Last week, Green Bay beat Brock Osweiler and the Houston Texans in a cold, snowy winter game at Lambeau Field. However, this Sunday the Seattle Seahawks, fresh off a 40-7 beat down of the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football, come in town for a highly anticipated match-up.
Green Bay Packers Week 14 Keys to Victory
Packers Running Game versus Seahawks Run Defense
It took three thirds of the regular season for a player other than Aaron Rodgers to score a rushing touchdown, but the Packers have yet to find a player who can consistently move the chains out of the backfield. In all Rodgers has handed the ball to nine different players throughout the year. So, to stabilize a group that has been a revolving door, Green Bay signed former Seahawk running back, Christine Michael. Michael has received more carries in each of the past couple of games, but has yet to master the playbook, which keeps him off the field on too many plays.
Heading into this season, Pro Football Focus ranked the Seahawks front seven the second best unit in the NFL behind the Denver Broncos, however, the Seahawks run defense ranks 14th in the NFL as they give up an average of 99.2 yards per game, and have allowed nine rushing touchdowns. Despite still being an elite defense ranking eighth in yards per game (330.2), and number one in points per game (16.2), opposing teams have had success running the ball against Seattle this year.
Packers Pass Rush versus Russell Wilson
The Packers defense will face the tough task of containing Russell Wilson on Sunday; fortunately Green Bay possesses one of the best groups of pass rushers in the National Football League. The Packers have accumulated 30 sacks on the season, which is tied for seventh best in the NFL. Nick Perry leads the way with eight sacks, followed by the six and a half from Julius Peppers, and the four registered by Clay Matthews. They will be aided by the Seahawks poor offensive line, which has caused many problems for the bird from the Pacific Northwest.
Russell Wilson has an uncanny ability to feel and escape the oncoming rush throughout a game. His otherworldly ability to escape, buy time for his receivers, run circles around defensive linemen and linebackers has kept many defensive coordinators up at night. They can botch a snap, he picks the ball up, he gets the ball, throws it, and a fumble becomes a 35-yard gain (Vikings playoff game). According to PFF, Wilson is the highest graded passer on scrambles, receiving a grade of 9.9. Wilson was also the second highest graded passer on rollouts, receiving a grade of 4.7 from PFF. All the indicators show that Wilson is the best at turning nothing into a game-changing something, if given the opportunity, so wrap him up and get him on the ground as soon and often as possible.
Green Bay wins an instant classic on a clutch drive by Aaron Rodgers.
