After two consecutive wins on foreign fields, the Seahawks return to Lumen Field, where they will face the Packers in an NFC playoff duel on Sunday evening.
Seattle has gone 8-5 with four straight wins and leads the NFC West. The Packers travel to the West Coast with nine wins and four losses after a narrow loss to Detroit last Thursday.
“They play a great style of football,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said before the duel. “That’s ‘Winning Football.’ That’s something that’s been consistent throughout franchise history, especially since Matt (LaFleur) took over the team. We respect how they play – they’re physical, give it their all, attack the ball and protect it the offense. They do all the things that make a really good football team.”
Here are five things to look for when the Seahawks host the Packers:
Can the Seahawks defense stop Packers running back Josh Jacobs?
Josh Jacobs, who joined the Packers from the Raiders as a free agent in the spring, is an asset to Green Bay’s offense. With 1,053 rushing yards in 13 games – the third best in the league – and eleven rushing touchdowns, he is one of the top performers in the NFL. Seahawks fans may remember his 229-yard rushing performance at Lumen Field in 2022 while wearing a Raiders jersey.
“Obviously they can run the ball and run the ball very well,” defensive coordinator Aden Durde said. “Their O-line is fast and creates space for Jacobs, who needs little space to create vertical pressure. And they have speed at all other offensive positions.”
The Packers combine their strong running game with a strong arm from quarterback Jordan Love. This mix makes it difficult for defenses to attack the quarterback – Love has only been sacked 11 times this season.
“You have to force them into passing situations, and that starts with stopping the run,” Durde explained. “It’s an old defensive line saying: You have to earn the right to rush the quarterback. That takes discipline, technique and the right attitude.”
The Seahawks have made major strides in run defense since Week 9, but Jacobs will be one of their biggest challenges.
