Packers host the Seahawks for the right to go to the NFC Championship Game

The Green Bay Packers are back in the playoffs for the first time in three years and will play host to the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round on Sunday night.

The Packers finished the regular season with a 13-3 record and the #2 seed while the Seahawks finished 11-5 and the #5 seed, earning a trip to the second round of the playoffs after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 17-9 on the road last Sunday.

Russell Wilson has had an MVP-type season for the Seahawks. It will be a challenge to slow him down. Injuries have hit the running back position and they brought back Marshawn Lynch to help give them a boost at the position. Lynch and Travis Homer will probably share the load on the ground. They have some great receivers in Tyler Lockett and rookie DK Metcalf. Metcalf had a huge receiving day at Philly. Wilson only threw 5 interceptions all year but he did get sacked 48 times. The Packer defense needs to get in his face and make him uncomfortable back there.

Aaron Rodgers and the offense looked out of sync a lot of times during the regular season. They will need to be on their game during these playoffs. Aaron Jones will probably see a lot of carries and passes thrown his way. The offense is a lot better when he gets going. I think Davante Adams will make plays but they will need contributions from the other receivers. We cannot afford to have dropped passes and miscommunication out there. They need to capitalize on every scoring opportunity, and that means scoring touchdowns when they get into the red zone.

The Packers and Seahawks have met 3 times in the playoffs before, and the home team has won all 3 games. The Packers won 33-27 in overtime in January of 2004 when Al Harris intercepted Matt Hasselbeck for the winning touchdown. Hasselbeck famously said during the overtime coin toss, “We want the ball and we’re gonna score.” The Packers won 42-20 in January of 2008. That was the last victory for Brett Favre in a Packer uniform. The Seahawks won 28-22 in overtime in the NFC Championship Game in 2015. That is all I will mention about that game. You all know what happened.

The Packers went 7-1 in the regular season at home and the Seahawks are 8-1 on the road this season, including last Sunday’s win at Philadelphia. Something has to give.

It wasn’t always smooth sailing for the Packers in the regular season, but here they are in the Divisional Round of the playoffs after missing the playoffs entirely the previous 2 seasons. Matt LaFleur is the first Packer head coach to make it to the playoffs in his first year with the team. On the other side, Pete Carroll has been with the Seahawks since 2010, winning a Super Bowl and reaching another. He is no stranger when it comes to coaching this deep into January.

When it comes to the NFL Playoffs, expect the unexpected. Last week’s wild-card games are a great example of that. How many of you actually thought the Patriots and Saints would be gone by now? Had the Saints won, they would have been the Packers’ opponent in this game. The point I am trying to make is never count anything out.

If the Packers hold onto the ball and get some consistency on offense, they have a great chance of winning the game. If they get an effective pass rush and generate turnovers, they have a great chance. It’s one and done now. There is no next game. They got away with lapses on offense and defense throughout the regular season and still found a way to win 13 games. They need to be a lot better if they are to win on Sunday and beyond.

The Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers played their game on Saturday. The 49ers won the game 27-10 so that means either the Packers or Seahawks will be traveling to Santa Clara for the NFC Championship Game. The Packers just need to focus on winning this game first.

We have been waiting for the Packers to get back into the playoffs and it will be a great atmosphere at Lambeau Field on Sunday. Whether you are at the game or elsewhere, let’s get in playoff mode ourselves and be ready to cheer the team to victory on Sunday. Let’s get it done and get one step closer to our ultimate goal, and you all know what that is. All gas, no brake!

Get Loud Lambeau!

Go Pack Go!

@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #GetLoudLambeau #GregGoshaw @gg901