The Green Bay Packers improved to 2-0 this season with a 27-17 victory at Lambeau Field over the reigning NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks.
The Packers did lose running back Eddie Lacy and played without Davante Adams for a couple drives, but Green Bay was able to overcome its losses and beat the Seahawks for the first time since 2009. The two teams played an evenly matched game for most of the night, but two fourth quarter Seattle turnovers proved to be the difference in the Packers’ home opener.
Green Bay jumped out to a fast start, going 80 yards in ten plays to grab a quick 7-0 lead after another James Jones touchdown reception. But the Green Bay offense stalled after the opening drive.
Favorable field position allowed the Packers to kick a field goal on its next possession, despite gaining just seven yards. Seattle followed that drive with a field goal of its own to bring the score to 10-3.
The Packers committed the first turnover of the game on a James Starks fumble, but the Packers’ defense buckled down and forced a quick Seattle punt. Green Bay appeared to score a touchdown just before halftime, but replay showed that James Jones landed out of bounds before making the reception. Another Mason Crosby field goal made the score 13-3 at halftime.
The Seahawks came out firing in the second half. After implementing more of the read option, Russell Wilson methodically took Seattle down the field, leading the team to touchdowns on each of its first two possessions in the third quarter. The Packers tacked on three more points, but faced a 17-16 deficit entering the fourth quarter.
Aaron Rodgers continued his efficient play and put together another ten play drive, in which he completed all eight of his passes, and found Richard Rodgers in the endzone to give Green Bay the lead for good.
Seattle still had plenty of time to mount a comeback, but linebacker Jayrone Elliot intercepted an intended screen pass from Wilson, which allowed Green Bay to run the clock to the two minute warning and add on another field goal.
The Packers’ defense made sure not to give the Seahawks a chance at another miraculous comeback. After Seattle drove into Green Bay territory, Elliot again made an impact play and forced a fumble from running back Fred Jackson. The Packers needed just one kneel down to end the game with a ten point victory.
A week after the Packers’ rushing defense got shredded by Matt Forte, Green Bay held Seattle to 119 rushing yards including just 41 from running back Marshawn Lynch. Wilson’s scrambling and designed running ability proved difficult at times, but overall the defense kept the running game in check.
Green Bay got hit by the injury bug once again, but was able to overcome the loss of some of its more valuable players. The team was already without Bryan Bulaga, but the team lost running back Eddie Lacy, wide receiver Davante Adams, and defensive lineman Josh Boyd for parts of the game. Adams eventually returned, though he was noticeably affected by the injury, while Lacy and Boyd remained out.
But the “next man up” mentality worked once again for Green Bay. Don Barclay, who started in Bulaga’s place, allowed some extra pressure on Rodgers but overall was able to hold the Seattle pass rush in check. Ty Montgomery had a number of big receptions on the Packers final drives, and James Starks rushed for 95 yards in Lacy’s absence.
Rodgers completed 25/33 passes for 249 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and his interception-free play at Lambeau since 2012 was kept intact. Six different players caught a pass for Green Bay, with Randall Cobb leading the Packers with 116 yards on eight receptions.
Green Bay did not play a perfect game. Missed tackles, unnecessary penalties, and occasional added pressure on Rodgers were issues for much of the game. But the Packers played well enough to win, outgaining the Seahawks 361-324 and maintaining a 33:18-26:42 advantage in time of possession.
Hopefully for the Packers, both Bulaga and Lacy will be ready to play for Week 3. Green Bay hosts Kansas City on Monday night with a ten game winning streak at Lambeau Field intact.
——————Sean Blashe is a Packers fan who grew up in Bears territory and is currently a journalism and history major at Marquette University. Sean is a writer with PackersTalk.com and you can follow him on twitter at @SeanBlashe .
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8 responses to “Packers Overcome Injuries, Late Deficit to Beat Seahawks”
Bulaga won’t be back for at least a month, after surgery on his left knee. Clean up the tackling problem and we should be fine on defense. Next up: Jamaal Charles, and his fumblitis
FINISH, that’s what Jayrone Elliot showed this defense. IF this Packers’ defense could consistently play as they did in firs quarter and most of first half, they would be competing for a second consecutive SB title this season. WHY Capers can’t get consistency from his defense like the first half of this game is a mystery. And imagine how much it can improve with Guion returning after next Mon night’s game against KC Chiefs.
The Seahawks made a major adjustment to their offense in the 2nd half. GB wasn’t quite ready for it. Or, the argument might be that with the LBs dropping into coverage, the O-line may do fine in the middle, but when Russell Wilson decided to take it outside, there was no one to tackle him. I’m not sure, with our defensive scheme, that we will ever be able to stop that read option attack. If there is criticism to be made, it’s that it took so long for us to readjust after the half. The good news is that instead of being pounded into the ground like our defense usually is in the second half of these things, they kept at it and found the energy to make plays.
IF this was the first time Capers had faced Wilson, I’d believe it–but Wilson and Kaepernick–BOTH running QB’s with the option had beaten Packers 3 STRAIGHT times each until this game. What part of CONTAIN does Capers NOT get when preparing for this QB? For the FIRST time–defense FINISHED with a lead and a win–they haven’t played this well since ’10 SB season.
You do need the right type of player to play contain with the read option. Peppers is not that guy and got taken to the woodshed several times. Nick Perry, while not perfect, did as good a job as any Packer has over the last few years. Mike Neal falls somewhere between those two, sometimes doing the job, other times fooled badly.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. I agree our coaches are often bumfuzzled by stuff it seems they should have anticipated. What was hopeful was that at the time when the team has historically imploded, they started down that road but then picked themselves up. I can’t help but wonder if our 2nd youngest team in the league model comes with the risk of losing our poise in situations like that third quarter.
I think that reflects more on the COACH, especially the HC. It’s HIS JOB to have these guys prepared and ready, when I hear McCarthy call out Dom Capers’ defense for POOR TACKLING for the 5th CONSECUTIVE YEAR, you have to wonder WHY it continues instead of getting fixed. IF GB played defense every season as they did in first half Mon. nite, they would’ve already been in at least TWO more SB appearances since the ’10 champs. Yeah, the Hawks adjusted to start fourth quarter, but the Packers coaches should’ve anticipated it and I continue to be surprised why they didn’t. What surprised me is the Hawks failing to adjust to Rodgers by at least a surprise blitz or two on the TD drive when Richard Rodgers caught the go ahead TD. It’s a big win but I hope Packers get opportunity to knock Carrol and Hawks OUT of playoffs too!
Sean,
Now that’s what I call great work. You covered all of the bases and home plate. Nice piece! Go Pack Go!