Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Hey Guys: Does anyone in our organization feel that Green Bay will beat Seattle this Sunday? I'm hoping (and praying) that they do, but I'm not feeling too confident. If you think the Pack is Super Bowl-bound, please let me know why you think they'll win. Thanks for the jolt of inspiration!
Sincerely,
Joe Zagorski

Green Bay's best chance is to abandon the longer passing game and stick to screens and the ground game. This would pretty much negate Sherman and Chancellor, and Rodgers would have to rely less on his arm and his receivers and more on his brain and field general skills. The weather would have to be perfect for the Packers to win, if it gets rainy or messy it will turn into a defensive struggle and Seattle will win. According to www.weather.com, at 1PM PST tomorrow it will be 50 degrees in Seattle with 15-20 mph winds and a 90 percent chance of light rain.
According to my postseason prediction system, Seattle has approximately a 62 percent chance of winning the game, but with the weather conditions I think it will be 75-80 percent. However, I do think Green Bay has a chance in this game, and the best option is to minimize what the Seattle defense can do to his passing game. If it's rainy and muddy, Green Bay should rely on their running game and use screens to beat Seattle.

In this matchup, avoiding big plays by the Seahawks defense is probably more inportant than stopping big plays by their offense. So GB should take a controlled approach. I am okay with them settling for field goals or using some time. A lot of the game can be trading punches and keeping the Seahawks D from dominating. Take the points when they come and hope the Seahawks make the mistakes.

Seattle's aggressive defense will pressure and contain Rodgers and the pass defense is much better than last week. Factor in home field advantage and I don't see a way that GB wins unless a questionable call (Fail Mary) decides the game.

Trading punches is a good analogy but, when backed into a corner, Wilson's feet can turn trouble into touchdowns.
Sea 28
GB 13

In just a little while, Reaser will wake up and be here to give everyone another dozen-or-so reasons why Seatlle will win - or - cannot lose.
HFA will be a major one.

Rupert Patrick wrote:If it's rainy and muddy, Green Bay should rely on their running game and use screens to beat Seattle.

I wish it could get muddy. If there was natural grass I'd say it's the best stadium in the league, but playing surface - even if it's the best fieldturf - keeps it from being the best. Since football should be played on grass, of course.

There's plenty of reasons for a Seattle win so going with the question, of course GB can win, they're the second best team in the NFC. How? They'll need help from the officials - e.g. 1-2 long P.I. penalties to set up scores. I think the overlooked part is Seattle offense v. GB defense, the defense will need to keep the score down, redzone defense will be huge, 3 pts instead of 6(7) will be key.

Either way, it's a fascinating matchup. One team plays the closest thing to real football that you can play in this era while one team plays strictly to take advantage of the "Goodell era". Will be a sad day when the former can no longer win in this league, fortunately I don't think that day is Sunday.

In Conference Championship games, sooner or later a home team that should win loses. Maybe this year it'll be Seattle.

SixtiesFan wrote:In Conference Championship games, sooner or later a home team that should win loses. Maybe this year it'll be Seattle.

That's why they play the games. In 2007 nobody thought the Giants had a chance against Favre and the Packers in the NFC Championship, in what was frigid temperatures, but New York pulled the upset.

Rupert Patrick wrote:

SixtiesFan wrote:In Conference Championship games, sooner or later a home team that should win loses. Maybe this year it'll be Seattle.

That's why they play the games. In 2007 nobody thought the Giants had a chance against Favre and the Packers in the NFC Championship, in what was frigid temperatures, but New York pulled the upset.

Absolutely.

We are watching one of the most exciting finishes in playoff history.