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Both these teams had games they’d like to forget last week. Despite a courageous effort from QB Aaron Rodgers, who performed well despite a strained throwing shoulder that continues to obviously bother him, the Packers were upset at home 27-24 by the Falcons for their third loss, which is as many as they had all of last season. The Seahawks, who have had all kinds of problems in East Coast games under Mike Holmgren, couldn’t have looked shakier in a 44-6 drubbing by the Giants in the Meadowlands that dropped their record to 1-3 for the first time since 2002. Neither team’s quarterback is fully healthy. Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck hyperextended his right knee on the fourth play of the Giants game last week and is a late scratch for this game. Charlie Frye will start in his place.
Seahawks offense vs. Packers defense: Holmgren hinted early in the week that the Seahawks might focus more on their ground game and scale back on their passing offense, especially after learning that WR Deion Branch, who returned as the starting flanker for the first time this season against the Giants, will be out indefinitely with an injured heel. A more run-oriented attack spearheaded by Julius Jones, who is averaging 93.3 yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry, might work well against a Green Bay defense that surrendered 176 yards last week and has allowed an opposing rusher to gain at least 100 yards in 4-of-5 games. The Packers need to pressure the gimpy Hasselbeck after not laying a glove on Matt Ryan last week.
Packers offense vs. Seahawks defense: A Packers offense that has been averaging 337.4 yards per game figures to give Seattle’s struggling defense quite a workout. Seahawks CBs Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings and Josh Wilson have been forced into way too many single-coverage situations and must be in a better position this week to stop Green Bay’s loaded WR corps featuring Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, both of whom scored TDs last week in Atlanta. The Seattle “D” also must greatly improve its tackling. It had real trouble stopping power back Brandon Jacobs last week and could be up against it again this week vs. Green Bay RB Ryan Grant, who is good at gaining extra yards after contact. Grant punished the Hawks with 201 yards rushing and three scores in the divisional playoffs last January.
Special teams: Both teams’ punting has been very suspect, with ex-Packer Jon Ryan and Derrick Frost clinging to short ropes for the Seahawks and Packers, respectively. Both Ryan and Frost have only two punts inside the 20 this season.
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