Packers vs. Seahawks: TV Coverage, Live Stream Schedule and Final Predictions

Right from the start, many onlookers knew this is how the NFC would end.

The Green Bay Packers kicked off the season with a one-sided loss against the Seattle Seahawks and their mystified home-field advantage. Beginning their title defense with a major statement, the Seahawks stifled Aaron Rodgers during a 36-16 victory, but the showing said more about Seattle's repeat chances than any Green Bay blemishes.

A furious comeback and much-discussed Dez Bryant non-catch cemented this NFC Championship Game showdown between two conference mainstays. Each franchise is looking for its second Lombardi Trophy in the past five years.

If the season premiere is any harbinger of things to come, Seattle will crush its way to another Super Bowl. While nothing is ever that easy with an MVP quarterback on the other side, don't be surprised if history repeats itself Sunday afternoon. 

No. 2 Green Bay Packers at No. 1 Seattle Seahawks

When: Sunday, Jan. 18 at 3:05 p.m. ET

Where: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

TV: Fox

Live Stream: FOX Sports GO

Preview

If the Packers don't have Rodgers at optimal capacity, they're in trouble.

Against the Dallas Cowboys, he hobbled around through an ugly first half, entering the break with 90 passing yards on 15 pass attempts. He must have chugged some of Michael Jordan's secret stuff in the locker room, though, because he rallied for 227 yards and two scores after intermission.

Contrary to what his play suggests, Rodgers' calf didn't magically feel fine again toward the game's conclusion. As he explained to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky, it was simply a matter of adjusting to his discomfort. 

"It was painful the entire game," Rodgers said. "It was just something that I knew I was going to have to deal with during the week and in the warmups. Nothing really loosened up, it was just dealing with the pain, pain management, and being smart about it."

He issued some positive sentiments Friday but didn't go too far in writing off any lingering effects. Per the team's Twitter page:

Before Green Bay fans breathe a sigh of relief for their star saving the day, consider the contrasting opposition from last Sunday to this one. Dallas ranked No. 26 in passing defense during the season, allowing 251.9 yards per game with 7.5 yards per attempt.

As most of you may have heard, this Seattle secondary is rather good. It relinquished a league-low 181.6 yards per game through the air, allowing a minuscule 6.3 yards per pass.

Rodgers' stunted mobility will also make life easier for Pete Carroll's crew. Grantland's Bill Barnwell noted that Seattle yields a 46.8 QBR to opposing quarterbacks inside the pocket, where the usually spry Rodgers made 31 of his 35 throws last weekend.

During Week 1's loss, he mustered 189 yards on 33 throws, tossing a touchdown and a pick. And while it seems silly to credit bystanders for making noise, Seattle's impenetrable defense becomes even tougher at home, as showcased by ESPN Stats & Info.

Since Seattle also sports a top-five rushing defense, Green Bay can't count on Eddie Lacy to bail it out. Although placing an entire game on the quarterback's shoulders is often overly simplistic, the Packers won't win without a strong showing from their MVP.

That's because Seattle, for all its defensive acclaim, moves the ball well on the offensive end. Nobody ran for more yards during the season, which is a problem for Green Bay's No. 23 rushing defense. In Week 1, Seattle tallied 207 yards on the ground, 110 from Marshawn Lynch.

Green Bay improved late in the season, but it proved still vulnerable against stout ground games when allowing 5.2 yards per run to the Cowboys. Dallas had an efficient offensive outing, but it failed to stay on the field long enough due to a costly DeMarco Murray fumble and costlier Bryant non-catch on the game-deciding fourth down.

After the Packers and New England Patriots, the Seahawks are the NFL's most careful team with just 14 giveaways all season. They're not going to commit self-inflicted wounds, but they can make the big play that eluded Dallas. No team amassed more explosive plays—defined as a run of 12 yards or more or pass of 16 yards or more—than Seattle, who also surrendered the least of them on the other side.

Behind a run-heavy assault and another efficient passing performance from Russell Wilson, the Seahawks are well positioned to earn a spot in their second straight Super Bowl.

Prediction: Seahawks 23, Packers 17