healthy this time of year.

The rest of the Packers roster is pretty healthy...but if you don't think it matters that the best player on the field has a bum calf...then you really are clueless.

How are you a better team this week then week 1 if your best player has a bum calf?

Hawk is no longer an everydown player

HaHa is every down, and far better

Mathews plays the middle lb no

Guion has grown into the defense

Barrington plays in the dime

The packers dumped the "quad", which was a d line up that seattle torched

Offensive line has gotten progressively better

Dvante adams has grown alot during the season

And that is just off the top of my head

You missed the biggest one, Sherrod isn't a Packer anymore.

 

[smackdaddies]

Who wins this game?

Why?

Final Score?

I' find it a bit absurd to hear self proclaimed Gurus who bet against OSU for instance to have much clout when discussing PROFESSIONAL football

I'd enjoy knowing what the experts (FBG's) believe the real raw deal to be..

p.s. Don't worry about coming acoss as s Largent fan..

If I were betting on this game with the line at Seattle -7.5 I would take Seattle. I would take them if I had to pick, until the line reached Seattle at -9. This game is a total stay away game at the current time for me. I find the variables on health, weather, and awkwardness of matchup too substantial to find the play enticing. To entice my action the line would have to reach Seattle -6 or Seattle -9. After injury reports and practice reports tomorrow I might change to a narrower range. I doubt the line will move sufficiently, nor the news move me to a line that I will choose to accept though I will watch developments.

Right now I have substantial worries about the Packer special teams. Mastay is struggling, causing me to have no confidence that the Packers can win the field position game. the Packer's Field goal unit is vulnerable to blocks. Further, the Packers tackling on returns and their coverage there has been suspect. They do allow field position from time to time (Maybe the Richardson injury will negate this possibility to an extent). The Packer return teams do not particularly concern me. They are fairly reliable, to even slightly dangerous, though Cobb's bobble last week was a distressing incident. As a fan I will hope that Cobb or Hyde can break off a big play, but I do not anticipate that happening. I also do not anticipate any fake punts or field goals, any return antics on reverses or sliding blockers to the opposite side away from the catch, or any onside kicks except in obvious situations. I could see a hard count on field goal tries, or maybe legal motion on the lineup to try to entice Seattle off-sides. I believe they love them some jumping on those sets as it revs them and their fans up and even though they are aware teams will try to trap them on this, I still think there is a real possibility of doing so maybe once.

Teams out of sorts in their special teams play often seem to press against Seattle and it is not uncommon to see Seattle pull ahead after a bit of an even score field position game on a play from special teams that the other team may not have made if they were not pressing. Seattle frustrates some teams with their patience. Often their games are even midway through the 3rd quarter before a lack of patience gives them a crack through which the deluge eventually flows.

That seems about right to me - I was thinking at 10 I would definately hit that number, but 9 is probably good enough.

 

[sho nuff]

If Rodgers was healthy I would like their chances, but facts are he's not himself at all right now, and its hard to see how the Packers can win this game. I hope they somehow do it though...

Sounds like excuses. No team or player is healthy this time of year.

The rest of the Packers roster is pretty healthy...but if you don't think it matters that the best player on the field has a bum calf...then you really are clueless.

How are you a better team this week then week 1 if your best player has a bum calf?

Because the rest of the team is better than they were then.

Lacy healthy...Oline healthy and playing well together with experience together.

D playing differently with Clay in the middle and Peppers fully into the offense.

Seasoning of a rookie like HaHa.

Playing healthy on those sides.

You have to be pretty blind not to see the differences in the team (and both teams really) from week 1.

 

[sho nuff]

I really hope they test Sherman

for Adderall?

He and Mike Neal share a bottle.

 

[sho nuff]

Who wins this game?

Why?

Final Score?

I' find it a bit absurd to hear self proclaimed Gurus who bet against OSU for instance to have much clout when discussing PROFESSIONAL football

I'd enjoy knowing what the experts (FBG's) believe the real raw deal to be..

p.s. Don't worry about coming acoss as s Largent fan..

If I were betting on this game with the line at Seattle -7.5 I would take Seattle. I would take them if I had to pick, until the line reached Seattle at -9. This game is a total stay away game at the current time for me. I find the variables on health, weather, and awkwardness of matchup too substantial to find the play enticing. To entice my action the line would have to reach Seattle -6 or Seattle -9. After injury reports and practice reports tomorrow I might change to a narrower range. I doubt the line will move sufficiently, nor the news move me to a line that I will choose to accept though I will watch developments.

Right now I have substantial worries about the Packer special teams. Mastay is struggling, causing me to have no confidence that the Packers can win the field position game. the Packer's Field goal unit is vulnerable to blocks. Further, the Packers tackling on returns and their coverage there has been suspect. They do allow field position from time to time (Maybe the Richardson injury will negate this possibility to an extent). The Packer return teams do not particularly concern me. They are fairly reliable, to even slightly dangerous, though Cobb's bobble last week was a distressing incident. As a fan I will hope that Cobb or Hyde can break off a big play, but I do not anticipate that happening. I also do not anticipate any fake punts or field goals, any return antics on reverses or sliding blockers to the opposite side away from the catch, or any onside kicks except in obvious situations. I could see a hard count on field goal tries, or maybe legal motion on the lineup to try to entice Seattle off-sides. I believe they love them some jumping on those sets as it revs them and their fans up and even though they are aware teams will try to trap them on this, I still think there is a real possibility of doing so maybe once.

Teams out of sorts in their special teams play often seem to press against Seattle and it is not uncommon to see Seattle pull ahead after a bit of an even score field position game on a play from special teams that the other team may not have made if they were not pressing. Seattle frustrates some teams with their patience. Often their games are even midway through the 3rd quarter before a lack of patience gives them a crack through which the deluge eventually flows.

Pretty much spot on.

I guess cause we are all delusional.

 

[Bruce Leroy]

This game is going to be an instant classic.

Packers 2-0 vs. Seattle in playoffs (both games at Lambeau)

Last 7 NFC Championship Games have been decided by 7 points or less.

Pro Football Reference has Seattle at 69% chance to win

Do what you will with that information.

"We are nobody's underdog" - Mike McCarthy

 

[kwille]

Seattle loves Rodgers pic.twitter.com/4VFnJEWRFG

 

[The Westin]

Some of you Seattle fans mistake the teams accomplishments with your own. Settle down folks. You aren't a part of the team.

 

[mrmits]

lol...packer fans thinking they can win this game

 

[Wingnut]

lol...packer fans thinking they can win this game

Lol...anyone thinking this game has been played already.

 

[Dark Matter]

lol...packer fans thinking they can win this game

I was just thinking this thread needed more mrmits

 

[CapnJB]

Pop Quiz:

Which of these quarterbacks has more wins than Russell Wilson since he started as a rookie in 2012?

• Peyton Manning
• Tom Brady
• Drew Brees
• Ben Roethlisberger
• Andrew Luck
• Matt Ryan
• Phillip Rivers
• Tony Romo
• Joe Flacco
• None of the above

 

[SproutDaddy]

Pop Quiz:

Which of these quarterbacks has more wins than Russell Wilson since he started as a rookie in 2012?

• Peyton Manning
• Tom Brady
• Drew Brees
• Ben Roethlisberger
• Andrew Luck
• Matt Ryan
• Phillip Rivers
• Tony Romo
• Joe Flacco
• None of the above

And this matters because he was drafted into an equal situation, right?

 

[CapnJB]

Pop Quiz:

Which of these quarterbacks has more wins than Russell Wilson since he started as a rookie in 2012?

• Peyton Manning
• Tom Brady
• Drew Brees
• Ben Roethlisberger
• Andrew Luck
• Matt Ryan
• Phillip Rivers
• Tony Romo
• Joe Flacco
• None of the above

And this matters because he was drafted into an equal situation, right?

He has more wins than Peyton, Brady and Brees. I'm pretty sure they weren't drafted into situations in 2012.