The Seahawks, fresh off a 27-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the home opener, will be back at Century Link Field to welcome the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football (5:30 PDT, ESPN, 710 ESPN Radio and 97.3 FM) in a week three showdown of playoff hopefuls.
Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson picked up the first regular season win of his career last week in the dominating victory over Dallas, completing 75 percent of his passes for 151 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. Running back Marshawn Lynch returned to his “Beast Mode” form as well, rushing for 122 yards on 26 attempts (a 4.7 yards per carry average) and a score, doing most of his damage in a second half that saw the Seahawks take complete control.
The pass defense will be tested again this week as Aaron Rodgers and his bevy of pass catchers will surely look to threaten the Seahawks down the field in an effort to loosen their stout run defense.
Rodgers tossed a pair of scores in his team’s season-opening loss to the 49ers and had another in the win over the Bears in week two. But he was also intercepted once in each game and has been sacked eight times already on the young season.
By contrast, Seattle is allowing only 46 yards per game to opponents on the ground, good for second in the NFL. Its 13.5 points per game average is third in the league currently.
While the run defense has been mostly stellar, the Seahawks rank near the middle of the pack defending the pass and are allowing nearly 230 yards per game through the air. The positive implication headed into this week’s matchup with Rodgers and the Packers is the defense has allowed only two passing scores this season.
For Wilson, Lynch and the offense, establishing an early rhythm will be crucial against a defense that features a pair of dynamic cornerbacks in Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams, who already has a pair of interceptions.
Green Bay has also tallied 11 sacks on the young season, with Clay Matthews leading the way with six, four more than the entire Seahawks defense.
While Seattle has struggled recently against the Packers, dropping five of the last six and three straight including the 2007 divisional playoff game, it owns the best winning percentage all-time on Monday Night Football (.680) and has won five straight on the league’s biggest stage, including three shutouts.
