Green Bay vs. Seattle: Report Card Grades for Each Seahawks Unit
It was an all-around dominating performance from the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, winning the game 36-16 to kick off the 2014 NFL season. The night got started with performance by Soundgarden and Pharrell Williams and stayed on that level the rest of the night.
The Seahawks kept up the great offensive play that had been put on display during the preseason, scoring on their first three possessions. The game stayed close early, thanks to an early fumble by Earl Thomas on a punt return.
It was slow going in the third quarter, but it was clear the Seahawks defense had a good grasp of what the Green Bay Packers were trying to do. Green Bay tried no-huddle early. Didn't work. They tried to get Eddie Lacy going. Didn't work.
They never even attempted to throw the ball toward Richard Sherman. Didn't matter. They threw almost exclusively less than 10-yard passes. Didn't work. The Seahawks defense was smothering throughout the night.
Offensively, the Seahawks racked up 398 yards, matching the fifth-best offense in the league last season. With the thumping the Seahawks gave the Packers on opening night, the rest of the league has been put on notice that the Super Bowl champions are ready for all comers.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Russell Wilson's numbers may not be overly impressive, but just as he was last season, he was efficient. The Seattle quarterback completed 19 of 28 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson was also able to tack on 29 yards rushing on seven carries in the game.
Wilson judiciously doled out the ball to eight different receivers, though he was nearly intercepted twice if not for great plays by his teammates. It could have very easily been a completely different game if the Packers defenders could hold on to the football.
The offensive line left Wilson under duress for much of the first half, but things changed as the lead grew. Wilson did well to get rid of the football quickly, without harm to his team, helping to prop up the slow start of the offensive line. He also pulled off a few well-executed fakes that fooled the Packers defense—and the cameramen.
Grade: B+
Running Back
2 of 10
The Seattle Seahawks rushed for a whopping 207 yards against the B.J. Raji-less Green Bay Packers defense, led by Marshawn Lynch's 110 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. The scary part about that is Lynch had 82 yards on just nine carries when the run-pass play calls were more balanced.
Wide receiver Percy Harvin was on full display in this one, picking up 41 yards rushing on four carries and having another big gain called back by a holding penalty. You know about Russell Wilson's 29 yards, but Robert Turbin was able to pinball his way to 27 yards on six carries as well.
For the game, Seattle's rushers averaged 5.6 yards per carry in a 37-carry outing.
Grade: A+
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
Percy Harvin was constantly making plays, especially in the first half. He finished the night with 160 all-purpose yards—41 yards rushing, 59 yards receiving and 60 return yards. Harvin's 59 receiving yards led the team, and so did his seven receptions.
After Harvin, the one other receiving threat that stood out was tight end Zach Miller. Miller made a diving, one-handed grab for a gain of 24 yards. He finished the night with three catches for 42 yards. Ricardo Lockette and Derrick Coleman each made touchdown grabs, both on perfectly-executed play fakes.
Overall, the receivers only missed out on a combined six targets, and Harvin pulled down all seven of his targets.
Grade: A-
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
Despite the offensive line's poor start to the game in pass protection, they were opening up big running lanes throughout the game. Russell Wilson was sacked just once in the game, but he was hurried and hit often.
Justin Britt struggled a bit with handling Clay Matthews, taking a holding penalty and being beaten soundly by him on a run block. Still Wilson had to throw the ball away several times.
Run blocking has never been a issue with this group, but the poor pass protection rearing its ugly head again creates some concern. Even with the dominant performance, as seen last season, there will be times when they are facing other dominant defenses. A poor offensive line can prove disastrous.
Grade: B+
Defensive Line
5 of 10
Three sacks, five tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, a forced fumble and a safety. O'Brien Schofield got the ball rolling in the sack department with his early takedown. It didn't appear that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was under extraordinary pressure until late in the third quarter.
Cliff Avril picked up a sack, and Michael Bennett forced the sack-fumble that resulted in a safety. The good field position on the ensuing Seahawks possession set up a Seattle touchdown.
Heading into the game, it appeared that the Packers' best hope of moving the ball on offensive was to hand it off to Eddie Lacy. Lacy started off the night strong, but as things wore on, the Packers running game was stifled.
Lacy was held to 34 yards on 12 carries and the Packers finished with just 80 yards rushing for the night. The Seattle defensive line had a lot to do with that success.
Grade: A
Linebacker
6 of 10
The Seahawks linebackers didn't have much to do with the pass rush directly, but their ability to cover the middle of the field and quickly close down on tight ends and receivers allows the defensive line more time to rush.
Bobby Wagner led all tacklers in the game with 14 tackles, one for a loss. K.J. Wright, Bruce Irvin and Mike Morgan combined for an additional 11 tackles, but Wagner was clearly the star. One of the understated keys of the Seattle defense is that they are all sure tacklers.
Aaron Rodgers completed 23 passes in the game, but his receivers had almost no yards after the catch. The linebacker corps had just as much to do with the Packers' rushing woes as the defensive line, if not more.
Grade: A
Secondary
7 of 10
The presence of Richard Sherman in the Seattle secondary had a clear effect on the Packers' offensive game plan. Aaron Rodgers never even looked in Sherman's direction during the game. It was clear Jordy Nelson would be covered by Byron Maxwell for the most part and Randall Cobb would be in the slot.
Maxwell was being picked on early, but it wasn't effective enough for the Packers to sustain drives on a consistent basis. One pass by Rodgers was a little to far in front of Nelson, who dove and tipped the ball right into Maxwell's hands.
The ensuing drive only resulted in a field goal, but the play seemed to be a backbreaker for the Packers. Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor only had to defend one deep throw, but added well in run support. Chancellor was second on the team with 11 tackles.
Aaron Rodgers threw for just 189 yards and a late touchdown.
Grade: A+
Special Teams
8 of 10
Percy Harvin had a dazzling kick return with two spinning broken tackles, and Steven Hauschka nailed two short field goals. The controversial decision to have Earl Thomas as the team's top punt returner will remain questioned, as he finished the night with two returns for three yards and a lost fumble.
The fumble set the Packers up for a go-ahead touchdown, but it ultimately didn't mean much. However, it raises questions about Thomas' abilities at the position just one week into the season.
Punter Jon Ryan didn't have to boot the ball far, averaging 33 yards on his two punts, but he landed both inside the Green Bay 20-yard line. Ryan's punting helped the Seahawks maintain their plus field position throughout the game.
Grade: B
Coaching
9 of 10
The Seahawks were schemed to perfection against what is expected to be a high-scoring Packers team and an improved defense. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell had the Seahawks running the ball at will, and they utilized play-action passes to perfection.
On the defensive side, Dan Quinn was well prepared for the Packers to run a no-huddle offense, the same way the Denver Broncos did in the Super Bowl. The no-huddle offense was disengaged by strong tackling and the noisy Seattle crowd.
Eddie Lacy never found any room to run, and the Green Bay receivers had no opportunities to pick up yards after making catches. It was a strong performance in all facets, including special teams.
Grade: A+
Final Grades
10 of 10
| Positional Unit | Overall Grade |
| QB | B+ |
| RB | A+ |
| WR/TE | A- |
| OL | B+ |
| DL | A |
| LB | A |
| DB | A+ |
| Special Teams | B |
| Coaching | A+ |
| Cumulative Grade | A |
The Seahawks performed well in their first test of the season. The offense attacked the Packers defense at all levels of the field and won one-on-one battles. The offense sputtered a bit in the third quarter but was able to move up and down the field during the other three quarters.
On the defensive side of things, you can't ask for much more. They took advantage of their turnover opportunity and got sacks at opportune times. Green Bay had nowhere to run in the open field. The coverage units performed well on special teams. It was a great start for Seattle.
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