The NFC playoff race continues to warmth up because the Green Bay Packers (9-4) and Seattle Seahawks (8-5) meet in a crucial “Sunday Night Football” matchup.
The Seahawks sit atop the NFC West getting into Week 15, however the Los Angeles Rams are sizzling on their feathered tails after a “TNF” win over the 49ers. Given the tiebreaker situation in the division, Seattle wants each win it may possibly get if it needs to emerge atop the heap within the NFC West.
That begins with a win over the Packers on “SNF.” Inexperienced Bay is trying to bounce again after a 34-31 shootout loss to the Lions in Week 14.
The Pack finds itself within the midst of an ideal season, however that does not a lot matter within the NFC North in 2024. Inexperienced Bay has simply two losses because the calendar has flipped to October, and each got here by the hands of Detroit.
With two of the higher groups in soccer (the Lions and Vikings) forward of them within the standings, the Packers’ greatest hope to make the playoffs will likely be a wild-card spot. A win in opposition to the Seahawks, a staff which may be vying for house in that very same wild card playoff image, will go a great distance.
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USA TODAY Sports will present stay updates, highlights and extra from the very consequential “Sunday Night Football” tilt between the Packers and Seahawks under.
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Rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper restricted Seattle’s first offensive drive to 4 performs when he sacked quarterback Geno Smith for a 9-yard loss on third-and-4.
The Packers take again possession on their very own 20-yard line with 6:43 left within the first quarter.
Josh Jacobs’ 1-yard rush put Inexperienced Bay on the board to cap off a 63-yard drive to open the sport. The operating again was chargeable for 44 of the Packers’ 48 whole yards on the drive — the remaining 15 approaching an pointless roughness penalty — on 9 touches.
It is 7-0 Packers with 9:19 to go within the first quarter.
The Packers and Seahawks are scheduled to kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET (5:20 p.m. PT), the customary begin time for “Sunday Night Football.”
NBC is the printed residence to the Seahawks vs. Packers “SNF” matchup. Mike Tirico will likely be on the play-by-play name, flanked by coloration commentator Cris Collinsworth. Melissa Stark will present experiences from the sideline.
Here is how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Seahawks-Packers “Sunday Night Football” sport will shake out:
For twine cutters on the lookout for a stay stream for the matchup, you’ll be able to flip to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, in addition to CBS, FOX, NFL Community and the ESPN household of networks, which means you’ll be able to catch NFL motion by way of the rest of the season.
Two-time Professional Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander continues to be sidelined with a knee harm. He has performed in simply seven video games this season.
Working again Kenneth Walker III (calf) continues to be out for the Seahawks, who will as soon as once more depend on Zach Charbonnet. Charbonnet had a career-high 134 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals.
The Packers are favorites to defeat the Seahawks, in response to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not on this sport? Take a look at skilled picks and best bets for every NFL game this week.
Trying to make “SNF” extra fascinating? Listed here are a number of the greatest bets for the matchup:
The Packers journey west to tackle the Seahawks. The matchup will happen at Lumen Area in Seattle, Washington.
Lumen Area — previously often known as Seahawks Stadium, Qwest Area and CenturyLink Area — has hosted three NFC championship video games. The stadium additionally will host six games throughout the 2026 World Cup.
Lumen Area opened in 2002, and in addition serves as the house stadium of Main League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC of the NWSL.
➤ Ranking NFL’s stadiums from 1 to 30: Where does Seattle’s Lumen Field rate?
Sport time temperatures in Seattle will likely be within the mid-40s, according to AccuWeather. There’s a slight probability of rain at kickoff, with a stronger probability of precipitation late within the sport.
Right here’s how the NFC West stacks up getting into the “SNF” matchup between the Seahawks and Packers:
Right here’s how the NFC North traces up getting into the “SNF” sport between the Packers and Seahawks:
The NFL playoffs kick off on Jan. 11 with the league’s Tremendous Wild Card Weekend, earlier than concluding Feb. 9 with Tremendous Bowl 59 in New Orleans.
The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for essentially the most Tremendous Bowl wins with six.
The Packers have won four Super Bowls in 5 appearances, together with the primary two Tremendous Bowls (then referred to as the AFL–NFL World Championship Sport) underneath legendary coach Vince Lombardi, for whom the Tremendous Bowl championship trophy is called after. The Packers’ most up-to-date Tremendous Bowl win got here throughout the 2010 season in Super Bowl XLV. In all, the Packers boast 13 NFL championships, essentially the most of any franchise.
The Seahawks have one Tremendous Bowl victory in three appearances, having prevailed over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
NFL franchises with most Tremendous Bowl wins:
➤ Super Bowl winners: All-time scores, results for NFL title game
Each groups will likely be trying to get their run video games going early and sometimes on what might be a wet Sunday evening in Seattle.
Even when the climate holds up, the Packers’ robust dashing offense – led by operating again Josh Jacobs and strengthened by the mobility of quarterback Jordan Love – will doubtless have a greater outlook than its passing offense.
By means of 14 weeks, the Seahawks’ passing protection ranks ninth in EPA per dropback allowed (0.010) and thirteenth in success charge on dropbacks (45.3%). In distinction, Seattle’s rush protection drops to sixteenth within the NFL by EPA allowed (-0.085) and twenty second in rush success charge (41.0%).
Jacobs enters Week 15 off of two performances amongst his worst of the season when it comes to rush yardage. Nonetheless, he did rating three touchdowns final week, tying a season excessive. He’ll be trying to return to type in opposition to a weaker rush protection.
In distinction, the Seahawks may attempt to lean extra closely on their passing sport.
Second-year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is having a breakout season and enters Week 15 on a streak of 5 straight video games with greater than 70 receiving yards.
As well as, Inexperienced Bay ranks thirty second within the NFL with a 51.3% success charge allowed on opponents’ dropbacks, and Seattle quarterback Geno Smith will attempt to benefit from that on Sunday evening.
The Packers’ dropback marks in EPA allowed and success charge are each ranked round No. 10 within the NFL – they’re ninth and eleventh, respectively. That means they will present a tougher problem for Zach Charbonnet , even off of Charbonnet’s 134-yard day in opposition to the Cardinals final week.
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