Seahawks vs. Packers: What's the Game Plan for Seattle?
Seahawks versus Packers has turned into a rivalry in recent years, each team jockeying with the other for NFC dominance.
Even when they're not directly battling on the field, they're constantly trying to one-up the other in the standings.
Sunday night's game at Lambeau Field will mark the fourth meeting between the teams since the start of the 2012 season. As far as rivalries go, this has been a one-sided affair, with Seattle taking all three matchups, including last season's NFC Championship Game.
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But Seattle is reeling coming off a 34-31 overtime loss to NFC West rival St. Louis. The Packers are riding a green wave of momentum coming off a 31-23 road victory over the Chicago Bears.
It's all too possible that these teams enter Week 3 in completely opposite directions—Seattle at 0-2, spiraling; Green Bay at 2-0, ascending.
Falling to 0-2 is close to a death sentence in the NFL. The Seahawks are well aware of that, and they'll pull out all the stops in Lambeau to extend their winning streak over the Packers to four games.
But Seattle is in an uncharacteristic state of disarray.
Kam Chancellor's holdout continues to haunt. One week isn't likely to fix all of the offensive line's problems, and an injury to right tackle Garry Gilliam could only exacerbate those issues. Bruce Irvin might not suit up, according to the Seattle Times. Marshawn Lynch's mom is calling for jobs.
Maybe this is all the result of what Pat Riley calls the "disease of more."
"Success is often the first step toward disaster," Riley wrote in his book Showtime.
Maybe this is that. Maybe it isn't. Maybe this is all just a bump in the road toward continued greatness.
But whatever this is, Seattle will need to make some changes in order to avoid the dread of an 0-2 start.
We'll take a look at how they can do that against Green Bay, as well as taking a look at some key players and matchups before diving into a final prediction.
Offensive Game Plan
The first thing this Seahawks offense has going for it is that the Rams defensive line will be hundreds of miles away in Maryland.
Russell Wilson won't be sacked six times again—if he is, this season could be over before it truly began. This game could, and should, mark the return of the read-option, which was essentially absent against St. Louis.
Wilson excels in the read-option. It was the foremost reason he finished with 849 rushing yards in 2014, fifth-most among quarterbacks in NFL history post-merger, per Pro-Football-Reference.
Wilson did have six rushing attempts for 32 yards against St. Louis, but none of those sprints came organically as part of the read-option. Rather, they were the result of immense pressure and a claustrophobic pocket, something Wilson felt constantly throughout the day.
Notably, Seattle did call for a read-option on what would be the final play of the game, with Wilson handing the ball to Lynch, only to see him stuffed in the backfield.
That shouldn't deter offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell from returning to what makes Wilson such a unique NFL talent.
Wilson (2 GP, 14 ATT, 54 YDS, 1 TD) didn't statistically dominate Green Bay with his legs in either of their two meetings last year, but his touchdown run in the NFC Championship came out of a designed read-option, so the resume shows at least some success against the Packers.
| Week 1 | 19/28 | 191 | 2/0 | 9/1 | 7/29 | -1.7 |
| NFC Champ. | 14/29 | 209 | 1/4 | 13/5 | 7/25 (1TD) | -1.9 |
Obviously, the read-option isn't just Wilson: He's often got one of the best running backs in the NFL lined up beside him. Marshawn Lynch ran for 157 yards and one touchdown in the last meeting between these two teams, a line no one on Green Bay is likely to forget.
The Packers have already proved susceptible to the run. They allowed 189 rushing yards against the Bears in Week 1 and finished with a negative-4.8 run defense rating, 27th in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.
With Green Bay fully cognizant of what Seattle is capable of on the ground, Wilson will be forced to make at least a few plays through the air to prevent the Packers defense from stacking the box.
None of the Seahawks receivers were particularly impressive against St. Louis, but Wilson and Jimmy Graham established a bit of a rapport in the second half, and the former Saint will be the key to putting up enough points to keep Seattle afloat against the Packers' potent offense.
| Jermaine Kearse | 10 | 8 | 9.5 | 76 | 0 | 98.3 |
| Doug Baldwin | 8 | 7 | 5.0 | 35 | 0 | 84.9 |
| Jimmy Graham | 8 | 6 | 8.5 | 51 | 1 | 130.7 |
| Tyler Lockett | 4 | 4 | 8.5 | 34 | 0 | 102.1 |
| Chris Matthews | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 100.0 |
| Luke Willson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
Wilson had to throw 41 passes against St. Louis in Week 1, the only time he's ever topped 40 attempts in 57 career games, including the playoffs, per Pro Football Reference.
Seattle, like every other team in the NFL, wants the ball in Aaron Rodgers' hands as little as possible, so expect them to return to a more ground-oriented approach in Green Bay.
Defensive Game Plan
If Nick Foles and a largely anonymous group of Rams receivers can give the Seattle defense fits, what might two-time MVP Aaron Rodgers do to it?
Defensive coordinator Kris Richard knows his unit's first meaningful performance of the season was far from up to par. If anything, it was more like a double-bogey that found some beach along the way.
He said the following, per the team's official site:
"It was not up to the standard, that’s first and foremost, and obviously our communication needs to improve in order to make sure that we can just line up and execute, and ultimately that’s kind of what it comes down to. It’s going to be our ability just to get lined up and execute.
"
Richard can teach all he wants, but it's still on the players to execute and to recognize and read not as the play happens but before the ball is snapped.
“Everything that happened was basically on us,” Earl Thomas said. “Whether it be communication, we just didn’t understand what situation it was, so it’s all fixable stuff, and I guarantee we’re going to fix it.”
Without Kam Chancellor, the Seahawks had difficulty lining up properly and recognizing their assignments. Chancellor is far more than just a bruiser: He's the defense's vocal leader and a savvy on-field strategist.
Green Bay likes to employ a healthy dose of no-huddle offense, allowing Rodgers to carve up the defense as he gradually wears them down with his opponent unable to get any subs in.
| 2012: Week 3 | 26/39 | 223 | 66.7 | 0/1 | 81.5 | 2/17 |
| 2014: Week 1 | 23/33 | 189 | 69.7 | 1/1 | 81.5 | 0/0 |
| 2015: NFC Champ. | 19/34 | 178 | 55.8 | 1/2 | 55.8 | 1/12 |
This is where Dion Bailey is going to have to prove himself. Left alone, Rodgers will target the second-year safety, a situation that was far from fortuitous for Seattle against St. Louis.
To save a secondary that isn't what it was last year—especially with Chancellor out and Cary Williams still adapting—Seattle will need its pass rush to once again put heavy pressure on the quarterback.
Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett were both highly disruptive against St. Louis, and they'll need to do the same against a much better Green Bay offensive line.
| Player | Pass Rush Snaps | Pressures | Sacks | Stops | Pass Rush Rating |
| Cliff Avril | 26 | 5 | 0 | 2 | +2.8 |
| Michael Bennett | 25 | 4 | 1 | 4 | +1.3 |
Seattle allowed eight completions of 20 or more yards against St. Louis. Do that against Green Bay, and Rodgers is putting up at least 40.
It's better to get killed underneath than beat over the top, though in a perfect world, Seattle could prevent both.
The Richard Sherman-Randall Cobb matchup will be critical, but with Sherman likely focusing his attention on Green Bay's Pro Bowl slot receiver, James Jones and DaVante Adams will see numerous targets roaming down the field. Stopping them will fall upon Seattle's other corners, and in Week 1 they showed they weren't exactly up to the task.
Rodgers is going to get his in this game; it's just a matter of making sure he doesn't get it all.
Key Players and Matchups
LB Clay Matthews
Seattle got an intimate view of the bedlam Clay Matthews is capable of creating in the NFC Championship Game. He was credited with six tackles and one sack and was constantly pressuring Wilson and frustrating Bevell.
This year, Green Bay defensive coordinator Dom Capers has allowed Matthews more free rein to roam, use his instincts and make plays when dropping back into coverage—his interception of Jay Cutler in Week 1 played a key role in the Packers' win.
Matthews is especially intriguing in pass protection, and he could see some time trying to stop Jimmy Graham, especially when Seattle enters the red zone.
Matthews will also take on the role of Lynch-stopper in a matchup Cobb dubbed "the Beast versus the Predator."
"He's an extraordinary athlete," Carroll said of Lynch, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "He's got unbelievable power. He's got such a style about the way he runs. He's just built with a great base under him and he's got this great attitude about him and he's such a powerful athlete."
Matthews isn't too shabby an athlete himself, and he's one who relishes mountainous physical clashes just as much as Lynch.
On Sunday night, we'll get an answer to Cobb's hyperbolic battle: Beast or Predator?
WR Randall Cobb
He's still limited by an ailing shoulder, but Cobb remains one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL.
Against Seattle's nickel scheme, Rodgers could look to isolate Cobb, placing him in one-on-one situations with Sherman in a position the Seahawks' All-Pro corner isn't as familiar with.
He's one of the few players who has found consistent success against Seattle.
Cobb caught seven passes for 62 yards and one touchdown in the NFC Championship Game and led the Packers with 10 targets. He also hauled in a touchdown during last season's Week 1 matchup.
Against St. Louis, Sherman was often matched up with Tavon Austin—a blazer with supreme quickness but far from an elite wide receiver—in the slot. Predictably, Sherman shut him down. But Cobb will provide far more of a challenge.
The Packers slot receiver still isn't able to mix it up or get overly physical, which should prove problematic considering how well Sherman jams at the line. If Sherman is able to eradicate Cobb from the game, Rodgers will be left to rely on James Jones and DaVante Adams on the outside.
NT B.J. Raji
Coming off a Week 1 performance that resembled the best of his prime, it's going to take a collective effort to stop the forceful rush of a svelte, healthy B.J. Raji.
Raji's offseason of rehab and slimming looks to have paid off, as he led all Packers lineman with a plus-2.2 rating in Week 1, per Pro Football Focus.
The Packers nose tackle possesses both size and skill which demand double-teams, and it's unlikely the unproven Drew Nowak will be able to handle him on his own.
Raji isn't likely to catch to elusive Wilson, but that's not exactly his job. He's there to cause chaos in the trenches and draw attention, while his teammates utilize the openings he creates.
Raji is a different sort of physical challenge compared to what Seattle dealt with last week, but that makes him no less dangerous. The attention often falls on Matthews and Julius Peppers, but Raji is worthy of at least one eye at all times.
Marshawn Lynch
If we're going to highlight the Predator, it's only fair we do the same for the Beast.
In their four previous meetings, it's Lynch who has proved too much for Green Bay to handle.
| Game | Attempts | Yards | YPA | TD | Receptions | Yards |
| 2010: Week 2 | 17 | 64 | 3.76 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012: Week 3 | 25 | 98 | 3.92 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2014: Week 1 | 20 | 110 | 5.50 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
| 2015: NFC Champ. | 25 | 157 | 6.28 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
It's possible the one thing that could make Lynch salivate more than a jumbo bag of Skittles is a porous run defense ripe for destruction.
Green Bay has just that, and if Bevell is wise, he'll utilize Lynch in much the same way he did last season.
We already touched on seeing more of the read-option, but it could come in especially handy against Green Bay. Wilson's running ability should constantly be on the mind Matthews and Peppers, making their potential choices on read-option plays all the more dangerous.
After a middling Week 1 performance, all of Seattle is ready to see Lynch bust out. A trip to Lambeau might just be the perfect recipe for that.
Jimmy Graham
Graham was shipped in from New Orleans to score touchdowns. In his first regular-season game, that's exactly what he did.
After a slow start when he was barely targeted, Wilson finally began to utilize the greatest offensive weapon he's ever had.
Graham is a matchup nightmare for linebackers and cornerbacks alike. He's far too quick for backers and far too strong for cornerbacks. He's as comfortable in the red zone as he is in his own bed, maybe even more so.
But Graham's issues don't stem from playmaking ability—they emanate from pass-blocking ability, or lack thereof. Graham posted a negative-0.8 pass-block rating in Week 1, per Pro Football Focus.
Seattle didn't trade starting center Max Unger and a first-round pick so Graham could stay in a block, but the Seahawks did show they are willing to use him as a blocker from time to time.
"Why the hell is Jimmy Graham blocking an edge rusher one-on-one? Seattle really have no clue what to do with him atm pic.twitter.com/3HtXFboxJM
— Cian Fahey (@Cianaf) September 14, 2015"
Wilson will need to utilize Graham more effectively in the passing game in Week 2, particularly in the red zone, but Graham may also have to do his part to assist an offensive line that hasn't proved it can block anything.
Prediction
Seattle doesn't suffer from the "disease of more."
Were this game against a different opponent, Seattle would be expected to land back on their feet.
But this is the Packers. Opening up Lambeau Field. On a three-game losing streak to the Seahawks, the team who denied them a chance at the Super Bowl in the most excruciating way possible.
The Seattle secondary isn't synchronized. The offensive line could improve by 30 percent and still look awful.
It's difficult to count out gamers such as Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch, and both are in line to deliver big games, particularly Lynch. Jimmy Graham should also find success, which for him, means a trip or two to the end zone.
Tyler Lockett, if Green Bay actually kicks to him, is more than capable of providing Seattle with stellar starting field position. He's a spark that can ignite the entire team with just one touch. It'll take plenty of scores to overcome the Packers, and Lockett could be key in that regard.
But overcoming a Rodgers-led team in a shootout? That's not what the Seahawks were built for.
The way for Seattle to win this game is to establish the run early. There can't be three-and-outs. This needs to be classic Seattle football. They need to feed the Beast, let Wilson loose and let the clock run while Rodgers looks on.
But this offensive line isn't up for that task just yet, and that, along with a vulnerable secondary, will be the downfall of Seattle.
The Seahawks will keep it close because they know how to play the Packers and know they cannot fall to 0-2. But it won't be enough, and next week, back at CenturyLink Field, they'll have a true must-win game on their hands.
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