How the Green Bay Packers can beat the Seattle Seahawks

Sep 4, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback

(12) shakes hands with Seattle Seahawks quarterback

(3) following a 36-16 Seahawks victory at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

It’s almost here Green Bay Packers fans!

The game we’ve all been impatiently waiting for is about 24 hours away, and I couldn’t be any more excited!

That being said, this appears from all angles to be a matchup where the odds are stacked against the Packers’ hopes for victory:

• They currently sit as 7.5-point underdogs by the Vegas oddsmakers, a full point more (-6.5) than what is being given to the first-time Championship Game attendee Andrew Luck and his team versus three-time league champion Tom Brady and his Patriots in Foxborough (let that settle in);

• They are on the road, where they’ve put up a mediocre 4-4 record on the season (three of those losses were to top three teams in Defensive DVOA; unfortunately, Seattle was one of those teams);

• Green Bay returns to where their season began … with a 20-point loss (36-16 in Week 1);

• Besides recently lost rookie WR Paul Richardson (torn ACL vs. Panthers in Divisional Round), Seahawks look healthy as can be, especially with all key players;

• Speaking of health, everyone knows of Aaron Rodgers’ injured calf by now; the Packers’ best player won’t be able to be at his peak physical form until after the season ends; and

• Eddie Lacy missed practice time with a knee injury (precautionary, but remember he also missed most of the last matchup due to injury – concussion in game’s 1st quarter).

Jan 11, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) walks off the field after the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

As you can see, it’s probably a long shot for a victory here..

BUT …!

You never know what might happen.

In any given matchup on any given day, any team can win; any team can get beaten. That’s a big part of what makes the game of football so exciting: the uncertainty that surrounds the outcomes.

While the outlook isn’t one we’d probably prefer going into the game, there is hope for a Packers win.

It will take a host of actions working in Green Bay’s favor to pull it off, but I believe that it’s definitely possible for them to do so.

Let’s take a look at some of those occurrences the Packers can – and will need to – accomplish to move onto another Super Bowl berth.

Next: Effective running makes things easier