Green Bay Packers: 3 Reasons They Could Lose to Seattle

While this is a game that the Green Bay Packers should win, these could very well be three reasons that they lose Sunday’s game.

With this game being played at Lambeau Field, as well as some of the key matchups favoring the Green Bay Packers, this is certainly a game that they should be able to win. However, as we saw just last week in the Wildcard round of the playoffs, nothing is given in the NFL.

On Tuesday I covered by top three reasons that Green Bay will win Sunday’s game, but now it’s time to take a look at three reasons they could end up losing in the Divisional round to Seattle. So buckle up and let’s dive in.

Russell Wilson Magic

Magic. How do you quantify it? Well, I’m not really sure that we can, but we know it when we see it. And Russell Wilson produces quite a bit of it.

While the Packers should always be wary of any team that they face – it is the NFL of course – truthfully, Green Bay matches up really well with Seattle and has a number of key matchups in their favor.

The Packers have a very good pass-rush while the Seahawks give up a lot of sacks. Seattle’s defense gives up a lot of yards both on the ground and through the air to running backs, and Green Bay has Aaron Jones. Not to mention that the Seahawk secondary allows quite a bit of yards through the air, while the Packers have Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. I’m sure you get the point.

However, if Russell Wilson can do Russell Wilson things such as escaping sacks, extending plays with his legs, running for first downs, completing deep passes, continuing to be extremely effective on third downs, and more, despite Green Bay having numerous matchups in their favor, winning won’t be easy if Wilson is doing those things consistently.

Lose the turnover battle

This is likely an obvious one and it is something that rings true regardless of the opponent and unfortunately, it’s an area that the Green Bay Packers have been particularly sloppy in the last two games.

Against Minnesota and Detroit they would have four turnovers, three of which came in the first half of the Vikings’ game. Yet somehow, they came away with two wins, but against a resilient team like Seattle, they may not be so fortunate.

Yet even with their issues the last two games, Green Bay has been very good at protecting the ball and creating turnovers this season. Overall the Packers finished with a turnover differential of +12, which was the third best this season and included 25 takeaways by the defense, the seventh most in the NFL.

On the flip side, Seattle has also been very good, tying the Packers with a +12 turnover differential and finishing with 32 takeaways, good for the third most this season. But they have also turned the ball over more on offense as well.

The Packers will have to be buttoned up on Sunday but if their sloppiness continues, it could very well be the reason for their downfall.

Too many big plays

This is a Green Bay Packers team that is prone to giving up the big play – although they have been better in recent weeks – and they are going up against a Seattle offense with Russell Wilson that loves to take their deep shots down the field.

During the regular season, the Seahawks had 62 explosive plays – which are plays of 20 yards or more – and that was the sixth most in the NFL. And their explosive play rate of 12 percent was the fourth most.

Seattle isn’t a team that is very often going to move the ball down field with long drives as they pick up one first down after another. Instead, they move down field with chunk plays and if the Packers can limit this, it will make moving the ball much more difficult for the Seattle offense. However, if Seattle is able to score quickly a few times, we have to wonder if the Green Bay offense can keep up.