Let’s get re-acquainted: Four months later, Seahawks to meet Packers again in NFC title game

Published 5:11 pm Wednesday, January 14, 2015

By John Boyle

Everett Herald Writer

The season opener billed as a showdown between the NFC’s top two teams turned out to be exactly that.

Four months after the Seattle Seahawks hosted the Green Bay Packers to kick off the 2014 season, those same two teams will meet again at CenturyLink Field, this time in the NFC championship game.

The Packers beat the Dallas Cowboys 26-21 Sunday, punching their ticket to the NFC championship game a day after Seattle did the same with a 31-17 victory over Carolina.

When the season began in September, the defending champion Seahawks were considered a favorite to repeat, and the Packers looked like one of the teams that might stand in their way. The Seahawks won comfortably in that game, earning a 36-16 victory. But if they want to get back to the Super Bowl, they’ll have to knock the Packers off one more time.

One big story line will be the health of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who played through a calf injury that appeared to be affecting him in the first half against Dallas, but that didn’t seem to be an issue in a brilliant second half.

Rodgers finished the game 24-for-35 for 316 yards and three touchdowns, but if his mobility is limited again in Seattle, that could hinder Green Bay’s offense.

If the Seahawks, who have won eight straight home playoff games, and who are 25-2 at home over the past three seasons, playoffs included, can win one more home game, they’ll be the first team to play in back-to-back Super Bowls since the 2003-2004 Patriots, who won back-to-back titles.

In fact, the Seahawks’ win Saturday made them the first defending champion to win a playoff game since those New England teams.

The Packers, meanwhile, are hoping to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since winning a title four years ago. And for what it’s worth, Green Bay’s NFC championship win came on the road that season.

One interesting subplot in Sunday’s game will be how Rogers and the Packers decide to attack, or not attack, cornerback Richard Sherman’s side of the field. In the previous meeting, the Rodgers didn’t target a receiver being covered by Sherman in the entire game. Since Sherman stays on the left side of Seattle’s defense, that meant more or less conceding one third of the field.

While that meant a quiet day for Seattle’s best cornerback, Rodgers passed for only 189 yards and the Packers were held to 16 points, a sub-par numbers for one of the league’s most explosive passing attacks.

While most Seahawks were diplomatic when asked if they had a preference between the Packers and Cowboys, defensive end Michael Bennett admitted he was hoping for a Dallas victory.

“I would love for the Cowboys to win, because I’m from Texas and they beat us the first time,” Bennett said. “… We want to play them, because we didn’t have all our guys. Some of our guys were hurt, so we definitely want a chance to play against them again.”

Regardless of the opponent, the Seahawks knew a day earlier that they’d face a tough opponent, and be happy about doing so at home.

“Whoever we play, they have phenomenal quarterbacks, they have great defenses, both teams, and great players on offense,” quarterback Russell Wilson said. “So, it’s going to be one of those games for the ages, you look forward to that, and I definitely look forward to playing at home, rather than those two places. “

Four months ago the Seahawks raised a Super Bowl banner with the Packers in their house; with one more win over those Packers, the Seahawks will be headed back to the big game.