The NFC championship clash between the Seahawks and Packers pins arguably the best offense in the NFL against the undoubtedly best defense the league has seen in a while. In this article, I will share the three X-factors for each team on both sides of the ball, and my prediction.
Seattle Seahawks offense:
1. Take advantage of read option on rushing downs:
It is basically a given that Clay Matthews will and should be on the inside on first and second downs to take away the big play from Marshawn Lynch, which is definitely easier said than done. Russell Wilson has a tendency to run right more than running left, which will be a problem as the athletic beast of a linebacker in 35 year-old Julius Peppers just happens to be lined up there. That means he has to run to the left more times then not during the first two downs of every four down series, as the slower Mike Neal or Nick Perry will be there. Nick Perry has a hard time defending running quarterbacks, evidence by the egg he laid last year against Colin Kaepernick.
2. Use Marshawn Lynch as much as possible.
The Packers defensive game plan will be solely based on stopping Beast Mode, and it is essential to use #24 as often as possible, giving Seattle’s overly-aggressive defense a break on the sideline, and keeping Rodgers and Co. sitting on the bench as well. Using Lynch will also provide dividends for the Hawks in the passing game, giving the receivers time to create openings for Wilson.
3. Control Game Clock.
This is something the Seahawks haven’t had much of a problem with, as their rushing offense is second to none in the NFL. In fact, in every victory the Seahawks acquired over the course of the season, they had the ball for the majority of the ball game. As long as the Packers aren’t lighting up the scoreboard, whoever controls the ball for longer will likely be heading to the desert for the Super Bowl.
Seattle Seahawks defense:
1. Take away Jordy Nelson.
Aaron Rodgers is going to want to spread the ball around, and perhaps the only playmaker capable of shredding the stout secondary of the Hawks for a big scoring play is #87 of the green and gold. Byron Maxwell will most likely line up across from the former Kansas State walk-on, and he will have to provide his best play for the Legion of Boom to once again bottle up the stout Packers aerial attack.
2. Force Eddie Lacy outside.
The Seahawks are missing both starting defensive tackles in Branden Mebane and Jordan Hill, which will provide a huge hole for the Packers rushing assault. This means that the Hawks linebackers need to bite early up the middle so that Lacy is forced to bounce outside and feel the wrath of the most physical defensive back the league has seen in a while, Kam Chancellor. I cringe at the sight, even now, as a Lacy-Chancellor collision may cause an earthquake on the football field. It will be interesting to see who gets overpowered, even if the safety who is flying at full speed has the “slight” advantage.
3. Bring your copyrighted noise CenturyLink.
CenturyLink Field holds the record for highest decibels recorded at an NFL game, and is notorious around the country for the noise the fans in the stands provide while their defense roams the playing ground. Rodgers, who will be strictly be limited to running the offense from the pocket, will have a tough time notifying the rest of the offense changing audibles and the provided game plan.
Green Bay Packers offense:
1. Feed the beast, and send him up the gut.
As stated before, the Seahawks will be ailing at the interior defensive line. This provides maybe the most important mismatch the Packers will have in this game, their interior offensive line. The trio of Josh Sitton, Corey Linsley, and T.J. Lang has proved to be one of, if not the very best, interior offensive line groups in the NFL. The last time the Seahawks faced this stout of an offensive line, it was in a HOME loss to the Dallas Cowboys front led by Travis Frederick and rookie Zack Martin. And that was with a healthy Mebane and Hill in the mix.
2. Attack Richard Sherman, a lot.
This seams like a dumb game plan, as Sherman may be the best corner the league has to offer, but it will be essential if the Packers want to leave the state of Washington with a win on Sunday. The Packers will likely have the up and coming star in DaVante Adams line up opposite of the All-Pro corner, and he will try to ride the momentum he created last week against the Cowboys into the conference championship game. Attacking Sherman not only eliminates the Packers preference to one side of the football field, but also takes the heat off of the dynamic pass-catching duo of Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson, and of course, A-Rod himself.
3. Know that Rodgers will deliver when asked to.
There is a country-wide feeling of how important this game is to the legacy of Aaron Rodgers. If the Green Bay Packers end up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February, Rodgers will be the front runner for the best quarterback of all time. At age 31. I just have a feeling that he is going to make an incredible play in this game that will hush the home crowd and take the breath away from not only Packer nation, but in the homes of NFL fans from coast to coast.
Green Bay Packers defense:
1. Move Clay Matthews around.
It will be crucial that Clay Matthews shows up big in the conference championship game, as his play as a wall for the powerful Lynch and rushing the instinctive and clutch Russell Wilson will be necessary for the offense of the Pack to get back on the field, and to provide solid field position, for that matter. Force Wilson to make adjustments and have to identify where #52 lines up on every down,
2. Have Haha Clinton Dix spy on Wilson.
With Morgan Burnett providing his run-stopping support from the back end, and no particularly speedy linebackers in green and gold, the control of Russell Wilson’s legs rests on the center fielding rookie out of Alabama. He provides the combination of tackling and speed that none of the rest of the Packers defenders provide. With no particular deep threats on the edges for Seattle, this will allow Clinton-Dix to sneak up and keep a close eye on the former Wisconsin Badger signal-caller.
3. Win the line of scrimmage battle.
This is an interesting call because both the Seahawks offensive line and the Packers defensive line don’t really strike fear into the opponents eyes. Both positional groups do have star players however. The matchup of Mike Daniels on guard Dan Carpenter will supply a pivotal battle as they both provide star power along their respective lines. The winner of the line of scrimmage will be a critical element in this game, because if the Seahawks take advantage, Lynch and Co. will run over them. If the Pack win this battle, they will close all inside running lanes for the number one rush attack in the league.
PREDICTION:
This game has the feeling of a legendary game, as neither teams seem prone to a blowout, especially in an all-important game like this. All the talking heads of the NFL right now have the home team as victors, and for good reason, as they have perhaps the best home-field advantage in the NFL. I think the lost of both starting defensive tackles is being overlooked in the media across the US, as Mebane and Hill have been run-stopping machines all season long. With two backup defensive tackles in the ball game, the Seahawks won’t be able to provide substantial pressure to A-Rod without bringing heavy and loaded blitzes. Even with Rodgers and Lacy both not being 100%, I think the Packers have all the tools to leave Seattle with a victory, as long as they win the turnover battle and limit Seattle from scoring more than two touchdowns over the course of the game. Aaron Rodgers and Julius Peppers will lead their respective units to a victory, with a little help from Mason Crosby. Crosby will officially prove all his doubters wrong, hitting a 39 yard game winning field goal in the closing seconds.
Packers win 24-23
