The Green Bay Packers open the 2014 NFL season with the ultimate measuring stick game, battling the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks (along with their vaunted 12th Man) at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
Last year's 23-20 NFC Wild Card Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field has instilled a visible edge in the Packers, making this opening tilt a crucial statement game for QB Aaron Rodgers and crew.
The Packers open up the 2014 campaign with the ball, and Rodgers set the tempo early - running a no-huddle offense in an attempt to keep the Seahawks (and the crowd) off-kilter. Two Eddie Lacy rushes for 21 yards helped the Packers move the ball to the 40, but the drive stalled when Rodgers attempted to establish the passing game, eating the ball after scrambling from the rush on a 3rd-and-long.
After a short punt, Seahawks QB Russell Wilson jumped right back into what him so much success in 2013. On the strength of their timing-oriented short passing game (including two effective flat routes to new target Percy Harvin), Wilson pushed the Seahawks into Packers territory. A near interception on a short third down forced a Seattle punt, but an ill-timed running into the kicker penalty handed the ball right back to the Seahawks.
After a brilliant Harvin end-around for a first down, the Seahawks offense failed to convert on a 3rd-and-5, with WR Doug Baldwin coming up just short of the 1st down marker on a 4-yard out route. Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka drilled the 35-yard field goal, giving the Seahawks the first three points of 2014 with 6:07 left in the first quarter.
Down 3-0, the Packers remained committed to the quickfire no-huddle offense they promised to employ. However, they abandoned the safety of their running game completely, picking up just one first down before having to kick the ball away. Aaron Rodgers went 1-for-4 on the brief drive, looking largely out of sync.
Despite an ineffective drive, the Packers were gifted the ball right back after Seahawks PR Earl Thomas muffed the catch on a Tim Masthay punt. Green Bay rookie Ha Ha Clinton-Dix came up with the fumble, and the Packers would proceed to capitalize with a short field.
Rodgers found his normal rhythm, hitting three different receivers with perfect strikes before FB John Kuhn capped off the drive with a two-yard TD rush. 7-3 Packers with 1:25 left in the first.
Seattle's response drive started out badly, with an early holding penalty pinning them deep on 1st and 20. However, a dose of RB Marshawn Lynch pulled them out of the hole, helping Seattle convert by shedding tacklers on two powerful rushes. Russell Wilson would take it from there, hitting Harvin once again (this time for 33 yards).
A brilliant read-option pass to Ricardo Lockette sealed the deal, as the fourth-year wideout broke coverage completely 33-yard TD reception. 10-7 Packers with 13:08 left in the first half.
With the 12th Man shaking the stands with an avalanche of noise, a seemingly-unfazed Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to midfield after a lengthy stop-start sequence. Following a 44-yard pass interference call on Seahawks MLB Bobby Wagner (who helped in absolutely mauling WR Randall Cobb in coverage), the offense would hit a wall after receiving the ball with first and goal to go.
Despite missing out on seven, Mason Crosby would nail a 23-yard chip shot field goal to tie the game for the Packers at 10 with 6:55 left in the half.
The balanced Seattle Seahawks attack didn't waste any time counter-punching, quickly marching the ball downfield after a highlight reel reception by TE Zach Miller, riding handoffs to Marshawn Lynch and Percy Harvin down to the nine-yard line.
Lynch would handle business from there, waltzing into the end zone virtually untouched on a shotgun draw play. 17-10 Seahawks with 3:41 left in the half. Even with just seven carries at this point, Lynch's impact was unmistakable - leading all rushers 59 impressive yards and a score.
In true heavyweight fight fashion, the Packers came out on the next possession swinging with a purpose. Despite some apparent miscommunication which caused them to burn their last timeout, Rodgers would lead the Packers to midfield with a litany of short passes.
The drive would fall apart from there, however, as Rodgers would fail to convert on a manageable third down, forcing a punt.
With under a minute to go and their full cache of timeouts in hand, the Seahawks would skirt danger on a deep lob pass from Wilson that was nearly intercepted, pushing the chains to midfield before the half ended. 17-10 Seahawks at the half.
Each quarterback limited their mistakes in the first half, with a couple more big plays on the Seattle side proving the difference in the opening 30 minutes.
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