Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks: We predict …
With the kickoff to the NFL season taking place tonight and all the hoopla over the first game of the world champion Seattle Seahawks, our hope is that everyone realizes that there is another team on the radar tonight – that being the Green Bay Packers.
Let’s not forget that there will be a football game tonight …
Let’s not forget that there will be a football game tonight …
Let’s forget the 12th Man; let’s forget the fact that NBC can’t get it right and insists on calling tonight’s game Sunday Night Football on Thursday Night; let’s forget that Seattle linebacker Bruce Irvin and his prayer group will be meeting tonight.
Let’s just play football … and let’s remember that even though the Packers finished just about .500 last season, that this is a new season with all their weapons firmly in place.
With that said, read on … lombardiave.com staffers once again extend their predictions for this game. Get ready to agree to disagree … and enjoy the game tonight.
Packers vs Seahawks
The time: 7:30 p.m. CDT Thursday.
The place: CenturyLink Field, Seattle.
The predictions
Josh McPeak
Josh McPeak: Packers manage to keep Aaron Rodgers upright for the majority of the game. New look defense is much improved but by flushing Wilson out of the pocket he racks up 85 yards on the ground. Randall Cobb makes an early case for a contract extension by bringing home the game ball with 8 catches good for 122 yards and 1 TD. Game still comes down to a nailbiter but Crosby keeps on chugging with a late field goal.
Packers 24 Seahawks 21
Mike Daniels is seen going to the locker room following the game with his index finger to his lips hushing the 12th man!
Dan Dahlke
Dan Dahlke: The Packers will play hard and keep the game competitive, but in the end, they won’t make enough plays to pull off the upset.
This game will come down to who can stop the run and control the pace of the game, and right now, I think Seattle is better equipped to do that.
Seahawks 27 Packers 24
Kevin Gibson
Kevin Gibson: Does any team really win in Seattle? They haven’t lost at home since January … 2012.
That’s two straight seasons going undefeated in ‘Hawk-friendly’ CenturyLink Field.
What does Green Bay bring to the game? An offense that is healthy and seems to be clicking. The only true weaknesses are inexperience at tight end and center, but Aaron Rodgers makes up for a lot of that and Eddie Lacy figures to pound the Seattle front seven.
That said, the Seahawks’ defense forces turnovers like it’s a bodily function, and quarterback Russell Wilson appears poised for a breakout season. And can Green Bay’s completely re-tooled defensive front seven stop Marshawn Lynch?
I predict a hard-hitting, tightly-contested game with lots of penalty flags.
Seahawks 24 Packers 23
Kyle Fellows
Kyle Fellows: This season-opener in Seattle promises to be a good one. Green Bay’s offense has looked sharp throughout the preseason and the defense is ready to unveil a new pass rush and improved secondary.
Those who are predicting that the Packers will be blown out in this game will be surprised to see a close game. If Eddie Lacy and the ground game prove successful, then I think the Packers win this game.
However, the nod goes to the Seahawks if Seattle is able to neutralize the running game and focus on Aaron Rodgers. This game should come down a few big plays or turnovers on defense.
In a close game, The Packers’ inexperience at center and nose tackle, coupled with the crowd noise of the 12th man, prove just enough to sway the game Seattle’s way.
Seahawks 23 Packers 20
Tim Thomas: The Green Bay Packers get to kick off the season but have to do it on the road against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in a rematch of the Fail Mary game. Aaron Rodgers is unsurprisingly seen as one of the favorites to win the MVP and he will start off on a very good note with Randall Cobb’s speed giving Jeremy Lane issues. Jordy Nelson seems likely to struggle some as Richard Sherman will make life tough for him. Meanwhile, Eddie Lacy will have a solid game against a very good Seattle run defense but will be good enough to set up the play action pass.
Russell Wilson and the Seahawks will be tough and Wilson will be able to extend some plays though Clay Matthews will do a good job containing him. Percy Harvin is an extremely dynamic player and will do some damage against the Packers’ defense. However, the Green Bay secondary will be solid enough to prevent many touchdowns. Marshawn Lynch will cause tons of problems for the Packers’ front 7 as he will just attack right up the gut.
This will be a tough game for the Packers but these games can always have some odd things happen. This will be a really close game but the Packers will find a way to start out the season with a victory.
Packers 24 Seattle 23
Bill Walton and family
Bill Walton: The Packers are just getting the 2014 season under way and already they’re dealing with significant injuries.
At the center position they’re starting a rookie who hasn’t exchanged a snap with Aaron Rodgers in a live game yet. The rest of the O line should be fairly solid, and Corey Linsley will have plenty of help from guards Lang and Sitton, but I’ll be watching him closely.
Same with Julius Peppers, Letroy Guion, and Mike Pennel, and the safeties on defense. Tackling, as usual, will be critically important for the Packers D. So, too, will be getting the no-huddle offense going despite the noise.
Son John is picking the Packers to win 28-14. Wife Deneen sees the Pack coming away with a 21-13 win. I think the offenses will have their way with the defenses on both sides, resulting in a 35-31 Packers win. Go Pack!
Kevin Dickens
Kevin Dickens: I’m going to tab it as one of the most hyped season opening games in the history of the NFL. The “Fail Mary” part 2 will start the 2014 season off with a bang. Seattle will start their title defense against the men from Packers News. Whatever you want to call it I’m excited for it obviously.
Down to business though. The Packers face a very stiff test on this evening. By the looks of it I would say this team is ready for the challenge. Aaron Rodgers begins his “You Better Not Have Forgotten About Me” tour and there’s no better place to begin then at CenturyField. You can bet he will be ready to play with that chip on his shoulder and will be in rare form for the defending champions.
But I have to believe on offense the key will be #27. The dimension that Eddie Lacy brings to this Packers offense as a runner and pass catcher will be dynamic. The coaching staff has been raving about Lacy’s ability to take this offense to another level with his stellar hands. The Packers use an ample load of screens to keep the defenses from pinning back their ears and sending blitzes. I would expect Lacy, Starks, and Harris will touch the ball an upper amount near 40 times between rushing and pass catching. Sprinkle in the trio of a sure-handed Nelson, a very hungry Cobb and overlooked Boykin and the offense will be clicking.
The defense of the Packers will ultimately determine who wins the game. A healthy Clay Matthews and reinvigorated Julius Peppers will help the defense that struggled mightily down the stretch. But the Pack will need a heck of a performance from Josh Boyd and Letroy Guion to keep Marshawn Lynch contained up front. Davon House has looked like a top tier lock down corner thus far in the preseason. He has gone on to say him working out with Darrelle Revis in the offseason has done wonders for his game and confidence. If so I think the Packers will do a great job of neutralizing the Seahawks and giving the offense more opportunities to crack the armor of the Seattle defense.
Packers pull the first shocker of the 2014 season …
Packers 30 Seahawks 20
Darryl Krejci
Darryl Krejci: To another football season that starts with the glorious Green Bay Packers taking on the Seapigeons …
Based on what I have seen in the preseason, as long as the defense can tackle and play at an extremely high level, the Packers offense is unstoppable and should easily be able to manhandle the Seahawks defense.
My only concern is what effect will the 12th Man will have on the offense and the play calling. In the end, Green Bay comes away a winner, putting to rest the Fail Mary and the pompous attitude of the Seahawks, their coach and their 12th Man.
Packers 31 Seahawks 27
Jerry Bulone
Jerry Bulone: Wow! What a bad draw for the Packers in week one. I know many people are picking the Packers to upset the defending Super Bowl champs in their place, while they are hanging up the banner – I don’t see it.
To be honest, I don’t really think it is going to be all that competitive. The Packers are replacing B.J. Raji with Letroy Guion – a guy who was injured most of camp, and even if healthy is average at best.
On the offensive side, the Pack is starting a center who is yet to snap the ball to Aaron Rodgers in live action. And he is attempting to do this AT SEATTLE! He will be a train wreck. My wife, after hearing me rant said, “well maybe it is good to get this out of the way, and get an early wake-up call.”
That’s exactly what they will get and a rather painful one at that. Trust me, Packers fans, I hope I am wrong …
Seahawks 31 Packers 16
Davey Miller
Davey Miller: The Green Bay Packers come flying out of the gate, spoiling the Banner ceremony of the defending super bowl champions.
Packers 34 Seahawks 24
Ray Rivard
Ray Rivard: Front and center will be the key to this game. With rookie Corey Linsley managing the center position and a player by committee manning the middle of the Packers’ defensive line, all eyes should be focused on the middle of the field tonight. No doubt the Seahawks will attack that part of the field on both sides of the ball.
If the Packers hold the middle of the line of scrimmage, they will be OK. If not, it could be a long, long night.
That said, I feel the Packers will be OK as Linsley will get plenty of help from guards Sitton and Lang and the defense will come together with an attack-the-ball attitude to slow Marshawn Lynch and contain Russell Wilson.
In the end, this will be closer than many are expecting. I’m looking for Mason Crosby to kick the winning field goal as the clock expires.
Packers 20 Seahawks 19