Green Bay Packers: Ranking most favorable Divisional Round opponents
2. Seattle Seahawks
What needs to happen for Packers to face Seahawks in Divisional Round: As the top Wild Card team in the NFC, the Seahawks would need to not only pull off a road win of their own but also need the other Wild Card Round game to end in a road upset as well. Seattle will need to beat the Eagles on Sunday while the Vikings would need to beat the Saints for Russell Wilson and Co. to head to Lambeau Field.
Why the Seahawks would be a good matchup for the Packers: If there’s one surefire way for opponents to attack the Green Bay Packers, it’s running the ball. They’ve gotten a bit better in this regard on the year but still allow 120.1 rushing yards per game and 4.7 yards per carry to opponents on the year, even if that’s by design.
The good news for Green Bay in a matchup with the Seahawks is that Seattle’s run game is suspect right now. Marshawn Lynch returning is a fun story but the veteran did not look as dangerous as he once was in Week 17. And Lynch is supplemented now by Travis Homer given the injuries to Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise.
When you consider Seattle’s likely inability to attack the Packers’ biggest weakness, that’s an ace in Green Bay’s hole. But furthermore, the Packers should also be able to run on a questionable Seattle defense and attack down the field in the passing game. And if that weren’t enough, their improved pass rush can exploit a subpar Seattle offensive line to pressure Wilson and make life difficult for him.
Why the Seahawks would be a bad matchup for the Packers: Given the health and the style of both the Packers and Seahawks, Green Bay has the advantage in almost every instance when you match these two teams up. And yet, Russell Wilson is the ultimate X-factor in any matchup like that.
The Seahawks quarterback has emerged as an NFL superstar because of his ability to come up big in playoff-type moments no matter what the supporting cast around him looks like. He elevates the play of everyone around him and he’s fully capable of putting Seattle on his back in a matchup against Green Bay and making things interesting on the road in the Divisional Round.