Green Bay Packers 2018 opponent preview: Seattle Seahawks
The Green Bay Packers will play the Seattle Seahawks for the fifth season in a row.
Any time the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks meet, it’s the game to watch in the NFL. After three straight victories over the Seahawks in as many years, all at Lambeau Field, the Packers return to the site of the 2015 NFC Championship Game.
It’s the Packers’ first visit to Seattle since the game we won’t talk about. But this time they will be facing a much-changed Seahawks team.
Let’s take a closer look at the hosts of the Week 11 contest.
Last season
Last year’s 9-7 record was Seattle’s worst in six years. It was also their first playoff-less season since then. The Seahawks were 8-4 at one stage after defeating the eventual-Super Bowl champions Philadelphia, but lost three of their final four games.
When is the game?
The Packers visit CenturyLink Field in Week 11. The game will be played on Thursday Night Football, kicking off at 7:20 p.m. CT on November 15.
Offseason additions
Before we talk about the offseason additions, we must first mention the departures. The Seahawks have lost Michael Bennett, Jimmy Graham, Richard Sherman, Cliff Avril and Paul Richardson this spring. That’s a lot of talent leaving the building.
It feels like a mini-rebuild for the Seahawks, who still have one of the league’s best quarterbacks in Russell Wilson.
Seattle used its first-round pick to select running back Rashaad Penny. The Seahawks will be hoping they’ve finally found the answer at running back. Penny will replace Thomas Rawls, who signed with the New York Jets in free agency.
The Seahawks also selected defensive end Rasheem Green and linebacker Shaquem Griffin, two players they will be hoping can make immediate impacts on defense. Considering the talent they’ve lost this offseason, they’ll need young players to step up.
Last meeting with Packers
September 10, 2017: Packers won 17-9 at Lambeau Field
Player to watch
Rashaad Penny: Under Pete Carroll, the Seahawks have dominated when they’ve been able to run the football. Yes, their defense has also been a major part of their recent success, but their offense hasn’t been the same since Marshawn Lynch left.
If Penny can live up to his first-round selection, he could be a game-changer for the Seahawks’ offense.
Russell Wilson hasn’t had a strong run game to lean on for a number of years, and as a result the Seahawks have been asking too much of their talented quarterback.
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Penny could change that. How well he plays as a rookie could determine how successful the Seattle offense is.