TALKING POINTS
Seattle was going to need to produce something special to come away with a win from this one, considering the Seahawks were playing a highly-motivated Green Bay team that was 9-0 at home last season. Seattle got that special performance for a brief period during the third quarter, as the Seahawks rallied from a 13-3 halftime deficit to take a 17-13 lead. But that two-drive stretch of the third quarter was about all Seattle could muster as it was the Packers who made the big plays when it mattered down the stretch.
Opportunity was there for Seattle. The Packers lost workhorse running back Eddie Lacy early in the game to an ankle injury, receiver Davante Adams also went out injured and though he returned he wasn’t as effective, and the Seahawks went into the fourth quarter leading 17-16. But for the second straight week Seattle couldn’t finish it off. Credit Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers for much of that as he showed why he’s the reigning league MVP in leading the Packers down the stretch. But now the defending NFC champions find themselves 0-2 for the first time since 2011.
Some other thoughts and observations:
– The first half was a disaster for Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett, who was largely responsible for 10 of Green Bay’s 13 points by being caught offsides, thus allowing Rodgers to go big knowing he had free plays. Two came during the Packers’ opening drive, including on the 29-yard TD pass to James Jones. The third came in the final minute when Green Bay was pinned deep in its own half with no timeouts, as Rodgers scrambled and hucked a ball downfield that resulted in a 53-yard pass-interference penalty, and the Packers eventually got a gift field goal.
– Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who wasn’t able to spark the offense at all in the first half, was the picture of efficiency in the third quarter. On Seattle’s two touchdown drives Wilson was 8-for-10 for 92 yards and two TDs, and he also ran the ball three times for 34 yards. Last week against St. Louis Wilson didn’t get in a groove until the Seahawks switched to the no-huddle offense, but he didn’t require that switch to to find his way in the third quarter this week. However, Wilson was not able to sustain that efficiency into the fourth quarter as Seattle didn’t do much on its final three drives.
– There were no holes for Marshawn Lynch to run through as he was limited to 41 yards on 15 carries. This against a Green Bay team that allowed Chicago to run for 189 yards last week. Seattle still ran for 119 yards on 25 carries, but most of that came from Wilson on the read option and on scrambles. At least Wilson kept the ball on the read option several times this week after handing it off on every read option last week.
– Where is Jimmy Graham? The big offseason trade acquisition was targeted just twice against the Packers, catching one pass for 11 yards. That was not what the Seahawks thought they were getting from that trade.
– The Seahawks lost linebacker K.J. Wright to an ejection in the fourth quarter following an after-the-whistle scuffle. All the talk coming out of Green Bay before the game was that there was no carry-over effect from past heartbreaking losses to Seattle, particularly in last season’s NFC Championship game. But the amount of emotion showed on the field Sunday suggests the reality may have been a bit different.
– Seattle went with DeShawn Shead at strong safety Sunday. Dion Bailey started there in place of holdout Kam Chancellor in the opener against St. Louis, but was burned on what was probably the biggest play of the game. The Seahawks voiced their support for Bailey throughout the week, but it was Shead who drew the assignment Sunday, meaning things still aren’t settled with regards to replacing their Pro Bowl strong safety.
– The loss ended Seattle’s nine-game winning streak in prime-time games, dating back to 2012. It also dropped the Seahawks’ record in games at Lambeau Field to 1-7 all-time.
TURNING POINT
The second half was turning into a game of one-upmanship between Wilson and Rodgers. But after Rodgers led Green Bay to the touchdown that restored the Packers’ lead at 24-17, Wilson had a screen pass intended for Lynch intercepted by Jayrone Elliott, who read the play well. Green Bay then went on a five-minute drive that ended with a field goal, making it a two-possession game with too little time for Seattle to recover.
BOX SCORE
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