Packers vs, Seahawks highlights: Inexperienced Bay cruises to win in matchup of playoff contenders – USA TODAY

The NFC playoff race continues to warmth up because the Green Bay Packers (9-4) and Seattle Seahawks (8-5) meet in a essential “Sunday Night Football” matchup.
The Seahawks sit atop the NFC West coming 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 will 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 seeking to bounce again after a 34-31 shootout loss to the Lions in Week 14.
The Pack finds itself within the midst of an important season, however that does not a lot matter within the NFC North in 2024. Inexperienced Bay has simply two losses for the reason that 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 might be a wild-card spot. A win in opposition to the Seahawks, a staff which may be vying for area in that very same wild-card playoff image, will go a great distance.
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USA TODAY Sports will present reside updates, highlights and extra from the very consequential “Sunday Night Football” tilt between the Packers and Seahawks beneath.
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Romeo Doubs scored his second landing of the night time with 5 minutes left within the sport. Quarterback Jordan Love launched the cross about 40 air yards to the again line of the top zone, and Doubs snagged the ball mere inches off of the ground to safe the catch.
It is 30-13 Packers with 4:51 to go.
Edgerrin Cooper, the Packers’ second-round pick within the 2024 NFL draft, dropped again in protection, learn quarterback Sam Howell’s eyes and jumped to high-point the ball. The peerlessly executed interception and return gave Inexperienced Bay the ball again at Seattle’s 27-yard line.
The interception was the most recent notch in Cooper’s belt in what has been a wonderful exhibiting for him. With 5 minutes to play, the rookie is his staff’s co-leader with 5 tackles on the night time to this point, together with a sack. He additionally has two passes defensed, together with the interception.
Seattle capitalized on its good area place after the fumble restoration when Zach Charbonnet rushed for a 24-yard landing. Backup middle Jalen Sundell, in for the injured Olu Oluwatimi, made a key block, and Chabonnet broke away down the proper sideline for the rating.
It is 23-13 Packers with 11:16 left within the sport.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones dove to punch the ball out of Josh Jacobs’ arms, and Julian Love scooped it up close to the sideline for a 6-yard fumble return.
Seattle begins a brand new drive on the Packers’ 45-yard line after the turnover.
A promising drive stalled contained in the Seahawks’ 10-yard line as a third-and-5 false begin penalty pushed the Packers again. Jordan Love linked with Christian Watson for a 9-yard acquire to arrange a fourth-and-1 on the Seahawks’ 5-yard line. Nevertheless, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur opted to kick a area purpose quite than gamble on the fourth-and-short state of affairs.
Brandon McManus’ 23-yard area purpose try was good and for the second time within the sport, the Packers answered a Seahawks area purpose with a area purpose of their very own.
After Geno Smith’s damage, Seattle solely bought two extra performs in earlier than its drive stalled on fourth down in Packers territory. Jason Myers transformed on his second area purpose try of the night time, this one from 45 yards out, to trim Inexperienced Bay’s result in 14 factors.
It is 20-6 Packers with 6:20 left within the third quarter.
Geno Smith took a low hit after throwing away a cross whereas underneath stress. He remained on the bottom holding his leg for a couple of further moments and received some medical attention earlier than heading to the sideline.
Sam Howell threw two cross makes an attempt and accomplished one for minus-2 yards earlier than the Seahawks’ drive ended.
Inexperienced Bay scored on all 4 of its first-half possessions, following up back-to-back landing drives with two straight area purpose drives. A 21-yard area purpose by kicker Brandon McManus closed out the ultimate seconds of the primary half.
Seattle will obtain the second half kickoff.
One play after he almost snagged an interception, Carrington Valentine made a play ultimately zone to finish the Seahawks’ purple zone drive.
The Packers will take over at their very own 14-yard line with 2:54 left within the first half.
Quay Walker, the Packers’ main tackler this season, appeared to endure a non-contact, lower-body damage late within the second quarter. He made his means off of the sphere underneath his personal energy, however was flanked by a few trainers.
The third-year linebacker was dominated out throughout halftime with an ankle damage.
Olu Oluwatimi was absent from Seattle’s offensive line to begin its second drive of the second quarter, and the staff designated him as uncertain with a knee damage.
Undrafted free agent rookie Jalen Sundell is in for the Seahawks at middle.
Inexperienced Bay was unable to attain a landing for a 3rd straight drive, so it settles for a 39-yard area purpose.
Brandon McManus nailed his first area purpose try on Sunday night time to provide the Packers a 17-3 lead with 9:21 left within the half.
The Packers’ offense continues to dominate on the street. Their newest explosive play was a 36-yard heave from Jordan Love that Christian Watson pulled in with a toe drag to remain in bounds. Inexperienced Bay is within the purple zone with underneath 10 minutes to play.
A few unfavourable performs properly inside Packers territory halted the Seahawks’ drive on Inexperienced Bay’s 30. Jason Myers knocked by means of his first area purpose try of the night time from 48 yards out to place Seattle on the board.
It is now 14-3 Packers with just below 13 minutes left within the first half.
The primary quarter-hour of the sport had been all Inexperienced Bay. Extra particularly, they had been all Josh Jacobs.
Inexperienced Bay’s working again has 84 whole yards — 46 speeding, 38 receiving — and a landing by means of his staff’s first two possessions.
Seattle begins the second quarter with the ball on the Packers’ 32-yard line.
Romeo Doubs caught a cross from quarterback Jordan Love on the 6-yard line earlier than he was almost instantly wrapped up. Nevertheless, the third-year receiver kept his legs moving and pulled two Seahawks defenders with him for the rating.
The landing was the top of an 80-yard drive that included 40 extra yards from scrimmage from working again Josh Jacobs. He is as much as 84 all-purpose yards within the sport.
It is 14-0 Packers with just below two minutes remaining within the first quarter.
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 working 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 dwelling to the Seahawks vs. Packers “SNF” matchup. Mike Tirico might be on the play-by-play name, flanked by colour commentator Cris Collinsworth. Melissa Stark will present experiences from the sideline.
This is how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Seahawks-Packers “Sunday Night Football” sport will shake out:
For twine cutters in search of a reside 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, that means you’ll be able to catch NFL motion by means of the rest of the season. 
Two-time Professional Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander continues to be sidelined with a knee damage. 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 knowledgeable picks and best bets for every NFL game this week. 
Seeking to make “SNF” extra fascinating? Listed below are a few 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 generally 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 might be within the mid-40s, according to AccuWeather. There’s a slight likelihood of rain at kickoff, with a stronger probability of precipitation late within the sport.
Right here’s how the NFC West stacks up coming into the “SNF” matchup between the Seahawks and Packers:
Right here’s how the NFC North strains up coming 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 probably 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 known 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, probably 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 might be seeking to get their run video games going early and sometimes on what might be a wet Sunday night time in Seattle. 
Even when the climate holds up, the Packers’ robust speeding offense – led by working again Josh Jacobs and strengthened by the mobility of quarterback Jordan Love – will doubtless have a greater outlook than its passing offense. 
By 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 by way of rush yardage. Nevertheless, he did rating three touchdowns final week, tying a season excessive. He’ll be seeking to return to type in opposition to a weaker rush protection. 
In distinction, the Seahawks would possibly 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 reap the benefits of that on Sunday night time. 
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 implies they will present a harder problem for Zach Charbonnet , even off of Charbonnet’s 134-yard day in opposition to the Cardinals final week. 
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