Packers-Seahawks: Green Bay Stays Alive for the Playoffs

Green Bay scored 24 unanswered points from the second through fourth quarter to secure the victory before giving up a late touchdown. At 3-3, Green Bay is now tied for first in the division but would win the tie-break because they are 2-0 within the NFC North (the Bears are 1-0 and Vikings 1-1 in the division).

However, the Packers actually staved off a virtual elimination Sunday by earning the 27-17 victory. While a loss would have left them only a game back of the Vikings and Bears, this was a must win because of the upcoming schedule.

Over the next four weeks, the Packers host the Colts, who are finally hitting their stride, before the bye week. Then the team travels to Tennessee (still unbeaten) and Minnesota (3-1 since changing quarterbacks). Without a win in Seattle, they may have been facing mathematical elimination the following week against the Bears, more than a week before Thanksgiving.

Coming into the game, I expected both teams to run for close to 150 yards. Not only were both teams struggling in run defense, both had injuries at the quarterback position they could be expected to protect by committing to running the ball.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was playing with a separated shoulder. He winced on every warm-up throw before the game and did not practice passing all week. He even admitted that any time he threw more than three passes in a row, the pain was tremendous. Thus, he needed to be given as few throws as possible.

The Seahawks also needed to run more to take pressure off their third-string quarterback, Charlie Frye. (It is interesting to note, however, that Frye has 14 more career starts than the entire quarterback unit of the Packers.) They feature a deep backfield, with Julius Jones, Maurice Morris, and T.J. Duckett coming in with at least one year each as a feature back.

However, the three combined for just 69 yards in 18 carries (3.8 per carry). Furthermore, the Seahawks only broke the century mark because of a 27-yard scramble by Frye and a 13-yard run by FB Leonard Weaver on their last drive that began with 5:15 left and a 17-point deficit. Up to that point, they had 21 carries for 73 yards (3.5 per carry).

Both teams finished with exactly 113 yards, but the Packers Ryan Grant needed 33 carries to get his season-high 90 yards (2.7 per carry). Including his two kneel-downs, Aaron Rodgers had six carries for 23 yards and the only rushing TD of the game.

So while the Packers only managed 2.9 yards per carry, their commitment to the run did achieve the goal of taking pressure off Rodgers' throwing arm. It also helped reduce the pass rush: He was sacked only twice, once causing a fumble when he clearly should have gotten rid of the ball sooner.

But he had another stellar day passing, completing 70 percent of his passes for over 200 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Thus, he accounted for three TDs and only one turnover again, but I am sure that will do nothing to sway all those who are determined to blame him for the team not doing as well as it did last year under Favre, even though his stats are better than Favre's were last year and it is the defense failing the team.

This Sunday, however, the defense rose to the occasion, holding the Seahawks to just 177 yards and forcing two interceptions (Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams) and three sacks. Even the penalties that have plagued the team were absent, as they were assessed for just 45 yards on five infractions, one less for five less yards than the home team.

If they can play like this against a team led by a bona fide quarterback, then I will regain hope they are a playoff team. Otherwise, at best they can compete in a bad division for the right to lose in the first round.