Defense Leads the Way as Packers Win Opener

While the offense came out of the tunnel with high hopes, it was the questionable defense that stole the show as they forced the Seahawks into four three-and-outs on their first five possessions.

“It really started with our defense,” said Head Coach Mike McCarthy. “You hold an offense to nine points in today’s NFL, that speaks volume.”

It is not the first time quarterback Russell Wilson has struggled against Dom Capers’ squad; and while he didn’t throw five interceptions like last time, he completed just 14 of 27 passes for 158 yards and no touchdowns. He has thrown eight touchdowns against 10 interceptions in six games against the Packers.

Defensive tackle Mike Daniels had arguably the best game of his career, recording seven tackles, one and a half sacks and a forced fumble the Packers recovered to set up their first touchdown of the season.

“I think the best is yet to come,” said Daniels. “There was a definitely a lot of things I could have done better out there, and that’s what’s most exciting.”

The defense held a rejuvenated Seattle offense to 225 total yards and three of 12 (25%) on third down. It wasn’t until the final minute of the first half Seattle recorded its second third-down of the evening.

Outside linebacker Nick Perry, coming off a career best 11 sack season last year, began where he left off, sacking Wilson on third down to force the first of three consecutive three-and-outs for Seattle.

"I was disappointed that they were able to be as aggressive up front as they were with their defense,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said of the Packers’ front seven, which sacked Wilson three times and held Seattle to only 90 yards on the ground. "I’ve got to see the film to see what happened, but I was surprised they were able to do that where it made it hard for us to get the running game going like we wanted to.”

Former Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy did not have the monster game he envisioned, receiving just five carries for three yards on the day. Green Bay’s offense struggled tremendously in the first half, going scoreless and having starting field position on the 17, 2, 12 and 5-yard lines on their first four possessions.

“We were sluggish,” said McCarthy. “As long as we were moving the football and keeping the time of possession in our favor, get the total plays up, that the game was going to be the way I wanted to play.”

The Packers winning the time of possession battle was critical to their victory, 39:13 to 20:47, and they gained a modest 370 yards of total offense and converted nine of 16 third downs (56%). However, their running game was non-existent, finishing with just 84 rushing yards on a 3.0 yards per rushing attempt average.

When asked what he thought about tailback Ty Montgomery’s first performance as a permanent running back, McCarthy noted how Seattle was playing in base defense on first down, making it very difficult to run, resorting to spreading out the field.

Rodgers was under heavy pressure, being sacked four times, including one from defensive end Cliff Avril who was matched against first-time starter Kyle Murphy at right tackle for an injured Bryan Bulaga.

“Individually, I thought I performed alright,” said Murphy. “All those guys playing next to me helped me out tremendously.”

The offense began their first drive with seven straight passes, and ended with an Aaron Rodgers’ interception to defensive tackle Nazair Jones, which would have resulted in a pick-six if it weren’t for two costly penalties on the Seahawks during the return. The penalties were for an illegal block in the back by Avril on Rodgers, and defensive back Jeremy Lane was ejected for throwing a punch at receiver Davante Adams, though the replay did not show such an act.

Rodgers ran after Jones but wasn’t able to catch up.

“I didn’t see him, and then he made me look really slow,” said Rodgers with a grin. “I had visions of Don Beebe and Leon Lett in my mind…I was gaining on him a little bit, but I the film may not show that…he’s pretty fast.”

Rodgers completed 28 of 42 passes for 311, a touchdown and an interception. It was his 50th career 300-yard passing game, and the first interception he’s thrown in 252 regular season passing attempts. It’s the only game of Aaron Rodgers career where he’s thrown an interception without a touchdown pass in a half at home.

It wasn’t until the final minute of the first half when Seattle caught a breath of fresh air. The Packers used a timeout with 48 seconds left with the intention of not allowing the Seahawks to drain the clock. The plan backfired and with 30 seconds left, Wilson hit receiver Doug Baldwin for 34 yards down the right sidelines with cornerback Quintin Rollins and safety HaHa Clinton-Dix in coverage.

Next play, Wilson stepped through the pass rush and scampered 29 yards before being forced out of bounds by cornerback Damarius Randall, who finished with a career best six tackles.

However, the defense was able to make three clutch stops in the red-zone to hold Seattle to a 33-yard field goal, making it 3-0 score at the half.

When asked about the timeout that seemed to revitalize the Seahawk offense, McCarthy defended the call. “We were in total control of the game. Good decision. It didn’t work out the way we liked.”

Things grew darker at the beginning of the second half as center Corey Linsley snapped a ball straight into the grass and was recovered by a diving Rodgers, forcing a punt.

Three play later, Mike Daniels would be the play of the game. He beat left guard Luke Joeckel and strip sacked Wilson for a 10-yard loss, and linebacker Kyler Fackrell made the recovery at the six-yard line.

Six seconds later the Packers had the lead on a touchdown run by Montgomery.

Seattle regained the momentum on a 30-yard cutback run by rookie running back Chris Carson. Kicker Blair Walsh, the former Viking, made it a one-point game on a 21-yard field goal with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter.

The Packers responded with a nine-play 75-yard touchdown drive where Rodgers completed six of seven passes, including a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson down the post on a free play. The Seahawks were caught with 12 men on the field, and A-Rod made them pay by having them have a linebacker, Bobby Wagner, cover Jordy, and all-pro safety Earl Thomas didn’t provide adequate protection over the top, leading to an easy touchdown.

Kicker Mason Crosby, the Packers’ all-time leading scorer, made it a two possession game with a 40-yard field goal on their next possession.

Wilson was able to find receiver Paul Richardson for 28 and 13 yards on back-to-back plays to set up a 41-yard field goal, cutting the lead to eight with just over six minutes to play.

With 3:09 remaining and facing 3rd and four, Rodgers scampered up the middle for a first, but was clipped by linebacker K.J. Wright. Tight end Martellus Bennett in his Green Bay debut, came, unnecessarily, to his quarterbacks aid, resulting in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.

The game was put on ice when the Packers converted on a 2nd and six with 2:45 remaining. Rodgers hit a wide-open Bennett on a rollout pass off of a play-action fake when everyone thought they were going to run the clock down. Bennett brought them inside the 25-yard line, and with the Seahawks out of timeouts, Rodgers took three knees to end the game.

“The key to the game was our defense,” said Rodgers, who had a passer rating of 86.5. “If the defense plays like that we’ll be tough to beat.”

When asked about the struggles the defense has endured over the years, McCarthy was having none of it. “I don’t know why we’re talking about anything past today…they clearly played at a very high level.”

The offense has obvious room for improvement, especially after playing arguably the best defense in the league, but for the defense to come out as dominate as it did must be exciting.

Daniels, the game’s MVP sums it up best: “If this is how we open a season, then we can only get better.”