The NFL Season kicks off on Thursday when the defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks welcome Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers to CenturyLink Field in Seattle. The game features two playoff teams that could meet up in the NFC Championship game this season if all goes well for both teams. Before the game, the Seahawks will celebrate their Super Bowl victory from early in the year in February 43-8 against the Denver Broncos.
The Seahawks are the betting favorites to repeat again this year, but first they will have to dispose of the 2011 Super Bowl Champion Packers. These two teams last met in Seattle in 2012 when replacement referees started out the season because of a labor dispute. It was arguably one of the most controversial games in NFL history as a last-second Hail Mary by Seahawks rookie QB, Russell Wilson appeared to be intercepted by a packers defender. One referee signaled an interception, while the other referee signaled a touchdown catch by then Seahawks receiver, Golden Tate. After a short review, the Seahawks were given the touchdown and went on to win the game 14-12.
A lot has changed since that controversial play. The Seahawks are now the Super Bowl champions and believed to be the best ream in the league while the Packers have struggled since hoisting the Lombardi trophy in 2011. Green Bay focused on defense in May’s NFL draft, and are hoping to get their defense back to an elite level as it was in 2011. Seattle on the other hand, is looking to start the season strong on their way to becoming the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls in over a decade.
The Packers added all-pro pass rusher Julius Peppers to the team this season to compliment Clay Matthews. Green Bay’s defensive coordinator Dom Capers is hoping the combination of Peppers and Matthews dominates the quick passing attacks in the NFC North. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman believes his team will be able to repeat as Super Bowl Champions this season and gave praise to the Green Bay Packers organization as he told reporters on Wednesday that the early Packers teams under Vince Lombardi are who the current Seahawks team is trying to emulate.
The deciding factor in this game could very well come down to the 12th man at CenturyLink Field. The fans in Seattle are the best in the league and according to seismologists, got so loud and raucous during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown in the 2011 playoffs against the New Orleans Saints that it registered as a small earthquake, now more commonly known in the Seattle area as the “Beast Quake.” The Packers have been practicing all week with loud speakers to emulate the crowd noise at CenturyLink, but as many teams will tell you, it’s almost impossible to imitate. The fans will be rocking as for the first time in history they will be opening the NFL season at home, as Super Bowl champions. Before the game, owner Paul Allen will help raise the Super Bowl Champion banner and I anticipate the crowd to be louder than ever in excitement and anticipation for the game.
I expect the Seahawks players to get an added boost of adrenalin and motivation from the 12s, and to get off to a fast start against the Green Bay Packers.
My Prediction: 28-20 Seahawks
Betting Odds Courtesy of Bovada.lv:
Green Bay Packers: +6 (-120) / +195 Moneyline
Seattle Seahawks: -6 (Even) / -235 Moneyline
Over/Under: 47
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