Packers Should Edge Seahawks
Favre, Home Field Will Carry Green Bay Past Seattle in NFC Playoffs
Storylines abound for Saturday afternoon’s NFC Divisional playoff contest between Seattle and Green Bay, in particular, the fact that it’s old-home week for Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren and his quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck.
Holmgren led the Packers’ resurgence from 1992-98, which included a dominating advantage at Lambeau Field. He’ll bring Hasselbeck with him after the latter served as Green Bay signal caller Brett Favre’s backup for two years.
And because it’s January, retirement talk that has dogged Favre and Holmgren, arguably the best QB-coach combination of the 1990s, resurfaced this week as they prepared to meet for the fifth time overall and second in the postseason since Holmgren left Titletown (he’s 1-3 against his former team).
But as usual, these subplots won’t matter much when the teams battle on the Frozen Tundra, where the host and second-seeded Packers are an 8-point favorite after a surprising 13-3 campaign earned them their first NFC North title since 2004.
Third-seeded Seattle (3-5) won the NFC West for a fourth consecutive season and finished 10-6, including a 3-5 mark on the road. However, the Seahawks have momentum after a 22-point fourth quarter carried them past Washington, 35-14, in the wildcard round last weekend.
Despite the point spread, this appears an even matchup when final statistics are compared. Green Bay’s offense was second to the juggernaut New England Patriots, while Seattle’s placed ninth in yardage. Meanwhile, the Packers fielded the No. 11 defense and the Seahawks were No. 15.
If postseason honors are considered, Seattle should have the upper hand. It features six Pro Bowl players to Green Bay’s four. Three Seahawks_offensive tackle Walter Jones, defense end Patrick Kerney and linebacker Lofa Tatupu_gained All-Pro recognition from the Associated Press while the Packers were shut out.
Keys will be which front seven can pressure Favre or Hasselbeck the best and potentially force bad decisions and turnovers in the passing game, which both squads rely on over below-average running attacks, and who gets off to a quick start. While it obviously doesn’t want to play from behind, Green Bay can bounce back from a deficit better in this environment, one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL.
Green Bay is more rested after earning a first-round bye, so players such as defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, cornerback Charles Woodson and others have had time to nurse late-season injuries. The Seahawks didn’t have that luxury, although they should have key wide receiver Deion Branch back.
Seattle has the edge in experience, on the field and under the headsets as Holmgren has compiled a 13-10 postseason record that includes a Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh two years ago, while Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy takes his maiden playoff voyage.
Prediction: Seattle’s speed on defense will cause Green Bay trouble, but Favre will make enough plays in the short passing game and the Packers will get their running game going enough_in cloudy conditions and balmy temperatures in the upper 20s_to post a close victory and advance to the NFC Championship game for the first time since 1997.
