GREEN BAY, Wis. — Despite allowing a touchdown on Green Bay’s second possession, the Seattle Seahawks defense was playing well in the early going Sunday.
Green Bay went three-and-out on its first possession, and the pass-rush-challenged Seahawks even had a sack to help force that punt. Yes, the Packers did score the next time they had the ball, but that was on a short field set up by a turnover, and the defense forced another punt after allowing only one first down on the following Green Bay possession.
But just when it looked like the defense might keep the Seahawks and a struggling offense in the game, Green Bay receiver Greg Jennings ran past Kelly Jennings for a 40-yard reception. One play later Greg Jennings caught a 24-yard pass to the Seahawks 3-yard line to set up a short touchdown run and a 14-0 lead from which the Seahawks would never recover.
The next time Green Bay had the ball, this time with a 14-3 lead, Ryan Grant broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run on just the fourth play of the drive. That was the biggest of many long gains that helped the Packers pile up 417 yards and an average of 6.7 yards per play.
Of those 417 yards, 224 were the result of just six plays: the three listed above, plus a 38-yard catch by Greg Jennings, and catches of 28 and 38 yards by tight end Jermichael Finley. The Packers also scored a touchdown with the help of a 36-yard pass interference penalty on Marcus Trufant.
“We had some really good snaps, then we’d have a breakdown and they’d get a play,” Seahawks coach Jim Mora said. “… It’s about consistency, every down. Being right on, every down, with the defensive call that we make and the way we execute that call.”
In other words, playing well for most of a game doesn’t do much good when mistakes lead to huge gains.
“That’s what we’re talking about when we say consistency is important,” said Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney. “You can’t play 95 percent of the plays great. You need to have a higher batting percentage than that. We basically have not had that this year.”
Injury update
Seahawks cornerback Josh Wilson sustained a hip pointer breaking up a pass late in the second quarter and was unable to return. Seattle running back Julius Jones aggravated the rib injury he suffered last week, and also played through a minor ankle injury suffered early in the game. Receiver Mike Hass dislocated his shoulder but was able to finish the game. Mora said he didn’t know the status of Hass for next week’s game, but that Hass will probably need surgery in the offseason.
Carlson breaks team record with TD
John Carlson’s fourth-quarter touchdown catch was his sixth of the year, setting a new Seahawks mark for touchdown catches by a tight end. As a rookie Carlson tied Jerramy Stevens with five touchdown catches. With one game left, Carlson is six catches and 67 yards from matching the team records for tight ends he set last year.
Rodgers makes history
With his 237-yard performance Sunday, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons as a starter.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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