Loading Login

Finally! The NFL Regular Season is Back!

You are here

Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, September 4, 8:30 PM. ET. On NBC.

The 2014 NFL Regular Season Kicks off with the defending champions Seattle Seahawks hosting the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field, in the first game between the two teams since the “Fail Mary” game in 2012, which the Seahawks won due to a controversial call by the replacement referees.

The NFL landscape has changed since that game; the Packers were the defending champions that year, while the Seahawks were still putting the pieces together to become a playoff team. Two years later, the Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl Champions, while the Packers are coming off an 8-7-1 season.

Most of Green Bay’s woes last year were a result of an injury to quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was forced to miss seven games due to injury. Their defense was also a liability, and was one of the worst in the league, ranked 24th against the pass, and 25th against the run. 

The Packers tried their best to address their defensive holes, by signing defensive end Julius Peppers away from Chicago, they bolstered their pass rush, which was one of the worst last year, and the addition of Letroy Guion, from Minnesota, provides additional depth on the defensive line, which is something they need, now that run stopper B.J. Raji is hurt for the season.

The team also drafted Alabama standout Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who is a ball hawking defensive back that is a good tackler, and is expected to make an immediate impact in Green Bay’s secondary.

The play of running back Eddie Lacy, who ran for 1,178 yards in 15 games last year, has given the Packers a much needed running game to go with their prolific passing game, making them less predictable on offense, and taking pressure off Rodgers to make things happen.

The Seahawks spent the offseason locking up their core players on defense to long term contracts, which should make them Super Bowl contenders for the next few years. With Michael Bennett, Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman locked down; they can shift their focus to offensive players like Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson.

Seattle lost a few members of their championship team to free agency and retirement, players like Golden Tate, who signed with the Detroit Lions, Sydney Rice, who retired due to injuries he had sustained throughout his career. The team also released veterans Chris Clemons, and Red Bryant, but didn’t sign any big names to replace them.

As long as Percy Harvin can stay healthy, and other receivers like Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse continue to improve, the team shouldn’t miss Tate too much. The loss of Clemons and Bryant will deplete their depth on the defensive line, but shouldn’t affect the team too much unless they have injuries on the defensive line during the year.

The Seahawks are going to follow the same formula to success that they had last year, which was running the ball, playing tough defense, and not shooting themselves in the foot with turnovers. They will have a tough time repeating due to the fact that they play in one of the toughest divisions in the league, have a very tough schedule, and will get the best efforts of their opponents this year.

Game Line: The Seahawks are favored to win by 5 points.

Personal Pick: Seattle is tough to beat at home, and will defeat the Packers on opening night, in what will be an extremely loud stadium.

Bet on the NFL at BetPhoenix

As Featured by

Contact us at 1-877-717-7747
Check our sign-up bonuses to start with a boost!
Call now to get in touch with an account manager