Green Bay Packers: Top five most nail-biting games in past 10 years
By Roger Muñoz
4. Packers at Seahawks (2014 NFC Championship Game)
A game away from the Super Bowl. And for most of the game, it seems as if the Packers were poised to take down the defending Super Bowl Champions. But in the end it wasn’t meant to be, as the Seahawks mounted an improbable miracle comeback.
At halftime, the Packers led the Seahawks 16-0, but for some reason the game never seem out of reach for the Seahawks. Despite a smothering effort by the Packers’ defense (four interceptions, five sacks), the Seahawks’ defense kept Russell Wilson and the offense within striking distance.
The tides started to turn in the third quarter when former Packers’ punter Jon Ryan hit tackle eligible Garry Gilliam for a 19-yard touchdown on a fake field goal that made it 16-7. From there on, the Packers began to wilt. The Seahawks managed to the cut the deficit to 19-14 with 2:09 left in the fourth quarter.
What happened next will in likelihood haunt Packers fans for years to come. The infamous onside kick debacle. Instead of blocking, Packers’ tight end Brandon Bostick went up high for the football, but it tragically slipped from his hands and the Seahawks would recover.
The Seahawks would take the lead with a 24-yard touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch (25 carries, 157 yards) that made it 22-19. The Packers would tie it up to take the game to overtime, but Wilson’s 35-yard touchdown strike to Jermaine Kearse over Tramon Williams would end the Packers season, leaving Rodgers without an opportunity to get ball.