Football is back.
After yet another interminably long offseason, America’s game returns to primetime as the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers on the NFL opening night. The prospect of the return of football is enticing enough on its own, but when you look at how these two teams match up on paper, the level of excitement really kicks into high gear.
Offense versus defense.
That expression sums up the game perfectly, much as it did in relation to the Seahawks Super Bowl tilt with the Denver Broncos. The Packers have a potent, loaded offense that will clash with Seattle’s stingy defense in a game that could be an early preview of an NFC playoff contest.
For the Packers, 2014 is all about staying healthy. While the club did manage to win a chaotic NFC North last year with an 8-7-1 record, the key is to keep Aaron Rodgers in the lineup this time around. The Pack struggled mightily when he suffered a broken collarbone last season, and as is the case with any franchise quarterback, his impact cannot be understated. Rodgers’ supporting cast remains top-notch with receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb back in the fold and impressive second-year running back Eddie Lacy emerging. As long as Rodgers’ offensive line holds up and keeps him on his feet, the Packers remain the favorites to claim the division.
However, it may be difficult keeping Rodgers on his feet in Week 1.
The Seattle defense is scary. There really is no other way to put it. Talented, dedicated, and deep at all levels, there is no real weak link in this unit. Led by a sensational secondary known as the “Legion of Boom” and Pro Bowlers like Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas, the Seahawks are just a difficult team to move the football against. Couple a formidable pass defense with a swarming pass rush, and Rodgers will have a very difficult time finding an open target.
On the opposite end of the field, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will look to continue his run of success and advance on his quest to become one of the game’s elite passers. Wilson has been a winner from day one, and has provided this team with exactly the spark it has needed both as a passer and a scrambler. It remains to be seen how much his role will be altered this season. Wilson has often been tasked with managing the game, an overused but often accurate expression, and he has handled the role perfectly. With that said, a player with Wilson’s ability is certainly capable of handling more responsibility. While Seattle figures to remain a run-based attack, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him attempt more passes this season.
In truth, the story of this game may come down to the matchup that nobody is talking about, and that is the Seahawks offense versus the Packers defense. Green Bay fielded a questionable stop unit last year, but the club has made some moves to rectify that in 2014. They signed defensive end Julius Peppers in free agency and drafted former Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the first round of the 2014 draft. Of course, a huge key to the team’s defensive success is keeping Clay Matthews healthy. Much like Rodgers, Matthews is a franchise caliber player, and having him on the sideline is a huge blow to the team’s chances of contending this year. After an injury-riddled 2013, you know Matthews is ready to step up and make some plays.
An insane number of people will tune in to watch this exciting, important game. The most popular game in North America will return to the forefront of the sports world and the stars will be showcased on full display. Yes it’s true. The game we love is finally back. Enjoy this moment, football fans. It’s about time.
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