Last week, my rationale for picking the
Seahawks over the
Redskins was quite simple; I didn't trust Todd Collins running the Skins offense and I felt confident that the outstanding record and home field advantage the
Seahawks have at Qwest Field would be the difference. This week, the story could not be any different, as the
Seahawks travel to Green Bay to face the
Packers. Away from home Seattle just plain stinks, both this season and historically in the playoffs. The
Seahawks have just one postseason win outside of Seattle, which occurred against Miami in 1983 when the Hawks were a still a member of the AFC. Also, Seattle is just 3-5 on the road this season. An even greater burden is the location of Saturday's game: Green Bay, Wisconsin and historic Lambeau Field. The
Packers and their boisterous fans are championship-starved and playoff hungry. In the entire history of Lambeau Field, the
Packers have only lost two playoff games. Plus, Seattle coach Mike Holmgren, who formerly coached Green Bay, is 1-2 versus his old team at Lambeau. Seemingly the only thing in Seattle's favor entering this game is their playoff experience, which is immense compared to the youthful
Packers. When Green Bay takes the field Saturday afternoon, fourteen of their 22 starters will be playing in their first playoff game. Bottom line, this is the youngest team in football, bar-none. The key, as in most playoff contests, will be who can control the ball the longest, really run it at their opponents, and avoid turnovers. It's going to be cold and miserable in Green Bay Saturday, as it always is in Wisconsin in January. It will probably even snow. We know that Seattle can't run the ball whatsoever. They will be forced to throw against the superior Green Bay secondary, led by Pro Bowl CB Al Harris. If Seattle's injured star receivers D.J. Hackett and Deon Branch are still limited and/or unable to play, you have to imagine that would be a huge boost for Green Bay. Green Bay running back Ryan Grant can safely tot the rock 20-25 times during the course of the game, but Alexander and Morris for Seattle are not nearly as reliable. Gun-slinging Brett Favre may have problems cracking the Seattle Cover 2 scheme, which can generate great pressure on the quarterback with defensive end Patrick Kerney and linebacker Julian Peterson. This is the same style of defense that the
Bears deployed against the Pack twice this year, forcing Favre into making some horrible throws and poor decisions. I give Seattle a puncher's chance, but nothing more, against the Pack. Green Bay has far more game-breakers on both sides of the ball, and I wouldn't be surprised if WR's Greg Jennings or Donald Driver bust lose for a long touchdown or two. The
Packers led the NFL in YAC (yards after catch) so they are extremely dangerous in the open field. I'll take Green Bay, 23-13, with Ryan Grant and Brett Favre both having big games.