The Green Bay Packers will host the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round. Should the Packers be worried about the Seahawks next week at home?
All the playoff matchups have been set for the divisional round. The last team to advance during Wild Card Weekend was the No. 5-seeded Seattle Seahawks, who defeated the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night, 17-9. It wasn’t the least bit of a pretty ball game, but Seattle did show us a few things the Green Bay Packers need to pay attention to. Should the Packers be worried?
Green Bay should be able to win this one at home to advance to the NFC Championship game. However, Seattle is that one team in the NFC that never says die. The Seahawks played great defense against the Eagles on Sunday, albeit against a backup quarterback in Josh McCown once Carson Wentz exited the game with a concussion. Seattle also can do a thing or two offensively.
Though they only rushed for 64 yards on the evening, quarterback Russell Wilson was able to make enough plays with his legs on nine carries for 45 yards to open up the vertical passing game. He should be able to expect a tad more out of Travis Homer and Marshawn Lynch next week, who combined for 19 yards on 17 carries. But this one was all about the passing game for Seattle.
Wilson completed 18-of-30 passes for 325 yards and a touchdown, targeting rookie wide receiver D.K. Metcalf most often. Metcalf had an outstanding postseason debut, as he set an NFL rookie record for most receiving yards in his first playoff game with seven catches for 160 yards and a touchdown. Wilson also saw Tyler Lockett and David Moore go over 50 yards through the air.
In short, the Seahawks were just versatile enough offensively to keep Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine on his toes for this win-or-go-home ballgame next week. Given that Seattle displayed a great physical presence in its Wild Card win, a finesse Green Bay team should be worried about matching the Seahawks’ intensity in the trenches and now out on the perimeter.
Ultimately, Green Bay has the playmakers and the home-field advantage to win this divisional round game easily if all things break right. However, if the Packers don’t put the Seahawks away early, look for Wilson and his Seattle teammates to do whatever it takes to pull off another road victory, living to fight another day in the NFC playoffs. Green Bay is better but should be worried.