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Packers vs Seahawks: Previews & Predictions
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<blockquote data-quote="TOPHAT" data-source="post: 199000" data-attributes="member: 781"><p><a href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/346967_hmatch11.html?source=rss" target="_blank">http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/346967_hmatch11.html?source=rss</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Playoff Preview: Packers-Seahawks matchups: The P-I's Farnsworth analyzes the matchups and Hall of Fame Q Moon casts his vote.</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>QUARTERBACK</strong></p><p></p><p>Each quarterback has carried the offensive load for his team. But as well as Matt Hasselbeck has played for the Seahawks, Brett Favre has played even better. Favre had seven 300-yard passing performances in the first 11 games, and the Packers went 10-1. After coach Mike Holmgren decided to return to his passing roots at midseason, Hasselbeck threw 15 touchdown passes and five interceptions as the Seahawks won six of their final eight games. Favre, however, has not been at his best in recent elimination games -- throwing 16 interceptions and 11 touchdowns as the Packers have gone 2-5 in the playoffs since their last Super Bowl appearance in 1997. </p><p></p><p>P-I: PACKERS MOON: PACKERS</p><p></p><p><strong>RUNNING BACKS</strong></p><p></p><p>Neither team is running the ball at a playoff level, despite the fact that the Packers' Ryan Grant had the third-most rushing yards in the league over the second half of the season. He's at his best when running the stretch, especially when he cuts back. But the Seahawks defense has the speed to run him down. The Seahawks will continue to alternate Shaun Alexander and Maurice Morris, with Alexander getting 36 carries and Morris 32 in the past three games. The Seahawks' season high for rushing yardage is 167 (in the regular-season finale against the Falcons). They averaged 153.6 yards in 2005. </p><p></p><p>P-I: PACKERS MOON: SEAHAWKS</p><p></p><p><strong>RECEIVERS</strong></p><p></p><p>Both teams like to spread the field with four-receiver sets, and the Packers will even go with five. But the Seahawks have had starters Deion Branch and D.J. Hackett on the field together for only 2 1/2 games. The Packers, meanwhile, got an 82-catch season from Donald Driver, and Greg Jennings averaged 17.4 yards on 53 receptions and scored 12 touchdowns. Favre will throw the ball up and let his receivers go get it. The Seahawks passing game relies more on tempo and rhythm -- not to mention Bobby Engram (94 receptions) and Nate Burleson (nine touchdown catches), who have filled in for Branch and Hackett. Packers tight end Donald Lee caught 48 passes and scored six TDs, while the Seahawks' duo of Marcus Pollard and Will Heller combined to catch 41 passes and score five times. </p><p></p><p>P-I: PACKERS MOON: SEAHAWKS</p><p></p><p><strong>OFFENSIVE LINE</strong></p><p></p><p>The best player on each line is the left tackle -- Walter Jones for the Seahawks and Chad Clifton for the Packers. The right tackles -- Sean Locklear and Mark Tauscher -- are solid. The middles are a different story. For the Seahawks, center Chris Spencer and guards Rob Sims and Chris Gray have had their moments -- good, and bad. It's been a similar situation for the Packers, with guards Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz struggling with undersized center Scott Wells. Each line has done a better job in pass protection than in run blocking. Each line will be tested by the outside speed of the other team's pass rushers, and need to handle any blitzes that come up the middle. </p><p></p><p>P-I: EVEN MOON: PACKERS</p><p></p><p><strong>DEFENSIVE LINE</strong></p><p></p><p>If Patrick Kerney has another effort in him like the one he turned in against the Redskins, the Packers -- and especially Tauscher -- are in for one relentless afternoon. Kerney's speed and pursuit off the left side, not to mention his conference-leading 14 1/2 sacks, will force the Packers to give Tauscher help, which in turn will help the Seahawks' other linemen. The Packers also are capable of turning up the heat, especially in the nickel where Aaron Kampman (12 sacks) and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (9 1/2) come off the edges and end Cullen Jenkins moves inside with tackle Corey Williams (7). </p><p></p><p>P-I: SEAHAWKS MOON: SEAHAWKS</p><p></p><p><strong>LINEBACKERS</strong></p><p></p><p>While leading tackler Lofa Tatupu has been a rock in the middle for the Seahawks, Julian Peterson (9 1/2 sacks, four forced fumbles) and Leroy Hill (three forced fumbles, 13 tackles against the Redskins) have been the playmakers on the outside. Is there a better trio in the league? Packers coach Mike McCarthy opts for his: middleman Nick Barnett (165 tackles), A.J. Hawk (129) and Brady Poppinga (70). Each unit will have to come up big, clogging the running lanes, dropping into coverage when the Packers go to their empty backfield set and the Seahawks their four-wide receiver look and also helping to pressuring Favre and Hasselbeck. </p><p></p><p>P-I: SEAHAWKS MOON: SEAHAWKS</p><p></p><p><strong>SECONDARY</strong></p><p></p><p>The Seahawks will be staring at a Pro Bowl quarterback after facing backups in their past seven games -- with mixed results. But this unit is playing with confidence, and aggressively -- especially Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Trufant (eight interceptions, 85 tackles). The improved pass rush has helped, and so have the free-agent additions of safeties Deon Grant and Brian Russell. The Seahawks will be tested when the Packers go to their five-wide spread formation, because it will require rookie Josh Wilson and nickel back Jordan Babineaux to matchup with bigger/faster receivers. The Packers will counter with a physical foursome that depends on press coverage from cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson to disrupt the timing of opposing passing games. Woodson slides inside in the nickel and is replaced on the left side by Jarrett Bush, who has been exposed at times. Free safety Nick Collins has good speed, while strong safety Atari Bigby showed his blitzing ability in the Packers' preseason game against the Seahawks. </p><p></p><p>P-I: PACKERS MOON: SEAHAWKS</p><p></p><p><strong>SPECIAL TEAMS</strong></p><p></p><p>Each team has a potentially explosive returner -- the Seahawks' Burleson (six punt returns of 25-plus yards, a 91-yard kickoff return) and the Packers' Koren Robinson (23.8-yard average on kickoff returns). Each has a solid kicker -- the Seahawks' Josh Brown (127 points) and Packers' rookie Mason Crosby (141 points). Packers punter Jon Ryan has better averages (44.4 yards, 37.6 net) than the Seahawks' Ryan Plackemeier (40.0, a league-low 34.3 net), but Plackemeier was tied for fourth in the league in punts downed inside the 20-yard line (30). The coverage units for both teams rank among the top 10 in the league in average punt and kickoff returns allowed.</p><p></p><p>P-I: EVEN MOON: SEAHAWKS</p><p></p><p><strong>COACHING</strong></p><p></p><p>The Packers' McCarthy got some coach-of-the-year votes, after leading the youngest team in the league to a 13-3 record. But they have yet to name a street in Green Bay after him -- as they did with Mike Holmgren after he coached the Packers to a victory in Super Bowl XXXI. Holmgren returns to the scene of his prime with a Seahawks team that has won four consecutive division titles and is in the postseason for the fifth time in as many years. He also has a staff that has 333 games of playoff experience, while McCarthy is making his postseason debut as a head coach. Whether Holmgren can work his sideline magic at Lambeau against his former team will be critical in the Seahawks pulling off the upset or having their season end a game shy of the NFC Championship Game again.</p><p></p><p>P-I: SEAHAWKS MOON: SEAHAWKS</p><p></p><p><strong>INTANGIBLES</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Two words: Lambeau Field. Two more words: Brett Favre</strong>. Plus, over the past two seasons, the Packers are 3-1 at Lambeau when the temperature has been 40 degrees or colder -- with the wins coming by an average score of 27-9. The forecast for Saturday? Twenty-six degrees for the late afternoon kickoff.</p><p></p><p>P-I: PACKERS MOON: PACKERS</p><p></p><p><strong>FINAL SCORE: P-I: PACKERS, 24-21 MOON: SEAHAWKS, 27-24</strong></p><p></p><p> :USA: <img src="/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/eek.png" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":eek:" title="Eek! :eek:" data-shortname=":eek:" />mg: <img src="/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/eek.png" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":eek:" title="Eek! :eek:" data-shortname=":eek:" />mg: :USA:</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TOPHAT, post: 199000, member: 781"] [url]http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/346967_hmatch11.html?source=rss[/url] [b]Playoff Preview: Packers-Seahawks matchups: The P-I's Farnsworth analyzes the matchups and Hall of Fame Q Moon casts his vote.[/b] [b]QUARTERBACK[/b] Each quarterback has carried the offensive load for his team. But as well as Matt Hasselbeck has played for the Seahawks, Brett Favre has played even better. Favre had seven 300-yard passing performances in the first 11 games, and the Packers went 10-1. After coach Mike Holmgren decided to return to his passing roots at midseason, Hasselbeck threw 15 touchdown passes and five interceptions as the Seahawks won six of their final eight games. Favre, however, has not been at his best in recent elimination games -- throwing 16 interceptions and 11 touchdowns as the Packers have gone 2-5 in the playoffs since their last Super Bowl appearance in 1997. P-I: PACKERS MOON: PACKERS [b]RUNNING BACKS[/b] Neither team is running the ball at a playoff level, despite the fact that the Packers' Ryan Grant had the third-most rushing yards in the league over the second half of the season. He's at his best when running the stretch, especially when he cuts back. But the Seahawks defense has the speed to run him down. The Seahawks will continue to alternate Shaun Alexander and Maurice Morris, with Alexander getting 36 carries and Morris 32 in the past three games. The Seahawks' season high for rushing yardage is 167 (in the regular-season finale against the Falcons). They averaged 153.6 yards in 2005. P-I: PACKERS MOON: SEAHAWKS [b]RECEIVERS[/b] Both teams like to spread the field with four-receiver sets, and the Packers will even go with five. But the Seahawks have had starters Deion Branch and D.J. Hackett on the field together for only 2 1/2 games. The Packers, meanwhile, got an 82-catch season from Donald Driver, and Greg Jennings averaged 17.4 yards on 53 receptions and scored 12 touchdowns. Favre will throw the ball up and let his receivers go get it. The Seahawks passing game relies more on tempo and rhythm -- not to mention Bobby Engram (94 receptions) and Nate Burleson (nine touchdown catches), who have filled in for Branch and Hackett. Packers tight end Donald Lee caught 48 passes and scored six TDs, while the Seahawks' duo of Marcus Pollard and Will Heller combined to catch 41 passes and score five times. P-I: PACKERS MOON: SEAHAWKS [b]OFFENSIVE LINE[/b] The best player on each line is the left tackle -- Walter Jones for the Seahawks and Chad Clifton for the Packers. The right tackles -- Sean Locklear and Mark Tauscher -- are solid. The middles are a different story. For the Seahawks, center Chris Spencer and guards Rob Sims and Chris Gray have had their moments -- good, and bad. It's been a similar situation for the Packers, with guards Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz struggling with undersized center Scott Wells. Each line has done a better job in pass protection than in run blocking. Each line will be tested by the outside speed of the other team's pass rushers, and need to handle any blitzes that come up the middle. P-I: EVEN MOON: PACKERS [b]DEFENSIVE LINE[/b] If Patrick Kerney has another effort in him like the one he turned in against the Redskins, the Packers -- and especially Tauscher -- are in for one relentless afternoon. Kerney's speed and pursuit off the left side, not to mention his conference-leading 14 1/2 sacks, will force the Packers to give Tauscher help, which in turn will help the Seahawks' other linemen. The Packers also are capable of turning up the heat, especially in the nickel where Aaron Kampman (12 sacks) and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (9 1/2) come off the edges and end Cullen Jenkins moves inside with tackle Corey Williams (7). P-I: SEAHAWKS MOON: SEAHAWKS [b]LINEBACKERS[/b] While leading tackler Lofa Tatupu has been a rock in the middle for the Seahawks, Julian Peterson (9 1/2 sacks, four forced fumbles) and Leroy Hill (three forced fumbles, 13 tackles against the Redskins) have been the playmakers on the outside. Is there a better trio in the league? Packers coach Mike McCarthy opts for his: middleman Nick Barnett (165 tackles), A.J. Hawk (129) and Brady Poppinga (70). Each unit will have to come up big, clogging the running lanes, dropping into coverage when the Packers go to their empty backfield set and the Seahawks their four-wide receiver look and also helping to pressuring Favre and Hasselbeck. P-I: SEAHAWKS MOON: SEAHAWKS [b]SECONDARY[/b] The Seahawks will be staring at a Pro Bowl quarterback after facing backups in their past seven games -- with mixed results. But this unit is playing with confidence, and aggressively -- especially Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Trufant (eight interceptions, 85 tackles). The improved pass rush has helped, and so have the free-agent additions of safeties Deon Grant and Brian Russell. The Seahawks will be tested when the Packers go to their five-wide spread formation, because it will require rookie Josh Wilson and nickel back Jordan Babineaux to matchup with bigger/faster receivers. The Packers will counter with a physical foursome that depends on press coverage from cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson to disrupt the timing of opposing passing games. Woodson slides inside in the nickel and is replaced on the left side by Jarrett Bush, who has been exposed at times. Free safety Nick Collins has good speed, while strong safety Atari Bigby showed his blitzing ability in the Packers' preseason game against the Seahawks. P-I: PACKERS MOON: SEAHAWKS [b]SPECIAL TEAMS[/b] Each team has a potentially explosive returner -- the Seahawks' Burleson (six punt returns of 25-plus yards, a 91-yard kickoff return) and the Packers' Koren Robinson (23.8-yard average on kickoff returns). Each has a solid kicker -- the Seahawks' Josh Brown (127 points) and Packers' rookie Mason Crosby (141 points). Packers punter Jon Ryan has better averages (44.4 yards, 37.6 net) than the Seahawks' Ryan Plackemeier (40.0, a league-low 34.3 net), but Plackemeier was tied for fourth in the league in punts downed inside the 20-yard line (30). The coverage units for both teams rank among the top 10 in the league in average punt and kickoff returns allowed. P-I: EVEN MOON: SEAHAWKS [b]COACHING[/b] The Packers' McCarthy got some coach-of-the-year votes, after leading the youngest team in the league to a 13-3 record. But they have yet to name a street in Green Bay after him -- as they did with Mike Holmgren after he coached the Packers to a victory in Super Bowl XXXI. Holmgren returns to the scene of his prime with a Seahawks team that has won four consecutive division titles and is in the postseason for the fifth time in as many years. He also has a staff that has 333 games of playoff experience, while McCarthy is making his postseason debut as a head coach. Whether Holmgren can work his sideline magic at Lambeau against his former team will be critical in the Seahawks pulling off the upset or having their season end a game shy of the NFC Championship Game again. P-I: SEAHAWKS MOON: SEAHAWKS [b]INTANGIBLES[/b] [b]Two words: Lambeau Field. Two more words: Brett Favre[/b]. Plus, over the past two seasons, the Packers are 3-1 at Lambeau when the temperature has been 40 degrees or colder -- with the wins coming by an average score of 27-9. The forecast for Saturday? Twenty-six degrees for the late afternoon kickoff. P-I: PACKERS MOON: PACKERS [b]FINAL SCORE: P-I: PACKERS, 24-21 MOON: SEAHAWKS, 27-24[/b] :USA: :omg: :omg: :USA: [/QUOTE]
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