Maggie's Pre-Game Six Pack - 2021 Week 10
The Packers and Seahawks will add another chapter to the rivalry on Sunday. Keep these six things in mind going into the game.
By MaggieLoney
The 7-2 Green Bay Packers return to Lambeau this week after a two-game road stretch to face off against the 3-5 Seattle Seahawks. Here are six things to look for heading into Sunday’s 3:25 p.m. CT kickoff.
1. There’s No Place Like Home
How’s this for a crazy stat? The Packers have won the last nine matchups against Seattle at Lambeau Field, dating all the way back to 2003. In fact, the Seahawks haven’t beaten Green Bay at Lambeau in so long, Seattle was part of the AFC West last time a victory occurred. You’d have to go all the way back to 1999 when Mike Holmgren was Seattle’s head coach to find a win.
What’s more, there’s possibly no greater home field advantage than the one that exists in the Green Bay vs Seattle rivalry. Dating back to 2009, whichever team has hosted the matchup has won the game, with the Seahawks winning in 2012 (Fail Mary), 2014 both regular and postseason (sorry), and 2018, and the Packers collecting victories in 2009, 2016, 2017, and the 2019 playoffs.
2. Don’t Let Pete (Car)Roll
The Seattle offense has been a bit of an enigma through eight games this season. While the unit is ranked 31st and 32nd on third and fourth down, respectively, it’s the second-best unit in the NFL in the red zone, scoring on 15-of-20 attempts. What does that mean? Don’t let the offense find a rhythm and sustain drives.
Pete Carroll’s offense is also getting healthy at the right time. Quarterback Russell Wilson has been cleared to start Sunday after injuring his finger. Running back Chris Carson has been designated to return from injured reserve after suffering a neck injury. And rookie wide receiver D’Wayne Eskridge has also begun practicing this week after being sidelined since Week 1. The Seattle offense is currently ranked 19th in the NFL in points for, averaging 22.6 points per game. With the return of some key pieces, the offense’s production should see a boost, despite already having dangerous receivers D.K. Metcalf (eight touchdowns, 580 yards) and Tyler Lockett (three touchdowns, 579 yards) on the roster.
3. Keep Pace in the NFC
The Packers will close out the 2021 regular season playing six of its final eight games against NFC opponents. Green Bay is 5-1 against NFC teams this season, a record that ties the Los Angeles Rams for No. 1 in the conference over that span. Both the Packers and Rams lost in Week 9 to AFC squads, making their matchup on Nov. 28 even more significant for tie-breaking procedures.
While Seattle might not look too imposing with a 3-5 record, it’s a game the Packers can’t afford to lose in a crucial race for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Up next are the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium before a return to Lambeau to square off against the aforementioned Rams. The Packers won’t see an AFC opponent again until Week 15 in Baltimore.
4. Protect the Pigskin
The Packers are 7-2 this season when the team wins the turnover battle, which is coincidentally Green Bay’s overall record. Last week against Kansas City was the first time since Week 1 the Packers defense didn’t force a turnover.
The Seattle offense does a good job protecting the football and has only turned the ball over in three of eight games this season. Wilson and interim quarterback Geno Smith have combined to throw only two interceptions this season, but seven different players on offense have fumbled at some point. If Green Bay’s defense can force the Seahawks to make some mistakes, that bodes well for the game ending in the Packers’ favor.
5. Legion of Whom?
The Seahawks defense looks a lot different than it did in the early 2010s when the Legion of Boom was at its peak. Inside linebacker Bobby Wagner is really the only true member of the Legion that remains on Seattle’s roster. Wagner still looks like Wagner, though, with one sack, two passes defensed, two tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, and 93 total tackles through eight games. In addition to Wagner’s production, free safety Quandre Diggs is also off to a hot start this season with three interceptions and five passes defensed.
What’s missing from Seattle’s defense, however, is a consistent pass rush. While Darrell Taylor leads the team with four sacks, Seattle ranks 29th in the league in sacks with only 14 through eight games. This is, perhaps, wonderful news for a Packers offensive line that had its worst performance of the season at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 9. Green Bay could also potentially get All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari back in the lineup, as he was officially activated off the physically unable to perform list this past Wednesday.
6. The Return of Rodgers
Saturday, Nov. 13 is the absolute soonest that quarterback Aaron Rodgers can return from the COVID-19/reserve list. While Head Coach Matt LaFleur has already declared that Rodgers will start if he’s healthy, there are a number of medical tests Rodgers must pass before he’s cleared to play to make sure his body can handle the stress of an NFL game.
Wide receiver Davante Adams mentioned in his media availability earlier this week that he didn’t feel quite like himself in his Week 9 return from the COVID-19/reserve list, but he acknowledged part of that could have been because he didn’t return to practice until the Friday before the game.
If Rodgers is able to play, it’ll be the first time since Week 3 he’ll have speedy receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling at his disposal. Rodgers had said earlier in the season that he owed Valdes-Scantling a few touchdowns since he’s missed on a some of his passes, so MVS’ presence in the lineup should provide a significant boost for the offense, not only for the quarterback but for the amount of Cover 2 Adams sees, too.
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Maggie Loney is a writer for Cheesehead TV and podcaster for the Pack-A-Day Podcast and Pack's What She Said. Find her on Twitter at @MaggieJLoney.
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Comments (10)
NickPerry
November 12, 2021 at 06:57 am
Whether it's Rodgers or Jordan Love starting at QB this week, MLF has GOT TO stay with the running game Sunday at Lambeau. Not just because Seattle is like 30th against the run, but because it's going to be COLD with a chance of snow! Weather like that is going to seem twice as cold to Seattle than it really is. I don't give a damn what the Seattle players might say, if it's around 35 degrees around kickoff, that's REALLY cold for a person not at all use to it. I heard on the News it's going to snow perhaps up to a foot in Northern Minnesota this weekend. It;;s ONLY November 12th for God's sake....Mat LaFleur....RUN THE BALL!!
The Packers just finished IMO the toughest part of their schedule playing 4 of the last 5 on the road AND going 4-1. The defense just keeps getting better despite playing shorthanded with all the injuries which is obviously impressive. But I'll be watching this offense much more closely, especially while getting Bakhtieri back hopefully Sunday and Meyers shortly after. IMO the offense is going to start to peak just in time, and the defense is just going to get nastier and nastier as our PRO BOWLERS come back.
Hopefully there's no lingering effects the hinder Rodgers too much. I could see a game very much like the game against Arizona against Seattle in terms of run/pass ratios. Lets see TONS of Jones and Dillon with a a short passing game to all those schemed open receivers. A few deep shots to MVS would be ideal too, but lets just keep Wilson on the sidelines, just like they did with Murray.
Packers 34-16!!! Go Pack Go!
murf7777
November 12, 2021 at 07:32 am
NP…I know we all want more running game, its the QB’s best friend, but after rewatching the game and concentrating on whether to run vs pass I came away with only a couple of times where I thought they should run. Also, they passed a few times when I thought they should’ve ran and were successful with 5-10 yards and/or a first down. Games are very situational. Example, if your 3rd and long, running the ball against a stacked box your chances of success are slim. If we just look at stats and or just watching live ball, not play by play, its very difficult to make accurate statements such as “we need to run more”.
MLF stated the loss is on him, which is great coachspeak but not entirely accurate. KC had a very good game plan that was going to be very difficult on any young QB playing in a loud windy stadium.
Unfortunately, KC could play a type of D against Love that they wouldn’t of against Rodgers. In other words, stack the box against the run, be aggressive with blitzes and dare them to pass. Let’s also keep in mind, Love and MFL had one or so practices with the starters to figure out a game plan. Hopefully, Love will get better as he matures and reads D’s better.
Reghamster
November 12, 2021 at 07:36 am
I am optimistic about the Packers chances at home as long as Rodgers can play and is healthy enough. Both Wilson and Rodgers will be a little rusty and not 100 per cent . Tae Adams said post his covid recovery that he wasn't 100b per cent . I doubt if Rodgers will be nor Wilson who has missed a fair number of game with his thumb. What does this mean?
Well one is that it will be a low scoring game . The Packers may struggle to get their 24 points and the Seahawks will struggle even more against the Packers improving defense. We are at home and on a cold day the Packers need to run the ball a bit more against a poor run defense . Still with Bakthari back and with Rodgers quick release abilities we should be able to throw the ball even for a few long ones against a so so pass rush. Packers win after a slow start. 24 17. As was mentioned home field has been huge advantage in this series ; a by -product of weather ( GB) and a noisy stadium ( Seahawks) and perhaps .... a few controversial calls over.the years . Can we all say Golden Tate?
Coldworld
November 12, 2021 at 09:26 am
No mention of STs generally? After what was a historically inept performance in all phases, I’d say that they should be high in the list here. That is one area that can and must be improved upon and which arguably was decisive last time.
Yes, we all want Rodgers to start and we all want us to shut down Wilson, but we should be just as focused and perhaps more fired up about STs. That level of ineptitude isn’t forgivable and it is, unlike Rodgers’ health or Love’s current ability, fixable in the short term.
I can’t look at this match up without that being one of the first thoughts that comes to mind.
JohnnyLogan
November 12, 2021 at 09:35 am
Maggie, Rodgers having MVS at his disposal is not going to change the game much. MVS is basically the kid in a pick-up game, "Marquis, you're the bottle cap. Go long." Why?... because that's all he can do.
Losing out on OBJ is bigger than most think. I always remember Ron Wolf after his retirement as the Green Bay Packers general manager in 2001 saying that one of his biggest regrets was that he felt he hadn’t surrounded quarterback Brett Favre with sufficient talent at wide receiver.
Rodgers hasn't got nearly the WR talent he needs.
Caden819
November 12, 2021 at 04:59 pm
The best offense in football last year disagrees with you
JohnnyLogan
November 13, 2021 at 04:15 am
The 22nd ranked offense this year might be closer to the truth.
PatrickGB
November 12, 2021 at 11:36 am
Watching the Baltimore/Miami matchup reminded me that a fearless, yet disguised, pass rush can be lethal. That’s what happened to Love against the Chiefs. I don’t think the Seahawks can pull that off against the Packers. Running the ball sets up play action. And effective passing sets up the run. The Packers would like to have that balance. But disguised defenses can negate that. Rodgers can diagnose it better than Love yet even he can be fooled. I don’t see the Seahawks as a disguised type defense. They will try and out score you with a superior pass game. This game will depend on the quality of the play from our secondary.
mnbadger
November 12, 2021 at 12:35 pm
Hopefully our Special teams can at least be adequate this week. Pack 31-17 no matter who's under center. How we get the points would differ, but either way, Pack 31-17. GPG
Crankbait
November 13, 2021 at 05:56 am
All I can say is thank goodness this is a home game.