The 2014 NFL season kicks off on Thursday as the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers in what could be a very early preview of the NFC Championship Game.
Packers vs. Seahawks 2014 game preview: The NFL returns in Seattle
The Seahawks begin defense of their Super Bowl title against the Green Bay Packers.
Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE
This will be the teams’ first regular season meeting since the infamous Fail Mary game in 2012, which ended on Golden Tate’s controversial game-winning touchdown catch in the back of the end zone as time expired. That Seattle win was just the second victory for the Seahawks against the Packers in eight head-to-head matchups since 2000.
A Green Bay win would not only serve as sweet revenge for Packers Nation, but also send a strong message to the rest of the league that the Packers are a serious Super Bowl contender.
The Seahawks are coming off the best season in franchise history and one of the most dominating championship performances in NFL history. A win would be the first step in avoiding the proverbial Super Bowl hangover and showing that last season’s record-breaking performance was not a fluke.
Let’s take a look at the two teams below.
Meet the Packers
The Packers looked poised to run away with the NFC North last season, winning five of their first seven games before disaster struck in a Week 9 loss to the Chicago Bears when Aaron Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone that would sideline him until Week 17. The Packers went into a tailspin without their franchise quarterback, going 2-5-1 in his absence, and the team only made the playoffs because the rest of the NFC North was equally pathetic.
What to look for
When healthy, Rodgers is one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. Since his first full season as starter in 2008, no quarterback has a higher yards per attempt or touchdown-to-interception ratio than Rodgers, and only Peyton Manning (79.9) has a better Total QBR than Rodgers (73.8).
This year the Packers could feature the most balanced offense they've ever had with Rodgers under center. Jordy Nelson is coming off a career-best season and Randall Cobb has the potential to be one of the top slot receivers in the league. Rookie of the Year Eddie Lacy appears to be the dynamic back that the Packers lacked in previous years, and could join Ahman Green (2003) as the only Packers' running backs to reach 1,500 rush yards in a season. Green Bay also upgraded on defense this season, adding Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers and rookie safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
The Packers have lost their last two season-opening games (both against the 49ers) and another defeat would represent their longest losing streak in season openers since dropping five in a row from 1985-89.
Meet the Seahawks
Last year’s Super Bowl champion proved that defense does win championships. The Seahawks led the NFL in nearly every defensive category in 2013 and return practically all of their core players from the “Legion of Boom” secondary, which allowed just 16 touchdown passes all season.
Week 1: Packers vs. Seahawks
Week 1: Packers vs. Seahawks
Russell Wilson doesn't look like the prototypical quarterback (5'11), but he has put together arguably one of the finest starts to a career in NFL history. His 28 wins are the most by any quarterback in his first two seasons, and only Dan Marino threw more touchdown passes in his first two seasons than Wilson.
The Seahawks ranked eighth in points scored last season but should have an improved offense in 2014 with the return of a healthy Percy Harvin and a deep set of running backs led by Marshawn Lynch.
If history is any indication, the Seahawks will be challenged to defend their title. No team has won back-to-back Super Bowls since the 2003-04 Patriots, and that 2004 New England team is also the last defending champ to even win a playoff game.
“We have a target on our back now,” said Wilson, via The Sports Network. “But our mentality is that this is a brand new year. And we’re trying to do better than we did last year.”
The “12th Man” should be rocking for the Thursday night opener at CenturyLink Field, where the Seahawks have lost just once in 18 games since the start of the 2012 season.
Injuries
The good news for the Packers heading into the season opener is that they should have their entire starting defense on the field. Linebacker Brad Jones was a full participant in practice on Wednesday and was listed as probable on the team's official injury report. Three players have been ruled out: TE Brandon Bostick (fibula), CB Demetri Goodson (concussion), and C JC Tretter (knee).
The Seahawks' injury report has no surprises with TE Cooper Helfet (knee), RB Christine Michael (hamstring), OL Lemuel Jeanpierre (neck), LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (hamstring) and CB Tharold Simon (knee) listed as out. All five of those players did not practice this week. Listed as probable were WR Kevin Norwood (foot), CB Jeremy Lane (hamstring) and DE/LB Bruce Irvin (hip).
Follow the Fun
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Odds
The Seahawks are favored by 6 points over the Packers.
Next Week
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