Packers-Seahawks: Green Bay Cruises After Two Early Fumbles
January 13, 2008
Seattle Seahawks 14, Green Bay Packers 0.
That is what the scoreboard at Lambeau Field read after just 4 minutes and 1 second into the first quarter of the game.
This was almost entirely due to the fact that Ryan Grant, the Green Bay Packers running back, fumbled twice in his first three touches.
The first fumble left the Seahawks on the 1 yard line. Just a simple punch in by Sean Alexander lead to their first 7 points on the board.
Then Ryan Grant got his second chance. Another fumble, leaving the Seahawks on the 49 yard line. A 6-play drive ending in a Matt Hasselbeck to Bobby Engram connection for 11 yards and a touchdown.
That is where the Seahawks apparently left the field, or maybe it was where Ryan Grant showed up to play?
Ryan Grant redeemed himself most certainly from his early game miscues. He finished his first playoff game as a Packer with 201 yards on 27 carries and even 3 touchdowns. Impressive to say the least.
Brett Favre finished the game 18 for 23 with 173 yards and 3 touchdowns. His favorite receiver throughout the game was Greg Jennings.
Jennings finished the game with 6 receptions for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Atari Bigby had a huge game on defense for the Packers. He literally was all over the field throughout the game making big plays on defense whenever the Packer's needed him, finishing the game with 7 tackles. Pretty good for a 2nd year veteran out of Central Florida playing in his first NFL playoff game.
This Packer's team might be young, but they are good.
On the other side of the ball, the Seahawks were definitely lopsided towards the passing game. Though, not even Hasselbeck's passing game could help them get out of this game.
The Seahawks only scored twice after the first 4 minutes and 1 second of the game. 2 field goals by Josh Brown. One in the second quarter and one in the third quarter.
Hasselbeck finished the game 19 for 33 for 194 yards and 1 touchdown. He favored two receivers nearly evenly throughout the game, Bobby Engram and Ben Obomanu.
Engram finished the game with 6 receptions for 67 yards and 1 touchdown. Obomanu finished the game with 4 receptions for 63 yards and 0 touchdowns.
The Seahawks rushing game was at most nonexistent throughout. The Packer's shutdown rushing attempts time after time.
Alexander, the Seahawks leading rusher, finished the game with 9 carries for 20 yards and 1 touchdown.
Favre and Grant left with about 5 minutes left in the final quarter of this contest graciously as Favre saluted the fans just as he always does. This made way for the rookie running back out of Nebraska to get a few carries, Brandon Jackson.
Jackson had several tackles on special teams, roughed the kicker leading the Seahawks to a field goal in the 2nd quarter, rushed for 34 yards on 8 carries, and caught a touchdown pass in his first ever NFL playoff game.
After completing their victory over the Seahawks, the Packers will move on to play the winner of the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys on January 20th at 5:30pm for the NFC Championship and a shot at a Super Bowl appearance.
Team Statistics
1st Downs | 15 | 25 |
Total Yards | 200 | 408 |
Passing | 172 | 173 |
Rushing | 28 | 235 |
Penalties | 4-28 | 5-47 |
3rd Down Conversions | 3-11 | 7-10 |
4th Down Conversions | 0-1 | 0-0 |
Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
Possession | 26:00 | 34:00 |
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