NFL experts split on the Seahawks-Packers playoff matchup
Less than two sleeps away from the kickoff between the Packers and Seahawks at a potentially snowy Lambeau Field. You know what that means, prediction time!
Here’s five of the most popular NFL news sources and their predictions for the Seahawks and Packers on Sunday afternoon.
Five of the six SI NFL writers picked the Seahawks to go into Lambeau Field and pull off a minor upset. The only writer that’s picking the home side is Andrew Brandt.
The Sporting News picked the Packers to win 23-17. Despite the arrival of Marshawn Lynch, they believe that it won’t be enough to beat Green Bay.
“While the Marshawn Lynch story is amusing, it’s also a reminder that Seattle is attempting to deploy its power rushing attack without its best power rushers in Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise. On the other side of the ball, (Aaron) Rodgers will take advantage of the two mismatch creators he has in Aaron Jones and Davante Adams, and Green Bay will reach the NFC title game in coach Matt LaFleur’s first season.”
Both the Seahawks and Packers beat reporters from ESPN have picked the Seahawks to win.
Seahawks (Brady Henderson): Packers 24-21
Packers (Rob Demovsky): Packers 20-17
Gregg Rosenthal is picking the Packers to win 23-20. Seattle might win the chess match at QB but when it comes down to the chess match between coordinators, Rosenthal thinks Green Bay has the edge.
“Even in a playoff game where the Pack have a disadvantage at quarterback for the first time in the Aaron Rodgers era, it’s hard to find the matchups that don’t favor Green Bay. Za’Darius Smith, Kenny Clark and Preston Smith should be trouble for Seattle’s line. I’ll take Packers DC Mike Pettine calling plays against Seahawks OC Brian Schottenheimer. Perhaps the Seahawks’ linebackers can limit Aaron Jones’ effectiveness, but the overall winning recipe feels familiar for Seattle.”
Five of the eight CBS Sports NFL writers and experts are picking the Seattle Seahawks over the Green Bay Packers. As for a bold prediction, John Breech is picking this game to go to overtime.
“After watching two games go to overtime during the wild-card round, this might not seem like a bold prediction, but the reason it definitely qualifies as bold is that divisional-round games almost never go to overtime. Since 2007, only two of out of 48 divisional round games have gone to OT. Coincidentally, the last divisional game to go to OT actually involved the Packers (Green Bay lost to the Cardinals in January 2015), and the last overtime game in a Sunday divisional game actually involved the Seahawks (Seattle lost to Chicago in January 2007).”
John isn’t the only one making this “bold” prediction. In my Madden 20 simulation, the Seahawks and Packers also went to OT.
This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 1:00 PM.
