Nice. It will be nice to watch the Seahawks-Packers game Sunday. The noise surrounding it has felt deafening with Twitter and all social media, the sports universe, Saturday Night Live, political leaders, celebrities, and seemingly everyone who can form words weighing in on Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, his “I’ve been immunized,” statement, his Covid-19 status, and his possible return to the team to face the Seahawks. “I’m an athlete, not an activist,” Rodgers said in a Tuesday interview, “I shared my opinion and it was what I felt was in the best interest for my body.”
As Rodgers recovers from C19, The Packers medical staff will still need to clear him following a series of evaluations. The evaluations will happen Saturday morning and, if Rodgers is cleared he will play. NFL League policy regarding players recovering from Covid stipulates that Rodgers does not need to be tested before being cleared. Head Coach Matt LaFleur addressed the situation in his Wednesday presser, “Definitely it [Rodgers’ return status] adds an element of…unknown there right? But, Jordan’s [Love] preparing like he is the starter and we’ll get them both ready to play.”
Blah! There! Can we put that behind us and watch a football game? Please Football Gods? Pretty please with Packers cheese and a Seahawks egg on top?
Let’s talk Hawks. “I have…never encountered a player so committed to his postoperative therapy and with so much conviction to return,” said Dr. Steve Shin. Shin, the doctor handling Seahawks starting QB Russell Wilson’s ruptured tendon injury to the middle finger of his throwing hand (right), indicated that Wilson’s injury and subsequent recovery were as close to miraculous as anything he’d seen prior. Wilson has missed just 3 games since his injury in week 5 (a game they lost to the Rams following Wilson’s injury). The Seahawks have gone 1-2 without their former NFL MVP QB.
The Game:
Sunday the Seahawks will come into Lambeau sporting a 3-5 record and tied for last place in the ultra-competitive NFC West. While this isn’t a ‘must-win’ game for Seattle, it currently occupies the 6th Wild-Card spot in the NFC. Three W.C. teams go to the post-season from each Conference.
The Packers sit atop the barely-competitive NFC North with a 7-2 season record. Lambeau will be a welcome sight for the Packers as they have played 4 of their previous 5 on the road.
The Line:
The Vegas line opened at GB -5 with oddsmakers anticipating Rodgers’ return. The line since moved to -3.5 with the Wilson news, it sits at GB -3 to -3 ½ in casinos, books, and online.
Since Wilson has been at the helm under head coach Pete Carrol, the Packers-Seahawks rivalry has blossomed into the ‘must watch’ category. In an NFC Divisional Playoff game last season, Green Bay beat Seattle 28-23 at home. In 2012 the famous Fail-Mary play (bing it) sealed a Seahawks win and effectively ended the NFL referee strike. Then in 2015, Seattle hosted Green Bay in the NFC Championship game and Green Bay blew a 13 point halftime lead to Seattle who outscored the Packers 28-6 in the 2nd half & overtime. The unbelievable comeback win for the Hawks featured several improbable errors by the Packers and the win sent the Hawks to their 2nd straight Super Bowl. Before Carroll’s time, in 2004, Green Bay won an NFC Wild Card home game when Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck, during the O.T. coin flip announced, “We’re gonna take the ball and we’re gonna score.” He subsequently threw a game-ending pick 6 to Packers’ CB Al Harris.
Seahawks vs Packers All-time Head-to-Head (and other) stats:
Wins all-time: 9-14-0 (inc. 4 playoff)
Playoff wins: 1/3
Since 2000: 4/10
Points scored: 485/611
In Lambeau: 3/12
Super Bowl wins: 1/4
- First-Ever Meeting: Oct. 10, 1976, SEA 20 at GB 27
- Last Meeting: Jan. 12, 2020, SEA 23 at GB 28
- Seahawks longest win streak: 3 (2 times, ‘84-90, 12-15)
- Packers longest win streak: 3 (3 times, ‘76-81, ‘03-’06, ‘15-17)
- Wilson vs GB (4-4)
- Rodgers vs Seattle (5-4)
Sunday Kickoff in Lambeau is scheduled for 3:25 local.
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