Game: Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers
Date & Time: Sunday January 12th, 2020, 6:40 (EST)
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
The Line: Green Bay Packers -4.5, O/U 51
TV Channel: FOX
In a battle of 2 Super Bowl winning QBs, the Seahawks travel to Green Bay looking to continue their playoff magic.
NFL Regular Season Record: 60-50-3
NFL Playoff Record: 3-1
Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers Preview
It wasn’t pretty, but the Seahawks prevailed 17-9 in the Wild Card Round against the Philadelphia Eagles in a defensive slugfest. In the playoffs, it doesn’t matter how you win. There’s only one thing that matters, and it’s survive and advance.
Russell Wilson has been carrying the Seahawks on his back. With a depleted backfield, the Seahawks had to sign former legend Marshawn Lynch to handle the fair share of carries. Lynch did next to nothing in the game, but he did rush for a touchdown. Wilson did what was asked of him, throwing for 325 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 45 more. He’s almost impossible to stop.
The key development for the Seahawks is the emergence of rookie WR D.K Metcalf. Metcalf, a 2nd round pick out of Ole Miss, had a good regular season, finishing with 900 yards and 7 touchdowns. He really showed up against the Eagles last week though, finishing with 160 yards and the teams lone receiving touchdown. He made consistent big plays when the Seahawks needed them, and with the rest of the weapons struggling, he’ll have to play lights out again for the Seahawks to win in Green Bay.
The Packers secured their 1st round bye with a 13-3 record, and a come from behind 23-20 victory over Detroit in week 17. Nobody is confusing the Packers with a dominant team. They secured victories in many close games this season, and they’ve struggled to truly make a mark on inferior teams. That being said, a 13-3 record is a spectacular season, and the team has shown an ability to win games any which way.
Aaron Rodgers is looking for another Super Bowl run to bolster his legacy. Since winning it all in 2010, the Packers haven’t made it back. It’s a roadblock in the way of Rodgers entering the conversation for the best quarterback of all time, and with a 13-3 record this season, this is the time to take advantage.
Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers Key Stats
- Aaron Rodgers has a 9-7 postseason record
- This is the only matchup of the Divisional Round featuring two Super Bowl winning quarterbacks
- The Seahawks defeated the Packers in the 2014 NFC Championship
Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers Betting Lines
- The O/U for the game is 47
- The Packers are 4.5 point favorites on Draftkings
- The Packers are -210 on the ML, Seahawks +180
Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers Prediction
This will be the game of the week. You have 2 Super Bowl winning QBs who are dying to get back there. Rodgers is looking to prove the naysayers wrong who say he can’t win another ring, and that he wasted his prime years butting heads with his head coach. The storylines are endless in this game. Not to mention the botched onside kick in 2016…
The Packers have a balanced offensive attack. Aaron Jones has proven to be a complete lightning rod in the backfield, and Rodgers has Davante Adams as his security blanket on the outside. On the Seahawks side, the emergence of Metcalf, and the potential deep threat of Tyler Lockett will keep the Packers D honest. It will come down to who can get timely stops.
Call me crazy, but I trust Wilson more in big moments. He’s done more with less in his career and I think this can be a statement game in his career if he can go into Lambeau and pull the upset. I think the Seahawks have a good chance to win this game, but I’m taking them with the +4.5 as I can see the Packers winning by a field goal as well.
