The beauty of Week 14 in the NFL season is suddenly things are very real.
Every game matters, and games in Week 13 didn't mean less than this coming week. But there are really bad teams eliminated, there are really good teams clinched and there are a group of teams desperately clinging to their playoff hopes.
Green Bay is one of those teams desperately clinging to playoff hopes, sitting on the edge of the race at 6-6 and staring up at the Vikings (6-6) and Lions (8-4). A win this week would put them smack into the wild card conversation too, what with Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Washington all facing tough matchups.
There couldn't be a weirder matchup in the world either. Remember the Fail Mary with the replacement refs?
There's also the matter of the bananas 2014-15 NFC Championship Game that featured Russell Wilson and Seattle yanking the game away from Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in overtime after Green Bay squatted on a huge lead early. The Packers got super conservative, even sliding on defensive turnovers.
It cost them badly.
Now Seattle is without Earl Thomas, meaning its defense is more vulnerable than usual. That's bad news at a time when Rodgers is playing about as well as he has over the last two years.
On the other hand, there could be bad weather in Green Bay coming. There's a really good chance snow is dumping, which means there's a really good chance Thomas Rawls is the guy to watch in this game. Rodgers is going to have to be on point if the Packers want to move to 7-6 and take a step towards overcoming a bad start and becoming playoff bound.
For the Seahawks, there's absolutely an emphasis on staying in the lead for a first-round bye. Detroit gets Chicago this weekend, which means a Seattle loss would likely put the Lions ahead of Seattle for the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
It's a huge game for both teams and arguably the most important game on an impressive slate of Week 14 action.
How to Watch
- What: Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers
- When: Sunday, Dec. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET
- Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile App
- Sunday Ticket: DirecTV
- Online: NFL Game Pass (available to watch online after midnight)
- Odds: The Seahawks are 3-point favorites, according to SportsLine
Injury Report
Packers
- LB Nick Perry (Hand) -- Out
- LB Kyler Fackrell (Hamstring) -- Out
- CB Damarious Randall (Groin) -- Questionable
- CB LaDarius Gunter (Illness) -- Questionable
- OL T.J. Lang (Foot) -- Questionable
- LB Blake Martinez (Knee) -- Questionable
- LB Clay Matthews (Shoulder) -- Questionable
- OL JC Tretter (Knee) -- Questionable
Seahawks
- RB C.J. Prosise (Shoulder) -- Out
- LB Will Tukuafu (Concussion) -- Out
- DE Damontre Moore (Foot) -- Out
- LB Brock Coyle (Foot) -- Out
- LB Mike Morgan (Hip) -- Questionable
Prisco's Pick
This is a survival test for the Packers. They must have this one. But Seattle seemed to get right against the Panthers. That defense will miss Earl Thomas, which will show up. Aaron Rodgers beats Russell Wilson.
Pick: Packers 24, Seahawks 20
