Seahawks’ keys to this game day in sunny Green Bay
Hello from sunny Wisconsin. And, no, Kam Chancellor hasn’t suddenly found his own way to Green Bay to rejoin the Seahawks.
Our News Tribune game chat begins at around 4:45 p.m. here at www.thenewstribune.com/sports with colleagues Dave Boling and me in the Lambeau Field press box and Kenny Via working his magic on it back home. Be there -- or be somewhere else, I guess.
SEAHAWKS GAMEDAY
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (0-1) at GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-0)
Sunday, 5:30 p.m., Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
TV: Channel 5 Radio: 710-AM, 97.3-FM
The series: The Packers lead the regular-season series 8-7, and have won six of the nine regular-season games played in Wisconsin. Green Bay has won two of the three postseason games. Seattle’s first playoff win against the Packers was its overtime win in January’s miraculous NFC championship game at CenturyLink Field, when the Seahawks rallied from a 16-0 deficit with 5 minutes left in the third quarter. Cheeseheads all over the world will never forget it.
SEATTLE’S KEYS TO VICTORY
Talk’s NOT cheap: The Seahawks’ defense miscommunicated their way to allowing Nick Foles 297 yards passing in his Rams debut last week. Rams ran wide open all over the field. Dion Bailey, filling in for his second career game at strong safety in place of holdout Kam Chancellor, needs direction as much as experience. The offensive line with starters in three new positions also lacked communication while getting ransacked by the Rams’ defensive line. Green Bay’s front is not as aggressive or talented as St. Louis’, but if the Seahawks aren’t in the right place at the right time it will be a long night for them in Lambeau.
Run like you mean it: Russell Wilson wasn’t a run threat in is usual, read-option way last week. That made Marshawn Lynch’s and the entire offense’s task more difficult than normal. The Packers allowed Matt Forte and the Bears 189 yards rushing in their opener -- and no one has ever said Matt Forte is as talented and dominant as Marshawn Lynch. Time for Seattle to run first and run often.
88 takes time: It’s great for the Seahawks to have Jimmy Graham. But the line’s pass protection was so poor last week that by the third quarter the NFL’s best downfield tight-end threat the last four seasons was running 1-yard routes. To fully realize what Graham can be for this offense, Seattle’s remade line must give Russell Wilson the time to wait for him to run his longer routes.
The pick: Packers, 24-20. This is Seattle’s toughest test, on the road against Aaron Rodgers, a likely division winner and a fellow Super Bowl contender out for revenge in its home opener. Good thing this is September and not January. Not yet, anyway.
PRIME NUMBERS
SEATTLE
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Year
24 Marshawn Lynch RB 5-11 215 ninth
He doesn’t need his mom to tell the Seahawks how important his running will be to this one.
62 Drew Nowak C 6-3 292 fourth
Grew up 10 minutes from Lambeau. Owns Packers stock. Now needs to block them and communicate.
56 Cliff Avril DE 6-3 260 eighth
Best Seahawk on field last wk at STL. With Packers T Bulaga out, could have a monster night.
GREEN BAY
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Year
12 Aaron Rodgers QB 6-2 225 11th
It always begins and ends in Green Bay with him. He’s healthier than in January. Look out.
51 Nate Palmer ILB 6-2 248 third
Making 3rd career start, for out-for-the-year Sam Barrington. SEA will target him with run and pass.
67 Don Barclay RT 6-4 305 fourth
Replacing starter Bryan Bulaga (knee). Coming off his own ACL. Avril, Bennett, Irvin licking chops.
This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 10:10 AM with the headline "Seahawks’ keys to this game day in sunny Green Bay."