Season of Boom

[Agent]

Packers better prepared for a blowout happening

[KimJongBaze]

// NFC Wild Card Preview: Green Bay Packers
// BY JEANIE ROTH

SEATTLE, Wash. - If history is any indication of who this wild card game favors, it would be the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks and Packers have met four times in the playoffs, with the home team winning each time. However, there are some caveats to consider: The last time they met in the postseason, Green Bay triumphed over Seattle in the NFC Divisional playoff round. Additionally, the Seahawks have not defeated the Packers since 2018 and have lost 5 of their last 6 contests to them. Linebacker Bobby Wagner, who has experienced multiple matchups against the Packers in the past, could care less about the history and wanted to focus on the present.

"What matters is that we go out their on Saturday and win."

Packers Key Performers

• QB Jordan Love: 3,451 yards, 30 touchdowns, 8 interceptions
• HB Aaron Jones: 1,208 yards (8th in NFL), 9 touchdowns
• HB A.J. Dillon: 479 yards, 8 touchdowns
• WR Romeo Doubs: 919 yards, 10 touchdowns
• WR Christian Watson: 904 yards, 6 touchdowns
• LB De'Vondre Campbell: 123 tackles, 7 TFL, 2.5 sacks
• LB Quay Walker: 111 tackles, 8 TFL, 1 sack, 1 interception
• LB Rashan Gary: 82 tackles, 17 TFL, 9.5 sacks (T-9th in NFL)
• S Darnell Savage: 67 tackles, 2 TFL, 4 interceptions
• CB Jaire Alexander: 59 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 interceptions

Green Bay is back in the playoffs after missing it for the first time under head coach Mike LaFleur last year, although the offense they are fielding this time looks vastly different compared to previous years. Aaron Rodgers is no longer under center - that role has been passed on to Jordan Love, who's managed to find his footing in his first full season as the Packers starting quarterback. In 2023, Love totaled 32 touchdowns (30 passing, 2 rushing) and turned the ball over just 8 times, which results in an impressive 4-to-1 touchdown-to-turnover ratio. Green Bay's top 3 receivers are also fresh faces to the postseason. Romeo Doubs (919 yards, 10 touchdowns), Christian Watson (904 yards, 6 touchdowns), and Jayden Reed (680 yards, 5 touchdowns) will all be making their playoff debut. Love is aided in the backfield by star running back Aaron Jones, who set a new career-high with 1,208 rushing yards this season to go along with 9 rushing touchdowns.

On defense, the Packers have to somehow find a way to slow down the NFL's best offense in the Seahawks, which teams have found difficult to do all season. The strength of their defense lies within their linebackers, led by De'Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, and Rashan Gary. They will likely be key factors to slowing down Seattle's rushing attack. Jaire Alexander headlines the secondary, which will be tasked to defend D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

The Seahawks are without two starting offensive linemen - center Evan Brown and tackle Charles Cross.

Keys to the Game

• Kenneth Walker III/Zach Charbonnet vs. Packers rushing defense
  Seattle came 1-yard shy of having two 1,000-yard rushers on the team, and there's very little doubt that the team's approach against the Packers will deviate from what they've done all year - dictate the game on the ground. Green Bay allowed 107.5 rushing yards per game during the regular season - 11th in the NFL, while the Seahawks averaged a league-best 167.3 rushing yards per game.

• Seattle's ability to slow down Aaron Jones
  There's no question that Green Bay's offense relies on Jones to get things going, and if Seattle can somehow remove him from the gameplan it would greatly improve their odds of advancing to the divisional round. While they are good receivers, Doubs, Watson, and Reed are newcomers to the playoff experience, and the Seahawks would probably rather put the game on the shoulders of the inexperienced as opposed to Jones, who's been in the playoffs before.

• Getting Jordan Love out of his comfort zone
  Going hand-in-hand with stopping Jones, the Seahawks would also welcome placing the bulk of the burden on Love, who's also making his first playoff start. Love has been more of a game manager in his first season, and although he's done a great job, the Packers haven't really asked him to take over any games they've played - Love did not throw for more than 280 yards in any game, although his production did ramp up in the final 3 weeks of the regular season (264 yards, 274 yards, and 280 yards).

[The JZA]

Lets make Green Bay's playoff stint a short one

[KimJongBaze]

Hopefully the offensive line can hold up. Don't get trapped again. It's game time

Packers better prepared for a blowout happening

Lets make Green Bay's playoff stint a short one

About that...

[KimJongBaze]

NFC WILD CARD: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS vs. GREEN BAY PACKERS
Lumen Field // Seattle, WA
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | OT || FINAL
GB (10-7) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - || 0
SEA (12-5) | 7 | 13 | 9 | 0 | - || 29
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Devon Witherspoon was the recipient of 1 of 2 Jordan Love interceptions.

// Seahawks stifle Packers offense, pitch shutout in NFC Wild Card victory
SEATTLE, Wash. - The Seattle Seahawks couldn't have found a better time to deliver their first shutout of the season, blanking the Green Bay Packers to advance to the NFC divisional round for the first time since 2019. This also marked the first shutout in an NFL playoff game since 2015.

Pete Carroll and his team took advantage of the wet and rainy conditions on a Saturday afternoon in Seattle and did exactly what needed to be done - force the Packers offense to run through Jordan Love instead of Aaron Jones. Jones ran for just 40 yards against the Seahawks' 3rd-ranked rush defense, and the bigger Seattle's lead became, the more Matt LaFleur went to his quarterback. It didn't work out the way they wanted to, however...Love ended up throwing the ball 48 times, completing 60 percent of them for 271 yards and 2 interceptions. He was also sacked 4 times.

Green Bay had multiple opportunities to score early in the contest, forcing the Seahawks into two turnovers. Geno Smith was picked off on his first pass of the game, setting the Packers up near midfield. However, after Seattle's defense forced Green Bay into a 4th down, the Packers decided to go for a fake punt that was unsuccessful after punter Daniel Whelan was unable to complete a pass to tight end Tucker Kraft. The Seahawks proceeded to score a touchdown on the next drive with Kenneth Walker IIIadding the first points on the scoreboard. He finished with two rushing touchdowns along with 95 yards.

Smith responded strong after his interception, proceeded to finish the game with 199 yards and 2 touchdowns, both to tight end Noah Fant. The veteran quarterback was able to capitalize on Jaire Alexander's late break to the corner of the end zone on his first touchdown to Fant. The tight end's second touchdown came as he found a soft spot in the middle of the field behind Green Bay's linebackers.

Over the last month, spectators have seen the evolution of Seattle's defense - not counting the season finale, where some starters rested, the Seahawks have allowed 10 points in 3 games. This includes holding the Tennessee Titans to 3 points and the Pittsburgh Steelers to 7. Green Bay was their next victim - running lanes were stuffed, receivers had little time to separate, and Love was facing multiple blitzers all day. The change in Seattle's defensive scheme has worked for the past 3-4 games, but as they go deeper into the playoffs, that scheme will be tested over and over again against the league's best.

It is uncertain who the Seahawks will play next - the outcomes of the San Francisco/Minnesota and Dallas/Carolina games will decide whether they will need to travel to Philadelphia for the NFC divisional round game or if they can stay at home and host another playoff game.

Scoring Summary

• 1st Quarter
  [SEA] Kenneth Walker III, 1-yard run (J. Myers kick) [6:06]

• 2nd Quarter
  [SEA] Noah Fant, 13-yard pass from Geno Smith (J. Myers kick) [5:50]
  [SEA] Kenneth Walker III, 6-yard run (missed PAT) [1:15]

• 3rd Quarter
  [SEA] Jason Myers, 25-yard field goal [6:16]
  [SEA] Noah Fant, 16-yard pass from Geno Smith (missed PAT) [0:20]

• 4th Quarter
  No Scoring

Notable Player Stats

• Green Bay Packers (10-7)
  Jordan Love, QB: 29 of 48 (60%), 271 yards, 2 INT (58.5 passer rating)
  Aaron Jones, HB: 11 carries, 40 yards
  Jayden Reed, WR: 6 receptions, 52 yards
  Luke Musgrave, TE: 7 receptions, 52 yards
  Darnell Savage, S: 14 tackles, TFL, INT
  Eric Stokes, CB: 11 tackles, 3 TFL
  Quay Walker, LB: 10 tackles

• Seattle Seahawks (12-5)
  Geno Smith, QB: 16 of 22 (72%), 199 yards, 2 TD, INT (111.7 passer rating)
  Kenneth Walker III, HB: 18 carries, 95 yards, 2 TD
  Zach Charbonnet, HB: 12 carries, 53 yards
  Noah Fant, TE: 4 receptions, 52 yards, 2 TD
  Jordyn Brooks, LB: 11 tackles, TFL, 0.5 sack
  Devon Witherspoon, CB: 10 tackles, INT
  Bobby Wagner, LB: 9 tackles, 2 TFL, 0.5 sack
  Devin Bush, LB: 9 tackles, TFL, 0.5 sack

[The JZA]

Straight raw dogged Green Bay

[KimJongBaze]

// SUPER WILD CARD WEEKEND \\

// Titans shock Bengals to advance to AFC Divisional Round
There weren't many surprises this weekend, but the biggest one belonged to Tennessee, who managed to knock out the AFC South champions and avenge a 19-21 loss they suffered to the same team in the divisional round just two years ago. Joe Burrow completed just 57 percent of his passes and the Bengals' potent offense was limited to just 283 total yards. Derrick Henry led all players with 81 rushing yards, and rookie Tyjae Spears recorded 2 rushing touchdowns in the victory. They advance to play the Buffalo Bills next.

Here's a recap of all the other wild card games that took place this weekend:

• Green Bay Packers 0, Seattle Seahawks 29
  The Packers were simply beaten into submission by Seattle, the same team that was one win away from having a first round bye in the playoffs. They showed on Saturday exactly why they are a contender for the Lombardi Trophy, taking care of business on both offense and defense. Kenneth Walker III and Noah Fant each scored two touchdowns in the win.

• Pittsburgh Steelers 7, Kansas City Chiefs 31
  Patrick Mahomes had no issues again the Steelers defense, throwing for 318 yards and 2 touchdowns while running back Isiah Pacheco added 73 yards and a score on the ground. If you look at the stats, the Steelers weren't horrible when it came to yardage - 377 total yards - however they only scored once in 4 red zone opportunities, with one of those chances ending in a L'Jarius Snead pick-six.

• San Francisco 49ers 24, Minnesota Vikings 21
  The NFC West eliminated the NFC North from championship contention after the up-and-down 49ers managed to take down the NFC North champions, with Brock Purdy throwing for 3 touchdowns.

• Baltimore Ravens 24, Jacksonville Jaguars 21
  Lamar Jackson did a bit of everything in this contest, and the Ravens needed it all from him to defeat the Jaguars on the road. He threw for 212 yards and a touchdown and also led all players with 64 rushing yards and a touchdown. A late interception by Roquan Smith ended Jacksonville's chances of tying/winning the game.

• Dallas Cowboys 31, Carolina Panthers 10
  Kudos to Bryce Young and Frank Reich getting Carolina back into the playoffs, however they were going up against a 13-4 Cowboys team who's playing angry after finishing with one the NFL's best records yet were unable to win their division. Dak Prescott did his usual and threw for 302 yards and 3 touchdowns in the win. The Cowboys have a rematch with the Seattle Seahawks next week.

Players of the Week

• Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys: 32 of 40, 302 yards, 3 touchdowns
• Shaq Thompson, LB, Carolina Panthers: 11 tackles, 1 sack
• Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens: 18 of 22, 212 yards, 1 touchdown // 13 carries, 64 yards, 1 touchdown
• L'Jarius Snead, CB, Kansas City Chiefs: 5 tackles, 1 interception, 1 touchdown

Notable Transactions

• No transactions

Injury Report

• Ed Oliver, DT, Buffalo Bills: 4 weeks (knee)
• Charles Cross, T, Seattle Seahawks: 2 weeks (shoulder)
• Greg Rousseau, DE, Buffalo Bills: 1 week (finger)
• Damien Lewis, G, Seattle Seahawks: 2 weeks (thumb)
• Fletcher Cox, DT, Philadelphia Eagles: 1 week (shoulder)

[KimJongBaze]

[Captain Canada]

Sheesh, you ain't have to do them folks like THAT

Please don't lose to the Cowboys, fuck that squad.

[KimJongBaze]

Straight raw dogged Green Bay

Sheesh, you ain't have to do them folks like THAT

Please don't lose to the Cowboys, fuck that squad.

Jordan Love gonna have to wait until next time to score a point in the playoffs.